wä de Musik bestellt, dä bestemmp, wat se spillt

Central Franconian

Etymology

Literally: “He who hires the musicians, decides what they play.” Popularised through a 1992 song by the band Paveier (see quote below), but likely older. Compare the related proverb wä de Musik bestellt, dä moss se och bezahle (“he who hires the musicians, must also pay them”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʋɛː də ˈmuzik bəˈʃtɛlt ˈdɛː bəˈʃtemp ʋat zə ˈʃpilt/

Proverb

wä de Musik bestellt, dä bestemmp, wat se spillt

1. (Ripuarian) who pays the piper calls the tune
   • 1992, “Ich han de Musik bestellt”‎^[1]performed by Paveier:

     Ich hann dat Mädche als eetster jebötz,
     Un doröm es och dat Ding hee jeretz!
     Denn wä de Musik bestellt,
     Dä bestemmp, wat se spillt.

     I kissed the girl first,
     And that's why this deal is done!
     For who pays the piper,
     Calls the tune.