A German Bedbug Song called “Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer”

RosaMaria asked me about a German song called Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer on the Mama Lisa's World Facebook Group. I found the YouTube video below of the song. Below the video I posted the German lyrics, followed by an English translation I did… Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanze. Seht [...]

Can Someone Help with a German Lap Rhyme?

Gloria wrote to me: Hi, my grandma (born in Eisleben in 1875, emigrating to the Midwest in 1902, married her second husband (my grandfather) in St. Paul, lived most of her life in Wisconsin with her third husband), recited a rhyme when dandling a baby on her extended foot, either with legs crossed at the [...]

Pennsylvania Dutch Version of Dies Ist der Daumen – This Is the Thumb

I've been asked several times for the Pennsylvania Dutch Version of the German rhyme Dies Ist der Daumen – This Is the Thumb. Today I received the version below thanks to Luke and Mary Martin. Here's what Luke wrote… My wife and I are also familiar with many of the German songs. This [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Rhyme Sounding Like, “Oddly boddlee finga hoof”? It's Most Likely German!

David Stewart wrote: Lisa, maybe you can help me with a poem my mother (now 78) learned from her grandmother when she was a child. I believe it is German and she has no idea what it means but has asked many people the meaning and has never found out. Your help would be greatly appreciated. [...]

Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group

We'd love it if you'd join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you'd like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and [...]

Barbershop Quartet recording of “Stille Nacht!” – “Silent Night” in German

Matt Huffman sent us this Barbershop Quartet recording of the first verse of “Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!”. It's the original version of the Christmas song, “Silent Night” – which was first written as a poem in German by Joseph Mohr in 1816. Below the mp3 recording you'll find the German lyrics, followed [...]

Multicultural Songs about the Seasons

People often write me looking for songs about the four seasons, from around the world. Here are some! The links below take you to the different pages on Mama Lisa's World of International Childrens Songs. There, you'll find the lyrics in the original languages, with English translations. Songs about Winter Yuki (Snow) – Japanese A, [...]

Easter Customs in Germany

Christine von Kannen-Balgar sent me this fascinating letter, answering some questions I had about Easter customs in Germany: Dear Lisa, To answer to your e-mail: 1) I've never heard of a German custom of eating green eggs on Maundy (Green Thursday) [scroll down to the discussion of Green Dyes to see what Christine is referring to [...]

The Symbolism of the Egg

As Easter approaches, it's natural to think a little about eggs! In days gone by the egg, due to its shape, was a symbol of the earth. Thanks to its obvious association with the beginning of life, it has also been the basis of many ancient creation stories. It has been a symbol [...]

Another Version of the German Carol Leise rieselt der Schnee – The Snow Quietly Falls

Recently, I posted a German song called Leise rieselt der Schnee (The Snow Quietly Falls), with a YouTube recording. Here is another YouTube recording of this song. This is a video of 2 people singing it in a park. It's very lively! This version has an additional verse, so I retranslated the whole [...]