Ein Vogel wollte Hochzeit machen
The chorus, vider-alla-la, vider-alla-la, vider-alla-la-la-la is sung after every verse.
Ein Vogel wollte Hochzeit machen
A Bird Wanted to Get Married
Children's Song
Children's Song
(German)
(English)
Ein Vogel wollte Hochzeit machen
In dem grünen Walde
Viderallala, viderallala,
Viderallalalala
Die Amsel war der Bräutigam,
Die Drossel war die Braute.
Die Gänse und die Anten,
Die war'n die Musikanten.
Der Uhu, der Uhu
Der bringt der Braut die Hochzeitsshuh'.
Der Kuckuck schreit, der Kuckuck schreit,
Er bringt der Braut das Hochzeitskleid.
Der Sperling, der Sperling,
Der bringt der Braut den Trauring.
Die Taube, die Taube,
Die bringt der Braut die Haube.
Die Lerche, die Lerche,
Die führt die Braut zur Kirche.
Der Auerhahn, der Auerhahn,
Der war der Küster und Kaplan.
Die Meise, die Meise
Die bringt der Braut die Speise.
Der Pfau mit seinem bunten Schwanz
Macht mir der Braut den ersten Tanz.
Frau Kratzefuß, Frau Kratzefuß*,
Gibt allen einen Abschiedskuß.
Brautmutter war die Eule,
Nahm Abschied mit Geheule.
Der Uhu, der Uhu
Der macht die Fensterläden zu.
Der Hahn, der krähet: Gute Nacht!
Jetzt wird die Kammer zugemacht.
Die Vogelhochzeit ist nun aus,
Die Vögel fliegen all' nach Haus.
A bird wanted to get married
In the green forest.
Vider-alla-la, vider-alla-la,
Vider-alla-la-la-la.
The blackbird was the groom,
The thrush was the bride.
The geese and the ducks
Were the musicians.
The eagle owl, the eagle owl,
Brings the bride her wedding shoes.
The cuckoo squeals, the cuckoo squeals,
It brings the bride her wedding dress.
The sparrow, the sparrow,
Brings the bride her ring.
The dove, the dove,
Brings the bride her veil.
The lark, the lark,
Leads the bride to the church.
The black grouse, the black grouse,
Was the verger and the vicar.
The small bird, the small bird,
Brings the bride the dishes.
The peacock, with his colorful tail,
Dances the first dance with the bride.
Mrs. Shoescraper, Mrs. Shoescraper*,
Gives everybody a goodbye kiss.
The bride's mother was the owl,
She takes her leave with hoots.
The eagle owl, the eagle owl,
Closes the shutters.
The rooster crows: "Good night!"
Now, the bedroom will be closed.
The bird wedding is now over,
All the birds fly home.
Notes
*This is the Hen's name in the Germanic fable tradition.
*****
The text of "Vogelhochzeit" was recorded in the Wienhäuser Liederbuch (Wienhauser Songbook), which dates back to around 1470. A "flying sheet" printed in Nuremberg around 1530 and another print, probably made in Basel in 1613, testify to the spread of the song in the early modern period. From the beginning of the 17th century until the 19th century, the song was spread with various melodies. The melody that is common today was recorded in the first half of the 19th century in Silesia in the area of Bunzlau and Haynau.
In his collection published in 1778 (which is now known under the title "Stimmen der Völker in Liedern"), Johann Gottfried Herder reproduces the "Swedish mocking song" Die lustige Hochzeit, which Goethe used word for word in his 1789 musical drama Die Fischerin. (German Wikipedia)
Comments
The marriage of two birds is also the theme of a French kids song called La noce des oiseaux. Click the link to go to the Mama Lisa's World France pages to see the song.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Ulrike Bernhard for contributing this song, to Maguy Cabrol for translating it into French, and to Monique Palomares for translating it into English (with Lisa Yannucci) and for the midi music.
Image from "The Peacock 'At Home' AND The Butterfly's Ball and The Fancy Fair" by Catherine Ann Dorset and (William) Roscoe - Image heavily edited by Mama Lisa.
Vielen Dank!
