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Contents
Posts
A German Bedbug Song called “Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer”
Thursday, November 12th, 2009RosaMaria 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 euch nur die Wanze an,
wie die Wanze tanzen kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanze.Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanz.
Seht euch nur die Wanz an,
wie die Wanz tanz kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wanz.Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wan.
Seht euch nur die Wan an,
wie die Wan tan kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wan.Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wa.
Seht euch nur die Wa an,
wie die Wa ta kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine Wa.Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine W.
Seht euch nur die W an,
wie die W t kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
sitzt ‘ne kleine W.Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
Sitzt ‘ne kleine -.
Seht euch nur die – an,
wie die – - kann!
Auf der Mauer, auf der Lauer
Sitzt ‘ne kleine -.This song works a bit like BINGO where you take one letter out of the word in each verse – but you pronounce the word instead of spelling it out like BINGO. In this case there are two words that work like this in the song: “wanze” (bug) and “tanzen” (dance) in German. Wanze means bedbug or bug. I’m going to use “buggy” like the diminutive for bug in my translation to keep a 5 letter word like the German word “wanze”. I used “boogie” for “dance” (the German “tanzen”). I made this change based on the sound of the words, since buggy and boogie are closer to a rhyme like the German “wanze” and “tanzen”.
English Translation
On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small buggy.
Look at just the buggy,
How the buggy can boogie!
On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small buggy.On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small bugg.
Look at just the bugg,
How the bugg can boog!
On the wall, on the lookout,
Sits a small bugg.On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bug.
Look at just the bug,
How the bug can boo!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bug.On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bu.
Look at just the bu,
How the bu can bo!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small bu.On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small b.
Look at just the b,
How the b can b!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small b.On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small ___.
Look at just the ___,
How the ___ can ___!
On the wall, on the lookout
Sits a small ___.I always welcome comments, criticism or corrections on my translation or on the original German lyrics.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Can Someone Help with a German Lap Rhyme?
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009Gloria 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 hips (or just straight out, but the dad’s were best at that). The rest of the family did it for every baby/little child, including myself. We never saw it in print, and we only have the phonetic sound from listening to it. Phonetically, it went something like what follows. I would dearly love to know exactly what it meant, although it is obvious based on what happened to the child:
Grandma (and all the rest of us who had children) would cross her legs at her hips, sit the baby on her upper ankle, hold the baby’s two hands in hers, and bounce the baby lightly up and down, until the end of the rhyme, when she would let the child fall back, laughing, and then lift the child back up, and begin again!
Scheckle, scheckle, reiderlein,
Ven die kinder kleinerschein
Reiden zie auf steckerlein,Ven zie greis auf verten
Reiden zie auferten
Zen zie verten,
Klip, Klop, Klip Klop
Reiden zi (then something like a scary word or sounds)“Boom stehl leckta!” really loud!
The adult lets the child fall back, usually grinning happily. (Sometimes a baby didn’t like it but others wanted you to pull them up onto your ankle and do it again! Some kids got a little dizzy if you did this action too fast! But mostly they loved it. I don’t remember their doing it with me, but I am certain they did, that’s where the phonetic sound and rhythm of the lines as I remember them come in, as well as my mother’s saying it to me when I was older and wanted her to tell me what it was, but it would always have been a phonetic memory, since she never really learned much German except what was common… the words you aren’t supposed to say!) This was done several times, until either one’s leg was tired, or the child needed a rest. I just used the phonetic version when I treated my kids as babies to the fun game, but for some reason I never asked my grandma. I was told that it meant something like, “When a child is little it rides on a stick horse, but when it tries to ride a real horse, he will go faster and fall off.” Have you ever heard this? I possibly have some of the phonetics wrongly remembered, but the rhythm and sounds and actions are still in my brain.
Thanks for any help you can give. I do like your website, I found it by way of BING. I think it is very interesting as to the German, lots of Germans settled in America. My father’s ancestors may have come from Austria, as well as Germany, but came to Wisconsin in the 1840’s, met and married, learned English, so they never spoke German at all when we knew them. A grandson, age 12, who has been learning German, took to it immediately, and loves it, as well as Norwegian, so there must be an inherited acclimation to the sound of a language.
Sincerely,
Gloria Koeser Laundrie
Thanks for sharing your song with us Gloria! If anyone can help with the German version and/or an English translation, please let us know in the comments below.
Cheers!
Mama Lisa
Can Anyone Help with Some Swiss German Songs?
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007Renee wrote:
I’m looking for three children’s songs my grandmother sung to me.
One was: Here comes the bear, where does he want to go? He wants to go to (name of child)’s
house. She would say this in Swiss German.The next was: Rumpity bumpity halter stock, vermind. She would also speak in Swiss German and I am unsure of the rest of it. The middle of the song she asked how many fingers she held up. If you were correct, the song continued, if not, she went back to the beginning. But the end was: What do you want water or wine? If you wanted water she would vigorously rub your back. If it was wine she would tell you were too young for wine and slap your behind.
The third was a song she would sing while walking with us. She would hold both our hands and she would criss cross hers and swing us from side to side while saying (hail a room boom boom) and I think it referred to the kaiser – something about kick him in the pants.
If you could help in Swiss and English I thank you.
ReneeIf anyone can help Renee with any of these songs or nursery rhymes, please comment below.
Thanks!
Lisa
Can Anyone Help with a German Song/Rhyme that Begins Like “Vender kinder klinderzine”?
Thursday, June 14th, 2007Tami wrote:
Mama Lisa,
My name is Tami Best and I am looking for some help with a song. I am working on getting the original and English translation to a German children’s song/rhyme that has been passed down from generations. My dad is turing 60 and I am trying to suprise him with this for his birthday, as this was a song sung to him by his German immigrant grandparents and then carried on by his parents. They are all gone now and I am left with two versions, one from my dad and one from his sister. I am hoping that they will be a little recognizable as one song you already have. If you could please help me that would be wonderful! This has been a semi-frustrating experience.
Version one
Vinder kinder klienderzine
Uh riden see how stickeline
Uh vinder grocer vair
Dinder Rinden see how fair
Dender fair sed trip trip trop
Smitzer kinder rider up
Kaboosdolecktee (or Kaboosdoleckter)Version two
Vender kinder klinderzine
A gridenzy how steckerline
Vender gratzer Vare
Den der ridenzy how fare
Den der fare sed triptriptrop
Smister Kinder Rider Op
Kaboospy Dolliker
Kaboop DollikseyAny direction or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much Tami Best
If anyone can help Tami out with this song, please comment below or email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
German Children’s Songs with Sheet Music and Midi Tunes
Saturday, November 25th, 2006We’ve finished a major update of the Mama Lisa’s World German page! It now has 51 German children’s songs, lullabies and nursery rhymes. Most of the songs have sheet music and midi tunes!
We always welcome more traditional songs from Germany. You’re also welcome to share any cultural tidbits: such as traditions, recipes, customs, photos, information about German holidays, etc.
Come visit the new German Children’s Song Page with English Translations, Sheet Music and Midi Tunes. Or, you can visit the Mama Lisa’s World en français pages for German Children’s Songs with French Translations.
Schni Schna Schnappi – The Crocodile That Beguiled Germany
Sunday, November 5th, 2006It’s interesting to see what trends take over in different countries at different times. Schnappi is a cartoon crocodile that’s been going around the internet for about 3 years now. He sings a song with the catchy line, “Schni Schna Schnappi, Schnappi Schnappi snatch”. It’s a line that was so catchy that it made it to the top of the German charts!
Schnappi is also a cartoon. Here’s a link to where you can see a video of the cartoon with the Schnappi song, so you’ll know what the rage is all about!
In German, the song is Schnappi, das kleine Krokodil. Here’s a link to the full German lyrics. Below is a loose English translation my husband Jason Pomerantz and I did for you. There’s an official English version you can hear on the Schnappi site that has different lyrics. Ours is closer to the German (at least it’s trying to be – and I welcome corrections and improvements!).
I am Schnappi, The Small Crocodile…
I am Schnappi, the small crocodile
I come from Egypt, located on the Nile
First in an egg I lay,
Till snip, snap, I snapped away.Schni Schna Schnappi
Schnappi Schnappi snap
Schni Schna Schnappi
Schnappi Schnappi snap.I am Schnappi, the small crocodile
Sharp, pointy teeth, I have a great big pile
I can snap, and I’ll snap you,
I snap so well, I’ll snap more too!Schni Schna Schnappi
Schnappi Schnappi snap
Schni Schna Schnappi
Schnappi Schnappi snap.Beware, this song drives some adults crazy!
“O Tannenbaum – O Christmas Tree” in German, English and French with a midi and an mp3
Tuesday, December 6th, 2005O Tannenbaum, the beloved Christmas song, originated in Germany. Versions were sung there as early as the 1500’s, but the current form developed in the 1800’s.
From Germany, the song spread around Europe and to the United States.
Here are several different versions:
First, O Tannenbaum in German.
Then, since the actual German words are a little different than the way they’re sung in the US, in the song O Christmas Tree, I’ve provided a literal English translation of O Tannenbaum.
That’s followed by O Tannenbaum in French, called Mon beau sapin.
And, finally, the best known English version of O Tannenbaum, called O Christmas Tree.
For everyone who’d like to hear the tune, here’s a
Midi of O Tannenbaum – O Christmas TreeIf you’d like to hear O, Tannenbaum in German, here’s an
MP3 of O Tannenbaum Sung in German,
as sung by Nebe Quartett, and recorded by Thomas Edison a long time ago!O Tannenbaum
(German)O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie treu sind deine Blätter
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Wie grün sind deine Blätter!O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat schon zur Winterszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Mut (Trost) und Kraft zu jeder Zeit!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren*****
O Fir Tree
(Literal English Translation of O Tannenbaum)O fir tree, o fir tree
How true are your leaves
You don’t only turn green in summertime
But also in winter, when it snows
O fir tree, o fir tree
How true are your leavesO fir tree, o fir tree
Much pleasure can you bring me
How often, in winter, a tree of your kind
Has already rejoiced me
O fir tree, o fir tree
Much pleasure can you bring meO fir tree, o fir tree
Your dress wants to teach me
The hope and the stability
Give courage (comfort) and energy for all time
O fir tree, o fir tree
Your dress wants to teach me*****
Mon beau sapin
(French Version of O Tannenbaum)Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts
Que j’aime ta verdure!
Quand, par l’hiver, bois et guérets
Sont dépouillés de leurs attraits
Mon beau sapin, roi des forêts
Tu gardes ta parure.Toi que Noël planta chez nous
Au saint anniversaire!
Comme ils sont beaux, comme ils sont doux
Et tes bonbons et tes joujoux!
Toi que Noël planta chez nous
Tout brillant de lumière.Mon beau sapin tes verts sommets
Et leur fidèle ombrage
De la foi qui ne ment jamais
De la constance et de la paix,
Mon beau sapin tes verts sommets
M’offrent la douce image.*****
O Christmas Tree
(English)O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!
How are thy leaves so verdant!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!
Not only in the summertime,
But even in winter is thy prime.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How are thy leaves so verdant!O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure doth thou bring me!O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!Many thanks to Monique Palomares for the German and French versions of O Tannenbaum, for the literal English translation and for the midi.
Come visit Mama Lisa’s Holiday Song Page for more holiday songs from around the world.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Germany Page for German Children’s Songs and…
The Mama Lisa’s World France Page for French Children’s Songs with their English translations and…
Mama Lisa’s World en français for Children’s Songs from Around the World with their French translations.
I hope you see some beautiful Christmas trees this holiday season!
-Lisa
Two German Lantern Songs, with a midi, for St. Martin’s Day
Tuesday, November 8th, 2005On St. Martin’s Day in Germany, November 11th, children parade at night carrying lanterns. Sometimes the parade ends with a bonfire. Kids often go door to door caroling and receiving treats or money. People also eat goose and Wechmann (a sweet bread in the shape of a gingerbread man).
Here are two songs children sing in Germany for St. Martin’s Day, each in German and with an English translation…
Laterne, Laterne
(German)Laterne, Laterne
Sonne, Mond und Sterne
Brenne auf, mein Licht,
Brenne auf, mein Licht
Aber nur meine liebe Laterne nicht.Here’s the English translation for Laterne, Laterne…
Lantern, Lantern
Lantern, Lantern,
Sun, moon and stars,
Burn, my light,
Burn, my light,
But not only the light of my dear lantern.The midi music for Laterne, Laterne
Here’s another German Lantern Song for St. Martin’s Day.
Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
Ich geh mit meiner Laterne
Und meine Laterne mit mir.
Dort oben leuchten die Sterne
Und unten leuchten wir.
Mein Licht ist aus,
Ich geh nach Haus,
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum
Here’s the English translation of Ich geh mit meiner LaterneI Walk with My Lantern
I walk with my lantern,
And my lantern with me.
There above, the stars shine,
And we shine here below.
My light is off,
I go home,
Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum.Many thanks to Ulrike Bernhard for contributing this song, to Maguy Cabrol and Monique Palomares for the translation from German and to Monique Palomares for creating the midi music . Vielen Dank!
My entry about The History and Traditions of St. Martin’s Day.
A legend and a song about St. Martin in Northern France
Belgian songs sung on St. Martin’s Day, plus about how St. Martin’s Day is like Christmas in parts of Belgium.
And here’s a Recipe for Wechmann (Gingerbread Man Bread).
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s German page for more German children’s songs with their English translations
And
The Mama Lisa’s World en français German page for German Kids’ Songs with their French Translations
Yesterday Evening I Went Out – A German Children’s Song
Tuesday, October 11th, 2005About a conversation between a rabbit and his possible hunter…
Here’s a German kids song called Yesterday Evening I Went Out, in German, Gestern abend ging ich aus, with it’s English translation and the midi music…
Yesterday Evening, I Went Out
Yesterday evening, I went out
I went to the forest
A little rabbit sat in a bush
He watched me with his little eyes
The little rabbit came near to me
So he could tell me this…Aren’t you the hunter
Who hunts me down with his dogs?
When the wind game catches me,
Hunter, have you caught me?
When I think of my fate,
My heart aches straight away!Poor little rabbit, you are so pale!
Don’t go on the peasant’s grass,
Don’t go in the peasant’ s cabbage patch
Or else you pay for it with your skin,
You can spare yourself much misery and pain,
You can be a happy rabbit!Here’s the original German version…
Gestern abend ging ich aus
Gestern abend ging ich aus,
Ging wohl in den Wald hinaus ;
Saß ein Häslein in dem Strauch,
Guckt mit seinen Äuglein ‘raus,
Kommt das Häslein dicht heran,
Daß mir’s was erzählen kann.“Bist du nicht der Jägersmann,
hetzt auf mich die Hunde an ?
wenn dein Windspiel mich ertappt,
hast du, Jäger, mich geschnappt
wenn ich an mein Schicksal denk’,
ich mich rect von Herzen kränk’.”Armes Häslein, bist so blaß !
Geh dem Bauer nicht ins Gras,
Geh dem Bauer nicht ins Kraut,
Sonst bezahlst mit deiner Haut ;
Sparst dir manche Not und Pein,
Kannst mit Lust ein Häslein sein !Listen to the midi music of Gestern abend ging ich aus!
Many thanks to Ulrike Bernhard for contributing this song, to Maguy Cabrol and Monique Palomares at Mama Lisa’s World en français for the translation from German and to Monique Palomares for creating the midi music . Vielen Dank!
Come and visit the Mama Lisa’s World Germany Page for more German Children’s Songs and Nursery Rhymes.
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