Notes

Another Version:

Zehn kleine Fische die schwammen im Meer.
Nein, sagt die Mutter, ich kann nicht mehr,
ich bleibe lieber in meinem kleinen Teich,
denn im Meer sind die Haie und die beißen mich gleich!

Schwupp, schwupp, schwuppdiwuppdiwupp.
Schwupp, schwupp, schwuppdiwuppdiwupp.

Neun kleine Fische die schwammen im Meer.
Nein, sagt der Vater, ich kann nicht mehr…,

Acht kleine Fische die schwammen im Meer.
Nein, sagt die Oma, ich kann nicht mehr…,

Sieben kleine Fische die schwammen im Meer.
Nein, sagt der Opa, ich kann nicht mehr…

Sechs kleine Fische die schwammen im Meer.
Nein, sagt der Bruder ich kann nicht mehr…,

Ein kleiner Fische der schwamm im Meer.
Er sprach zur Mutter, ich mag auch nicht mehr,
ich will viel lieber in euren kleinen Teich,
denn im Meer sind die Haie und die beißen mich gleich!

Schwupp, schwupp, schwuppdiwuppdiwupp.
Schwupp, schwupp, schwuppdiwuppdiwupp.

English Translation

Ten little fish were swimming in the sea
No, said the mother, I can't take it anymore,
I'd rather stay in my little pond,
For in the sea there are sharks and they might eat me up.

Slurp, slurp, slurp-de-slurp-de-slurp
Slurp, slurp, slurp-de-slurp-de-slurp

Nine little fish were swimming in the sea,
No, said the father, I can't take it anymore,
I'd rather stay in my little pond,
For in the sea there are sharks and they might eat me up.

Eight little fish were swimming in the sea,
No, said the grandma, I can't take it anymore,
I'd rather stay in my little pond,
For in the sea there are sharks and they might eat me up.

Seven little fish were swimming in the sea,
No, said the grandpa, I can't take it anymore,
I'd rather stay in my little pond,
For in the sea there are sharks and they might eat me up.

Six little fish were swimming in the sea,
No, said the brother, I can't take it anymore,
I'd rather stay in my little pond,
For in the sea there are sharks and they might eat me up.

One little fish was swimming in the sea,
He said to the mother, I can take no more
I'd rather go in your little pond,
For in the sea are the sharks and they might eat me up.

Slurp, slurp, slurp-de-slurp-de-slurp
Slurp, slurp, slurp-de-slurp-de-slurp

*****

Lisa and the staff from the German Australian Playschool in Canberra, Australia sent us this version…

Drei kleine Fische, die leben im Meer,
blubb, blubb, blubb, blubb (BBBB)!
Da sagt der eine, "Ich mag nicht mehr, BBBB.
Ich will zurück in meinen süßen kleinen Teich,
den hier gibt es Haie und die freßen mich gleich." BBBB.

Zwei kleine Fische,.....

Ein kleine Fisch,....

and, for the bigger kids, there is one last verse,

Ein grosser Hai, der lebt im Meer, BBBB.
Da sagt der Hai, "Ich mag nicht mehr, BBBB.
Ich möchte auch in deisen süßen kleinen Teich,
denn da gibt es Fische, und die freß' ich dann gleich!" BBBB.

Translation

Three little fish, they lived in the sea,
Bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop (BBBB),
One of the fish says, "I don't like it here any longer. BBBB
I want to go back into my sweet little pond,
Because out here there are sharks, and they might eat me!" BBBB
[he returns to the pond, then:]

Two little fish...

One little fish....

One big shark, he lived in the sea, BBBB
The shark said, "I don't want to be here anymore. BBBB.
I also want to go into the sweet little pond,
Because there, there are fish, and I can eat them! BBBB.

Game Instructions

Ten (then other numbers): show the appropriate number of fingers

Little fish: show "little" with thumb and forefinger
Live in the sea: with your right hand, make a "swimming" movement
I can take no more: say "no" with your forefinger
I'd rather stay: put your hand on your heart
Little pond: draw a little circle in the air
Sea: draw a huge circle in the air
Sharks: put your hand on your head to represent a shark fin
Eat: stretch out both hands in front of you and open and close it as if they were big jaws
Slurp...: move the jaws from left side to the right side of the body.

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Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Lisa and the staff from the German Australian Playschool in Canberra, Australia, for contributing and translating the third version of this song.

Other translations by Lisa Yannucci and Monique Palomares.

Vielen Dank!