Ein Prosit lyrics

Lyrics to Ein Prosit, the most-played German drinking song at the Munich Oktoberfest

If there's one song you are absolutely guaranteed to hear at the Oktoberfest it's this one.
That's because the bands in each tent belt out Ein Prosit every 20 minutes or so in an honest effort to help revellers get nice and lubricated.
And to remind them why they're at the fest –the Gemütlichkeit!
You can't translate Gemütlichkeit directly into English (it's one of those uniquely German words like Doppelgänger and Blitzkrieg) the best English translation is "coziness" or "good cheer".
But Gemütlichkeit goes a step further and encapsulates a feeling of belonging, social acceptance and leaving your troubles at the door.
Whenever Ein Prosit is played you're obliged to stand up with your beer mug and sway along to the tune, toast with everyone at the table and chug.
Perhaps surprisingly, Ein Prosit doesn’t originate from Munich, or even Bavaria.
The song was composed by Bernhard Dittrich, who lived in Chemnitz in the eastern state of Saxony.
Not a lot is known about Dittrich himself, other than he died of a heart attack in 1902, aged around 62.
Ein Prosit became an Oktoberfest staple in 1912, and it was modernised by Gerhard Jussenhoven and Kurt Elliot in 1957.
At festivals the song is often followed by a charge of "Schenkt ein, trinkt aus, schenkt ein, trinkt aus!"(I poured you one, drink it up, I poured you one, drink it up!).
An alternative closing phrase from the band leader is "Prost ihr Säcke!" (Cheers, you ball-sack!), to which the crowd replies in unison "Prost du Sack!" (Cheers, you ball-sack!).

READ MORE: Free Ein Prosit sheet music - learn how to play the classic Oktoberfest song here

Lyrics to Ein Prosit

English Ein Prosit Lyrics (Translation)

"A Toast"
A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times
A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times.
ONE! TWO! THREE! DRINK UP!

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