It's interesting how many versions of this poem, attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), exist...
Two Other Versions:
From the Scottish musical duo Hue and Cry
When they came for the Jews and the blacks, I turned awayWhen they came for the writers and the thinkers and the radicals and the protestors,
I turned away When they came for the gays, and the minorities, and the utopians, and the dancers,
I turned away And when they came for me, I turned around and around, and there was nobody left...
Original | Translation |
---|---|
Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Kommunist. Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten, habe ich geschwiegen; ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat. Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten, habe ich nicht protestiert; ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter. Als sie mich holten, gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte. | When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. |
Two Other Versions:
New England Holocaust Memorial
- They came first for the Communists,
- and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
- Then they came for the Jews,
- and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
- Then they came for the trade unionists,
- and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
- Then they came for the Catholics,
- and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
- Then they came for me,
- and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Mentally Ill
- First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up,
- because I wasn’t a Communist.
- Then they came for the sick, the so-called incurables, and I didn't speak up,
- because I wasn't mentally ill.
- Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,
- because I wasn’t a Jew.
- Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left
- to speak up for me
From the Scottish musical duo Hue and Cry
When they came for the Jews and the blacks, I turned away
'Madame Guillotine" by the Legendary Pink Dots
- First they rounded up the reds
- But I'm not red so…
- Then they rounded up the blacks
- But I'm not black so…
- Then they rounded up the gypsies
- And the junkies and the donkeys.
- Now I'm scared to whistle 'swanee'
- 'Cause they'll ask me for my spit…
Charles Mingus "Don't Let It Happen Here."
- One day they came and they took the Communists
- And I said nothing because I was not a Communist
- Then one day they came and they took the people of the Jewish faith
- And I said nothing because I had no faith left
- One day they came and they took the unionists
- And I said nothing because I was not a unionist
- One day they burned the Catholic churches
- And I said nothing because I was born a Protestant
- Then one day they came and they took me
- And I could say nothing because I was as guilty as they were
- For not speaking out and saying that all men have a right to freedom
- On any land
- I was as guilty of genocide
- As you
- All of you
- For you know when a man is free
- And when to set him free from his slavery
- So I charge you all with genocide
- The same as I
- One of the 18 million dead Jews
- 18 million dead people
Asian Dub Foundation "Round Up"
- dem come for de rasta and you say nothing
- dem come from the muslims you say nothing
- dem come for the anti-globalist you say nothing
- dem even come for the liberals and you say nothing
- dem come for you and will speak for you? who will speak for you, who ?
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