Ich fahr mit der Schneckenpost
This children's song is often sung as a round, though not always. It's also sung in Austria.
Ich fahr mit der Schneckenpost
I Go with the Mail Coach
Round
Round
(German)
(English)
Ich fahr, ich fahr, ich fahr mit der Post,
fahr mit der Schneckenpost,
die mir kein Kreuzer kost,
i fahr, i fahr, i fahr auf der Post.
I fahr, i fahr, i fahr auf der Post,
spann' mir sechs Schimmeln ein,
i will der Postknecht sein,
i fahr, i fahr, i fahr auf der Post.
I go, I go, I go with the mail coach,
I go by snail post (1),
It doesn't cost me a kreutzer (2),
I go, I go, I go with the mail coach.
I go, I go, I go with the mail coach,
Hitch up six white horses for me,
I want to be the postilion (3),
I go, I go, I go with the mail coach.
Notes
(1) "Schneckenpost" literally translates from German to "snail-mail". The word was coined at the time when mail was sent by coach. It would take quite a long time to be delivered, even longer if any mishap such as a broken wheel or bad weather happened to slow the coach. We used the phrase "snail post" to distinguish it from the modern term "snail mail" which means specifically something that wasn't sent by email, but rather was received in a physical mailbox.
(2) Kreutzer: An old coin and unit of currency. The word comes from "kreutz" (cross) because of the cross or double cross on the "heads" side of the coin.
(3) "A postilion or postillion guides a horse-drawn coach or post chaise while mounted on the horse or one of a pair of horses. By contrast, a coachman controls the horses from the vehicle itself." -Wikipedia
This song might be based on an older song, "Auf dem Postwagen" -from a "handwritten song book from 1710" (near the bottom of the page) -unless it'd be the other way round!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translation and illustration by Monique Palomares.
