by Matthias Claudius (1740 - 1815)
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

H.:/ Was meinst du, Kunz, wie groß die...
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
H.:
    Was meinst du, Kunz, wie groß die Sonne sei?
K.:
    Wie groß, Hinz? -- als 'n Straußenei.
H.:
    Du weißt es schön, bei meiner Treu!
    Die Sonne als 'n Straußenei!
K.:
    Was meinst denn du, wie groß sie sei?
H.:
    So groß, hör -- als 'n Fuder Heu.
K.:
    Man dächt kaum, daß es möglich sei;
    Potz tausend, als 'n Fuder Heu!

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Hinz and Kunz", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2007-08-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 61

Hinz and Kunz
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Hinz: 
 What do you think, Kunz, how big is the sun?
Kunz:
 How big, Hinz? Big as an ostrich egg.
Hinz:
 You know that for sure! 
 The sun like an ostrich egg!
Kunz:
 What do you think then, how big is it?
Hinz:
 So big, listen, as a cart filled with hay.
Kunz:
 One can hardly believe that this is possible;
 damn it all, as a cart filled with hay!

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Based on:

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-13
Line count: 14
Word count: 70