Wenn der Pott aber nu ein Loch hat
This is a German version of "There's a Hole in My Bucket". The song originally comes from Germany, but the earliest known version was slightly different. It was called "Wenn der Beltz em Loch hat" (When the Jug Has a Hole).
Wenn der Pott aber nu ein Loch hat
If The Pot Has a Hole in It
Children's Song
Children's Song
(German)
(English)
Wenn der Pott aber nu ein Loch hat,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?'
'Stopf 's zu liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, stopf 's zu!'
Womit soll ich's aber zustopfen,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich? –
Mit Stroh, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mit Stroh!
Wenn's Stroh aber nu zu lang ist,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Hack 's ab, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, hack 's ab!
Womit soll ich's denn abhacken,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mit'm Beil, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mit'm Beil!
Wenn's Beil aber nu zu stumpf ist,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mach's scharf, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mach's scharf!
Womit soll ich's aber scharf machen,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mit'm Stein, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mit'm Stein!
Wenn der Stein aber nu zu trocken ist,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mach ihn nass, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mach ihn nass!
Womit soll ich 'n aber nass machen,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mit Wasser, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mit Wasser!
Womit soll ich aber Wasser holen,
lieber Heinrich, lieber Heinrich?' –
Mit'm Pott, liebe, liebe Liese,
liebe Liese, mit'm Pott!
Aber wenn der Pott aber nu ein Loch hat…
If the pot has a hole in it,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
Plug it dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, plug it.
But what should I plug it with,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
With straw, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa with straw.
But if the straw is too long,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
Cut it, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, cut it.
But what should I cut it with,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
With an axe dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, with an axe.
But if the axe is too blunt
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
Sharpen it, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, sharpen it.
What should I sharpen it with,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
With a stone, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, with a stone.
If the stone is too dry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
Make it wet, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, make it wet.
What should I make it wet with,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
With water, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, with water.
What should I fetch water with,
Dear Henry, dear Henry?
With the pot, dear, dear Lisa,
Dear Lisa, with the pot.
But if the pot has a hole in it...
Notes
Ruth Müller wrote:
The German song: Wenn der Pott aber nu ein Loch hat has a variation I grew up with. I am not sure if it was our modification or somebody else's. It goes like this:
Wenn der Topf aber nun ein Loch hat liebster Heinrich sanfter Heinrich
Stopfs zu dumme dumme Lise, dumme Lise stopfs zu...
English Translation:
If the pot has a hole, dearest Henry, gentle Henry
Plug it stupid stupid Lisa, stupid Lisa plug it...
and so on.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to David W. Solomons for contributing and translating this song. Thanks to Ruth Müller for sharing her version.
Vielen Dank
