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InsideOutSantatoday at 11:59 AM2 repliesview on HN

The last stagecoach traveled over the Gotthardpass in the Swiss Alps in 1881, steered by Alois Zgraggen. There's a song about him that ends with:

Now I no longer travel southward,

and I pray to God: My Lord, grant me rest soon,

I’m no good for anything here anymore,

so if you would be merciful to me, let me soon pass through Heaven’s gate.

I’m no good for anything here anymore, so if you would be merciful to me,

let me soon pass through Heaven’s gate.

Then, when you call,

O God, I’ll sing merrily atop the wagon seat:

“Giddy-up, my Liesel, gently now, at an easy pace!”


Replies

rob74today at 12:40 PM

Interestingly enough, stagecoaches are called "Postkutsche" in German-speaking countries (because they also carried mail), and Switzerland's regional buses ("PostBus") are still operated by a subsidiary of the Swiss Post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PostBus_Switzerland. So some ideas live longer than you might expect...

Something similar also exists in Austria and is still called "Postbus", although it's been operated by the national railway company since 2003.

lukyanovictoday at 12:16 PM

Could you share the German title of the song?

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