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Auf dem Dache der Spatz, In der Rinne die Ratz, In der Luke die Katz, Da saßen die Drei mit Sinnen Und wußten nichts Rechts zu beginnen. Schilp, schilp! sprach der Spatz, Nimm in Acht dich, dicke Ratz! Siehst du nicht die alte Katz? Sie thut zwar, als ob sie schliefe, Doch stille Wasser sind tiefe. Habe Dank, kluger Spatz! Rief die rauhe, graue Ratz, Bin nicht bange vor der Katz, Nach dir aber seh' ich sie schielen, Sie möchte mit dir wohl spielen. Was du denkst, dumme Ratz! Ich kann fliegen, lacht' der Spatz Und flog näher zu der Katz. Er ließ in der Luke sich nieder Und plusterte sein Gefieder. Einen Satz macht die Katz, Weg vom Platz ist die Ratz, In der Tatz schreit der Spatz. -- Ihr Kinderchen, lasset euch lehren, Vor eigener Thüre zu kehren.
Text Authorship:
- by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Spatz, Ratz, Katz", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gustav Borchers (1865 - 1913), "Spatz, Ratz, Katz", op. 17 no. 2, published 1896 [ medium voice and piano ], from Drei humoristische Rattenfängerlieder aus Julius Wolff's "Singuf", no. 2, Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Sommer (1837 - 1922), "Spatz, Ratz, Katz", op. 4 no. 28 (1882/83), published 1884 [ voice and piano ], from Hunold Singuf. Rattenfängerlieder nach Julius Wolff's Dichtungen, no. 28, Braunschweig, H. Litolff [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Pardal, rata, gat", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Sparrow, rat, cat", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-26
Line count: 25
Word count: 139
Upon the roof the sparrow, In the gutter the rat, In the doorway the cat, There the three sat pondering And did not really know what to undertake. Chirp, chirp! said the sparrow, Look out, fat rat! Do you not see the old cat? She’s pretending to be asleep, But still waters run deep. Thank you, clever sparrow! Called the rough, grey rat, I am not afraid of the cat, But I see her eying you, She likely wants to play with you. What notions you have, stupid rat! I can fly, laughs the sparrow And flew closer to the cat. He alighted in the doorway And ruffled up his feathers. The cat makes one leap, The rat vanishes, And in her paw the sparrow shrieks.-- You children, let yourselves be taught To mind your own business.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Spatz, Ratz, Katz", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881
This text was added to the website: 2014-07-23
Line count: 25
Word count: 137