Baseldytsch

Even German speakers will typically admit that German is a pretty difficult language to learn (Gretchen would agree--so would I, but since I'm not even trying that hard I'm really not in a position to complain, although if I scan a news article I can usually figure out roughly what it's about). It only makes it that much more difficult that the local dialect, Baseldytsch (basically the Basel version of Swiss German), bears only passing resemblance to high German. This probably won't mean anything to you unless you've studied German, but here's a passage from a flier that was handed out during one of the Fasnacht parades (part of Fasnacht involves reciting satirical poems that can evidently be quite clever if you understand the language--this is known as Schnitzelbängg, which wouldn't be a bad name for a band now that I think about it). Anyway, see if you have even the slightest clue what this is about:

Kulturschogg: Speue isch jetz Kult,
bim Sport, bim Strytte -- ei Tumult!
Jä überaal, wo d aane gohsch,
bis zu de Kneu in Gspeutem stohsch.

D Mamme stoot näb ihrem Sohn
und dää speut -- isch das nit e Hohn
uffs Trottoirräandli aabe...
schlyymig laufts in Stroosegraabe.

Überaal hets Gspeuts no dra, Gspeuts no dra, Gspeuts no dra!
Überaal hets Gspeuts no dra, Gspeuts no dra, Gspeuts no dra!

Zur Dramstation dr Babbe lauft,
är het sich non e Gipfel kauft.
Uffs Bänggli het är welle sitze,
doch s gläbbt scho Gspeuts in alle Ritze.

D Regierig froggt: was ka me mache?
und speut no schnäll e glaini Lache:
Die hüttig Jugend -- s isch nümm schöön,
das sinn doch alles nur no Glöön!