Hello All,
Quick question on some lyrics by Donovan. In the song “Universal Soldier” what’s the last word in the line: ‘Without him how could Hitler have condemned him at …’
I’ve read that the word is “Dachau” which makes sense (sort of). Thing is, it doesn’t sound like “Dachau”, more like “Labau” or “Laubal”. Any information is appreciated. 
iceman
According to all the lyrics sites:
I’d guess it was a case of wandering enunciation. Some singers were/are more prone to that than others.
Quick response, Yllaria! Many thanks.
Before Donovan made it a hit, Buffy Sainte-Marie wrote and sang the song. Not many people know who the author is.
But if you’re interested, both versions are available on iTunes (with previews - - prehears?).
She is given as the author on the LP/CD.
I have always heard it a Laval and never really bothered to question it.
Donovan
Good old SDMB - the very same thing has bugged me for years. I also hear something like “Lavalle”. How in heck can he make that out of “Dachau”, I don’t know.
Yeah, I actually thought it might be a reference to Pierre Laval, the quisling official in Vichy France. Either way, the line doesn’t make a lick of sense; it’s not as if Hitler personally condemned a single individual (“condemned him”) at Dachau. It would make a little more sense if it was “condemned them”. But hey, Buffy’s a song writer and I’m not.
This is such an old thread…why am I bothering?! These lyrics have been bugging me though.
Anyway, I dug around and found this new story
It’s about the Catalan president who was arrested by the Nazis in a town called La Baule in France in 1940. He was subsequently held by the Gestapo and handed over to Francos’ forces so he could be executed. This is the best answer I have found “without him how could Hitler have condemned him at La Baule?” Sounds right to me???
Moving to Cafe Society from GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
There’s really no question that the intended word is “Dachau”; it is so indicated in all written versions of the lyrics. Buffy Sainte-Marie clearly says Dachau (with a German pronunciation of the “ch”) in this version, as does Donovan in this live version.
Dachau is a very famous site notorious for the atrocities committed there; La Baule is extremely obscure involving just one victim of the Nazis. There is no way that Buffy Sainte-Marie intended the latter.
Admittedly the lyrics should really say “condemned them” rather than “condemned him,” but given the written lyrics and how the word is pronounced by both singers, it’s certainly Dachau.
I know Buffy St Marie’s lyrics say “Dachau” and I know Donovan sings “Dachau” on some versions, but in the version I have, he definitely doesn’t sing this. I am not disputing the original lyrics, just trying to shed some light on his alternative lyrics. His anunciation is so clear there is no mistaking the fact that he is singing “Labau” or “La Baule.”
As I said, just trying to shed some light.
That makes no sense at all. Why would he change the reference from a famous one to an extremely obscure one? It’s much more likely to be a simple case of mush-mouth.
Maybe you can also shed some light on who Hendrix was referring to when he sang “Excuse me while I kiss this guy”? Or what the actual lyrics to Louie Louie are.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=530835
This is an earlier thread where I asked essentially the same question.Chez Guevera provides another possible answer:
“Liebau was the German name for the Polish town of Lubawka. During the war, Lubawka was the site of a training centre for the Hitler-Jugend (Hitler Youth). There was also a labour camp situated in the vicinity.”
I can’t find the book right now (many are in storage to save them from thelittle Zekes) but I’m sureI have it in an anthology with the lyric “Liebau”
Zeke