"Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart" ("I am the Doctor Eisenbart"), also called Eisenbart-Lied ("Eisenbart Song"), is a German-language folk song associated with students and first published in 1814.[1] Other variants include a Dutch variant titled "Ik ben Doktor Grijzenbaard" and a Pennsylvania Dutch variant titled "Ich bin der Doktor Witzelsucht". It deals with the treatment methods of Johann Andreas Eisenbarth, who is depicted in the song as a quack. There are numerous variations, of which the earliest dateable publication of 1814 comes from the commercial book of the student association Germania from Göttingen.[2] The first publication with melody appeared in 1840.[3] In the 20th century the song became popular among children, and the melody was also adapted for the equally popular "Ein Mann, der sich Kolumbus nannt".[4]
The humorous song "Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart" was probably written around 1800 by Göttingen students. A popular destination for them was nearby Hann. Münden, the home town and burial place of Johann Andreas Eisenbarth.The song begins with the verse
This song, in turn, inspired various authors to write novels to this day (1897; Josef Winckler, 1928; Otto Weddigen, 1909; Fritz Nölle, 1940; Hanns Kneifel, 2002), plays (for example Otto Falckenberg, 1908), operas (Alfred Böckmann and Pavel Haas) and Nico Dostal's operetta (1952). The school opera Der Arzt auf dem Marktplatz (1957) by East Germans Hanna and, was also based on motifs from the life of Doctor Eisenbarth.[6]
A Dutch-language variation of the song exists too, "Ik ben Doktor Grijzenbaard", removing all references to the real Eisenbart by calling him grijzenbaard (grey beard).[7] In 1978 the Flemish comedy band recorded a parody song of "Ik ben Doktor Grijzenbaard", titled "Ik ben Vader Grijzenbaard", which satirized the popularity of Vader Abraham's The Smurf Song, as well as The Muppets.[8] [9]