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Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein Pferd; alt Frau nahm'n Ziegenbock, setzt den alten Mann daropp und ließ ihn reiten. Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein'n Hut; alt Frau nahm'n schwarzen Topf, setzt'n dem alten Mann auf'n Kopf und ließ ihn reiten. Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein'n Sporn; alt Frau nahm'n Haseldorn, gab'n dem alten Mann zu Sporn und ließ ihn reiten. Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein'n Sattel; alt Frau nahm'n Unterrock, Setzt den alten Mann daropp Und ließ ihn reiten. Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein'n Zaum; alt Frau nahm'n Hemdensaum, Gab'n dem alten Mann zum Zaum Und ließ ihn reiten. Alt Mann wollt reiten und hatte kein'n Peitsch; alt Frau nahm'n Katzenschwanz, Gab'n dem alten Mann in d'Hand Und ließ ihn reiten.
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Plattdeutsch from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Beim Ritt auf dem Knie", WoO. 31 no. 8b (1857) [ voice and piano ], from Volks-Kinderlieder, no. 8b [sung text checked 1 time]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Bij 't rijden op de knie", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le vieil homme voulait chevaucher", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 131
The old man wished to ride But had no horse; The old woman took a billy goat, Set the old man on top, And let him ride. The old man wished to ride But had no hat; The old woman took a black pot, Set it on the old man’s head, And let him ride. The old man wished to ride And had no spur; The old took a hazel thorn, Gave it to the old man, And let him ride. The old man wished to ride And had no saddle; The old woman took a petticoat, Set the old man on top, And let him ride. The old man wished to ride And had no bridle; The old woman took the hem of a blouse, Gave it to the old man, And let him ride. The old man wished to ride And had no whip; The old woman took a cattail, Put it in the old man’s hand, And let him ride.
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Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Michael P Rosewall, (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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Plattdeutsch from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website: 2015-03-06
Line count: 30
Word count: 163