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Am Hause ist ein Garten, Am Garten ist ein Zaun. Kannst Du ein wenig warten, So gibt's da was zu schaun. Ja, wart nur, bis es dunkelt; Das ist die rechte Zeit. Nun horch nur, wie es munkelt, Und rauscht da nicht ein Kleid? Es raschelt und es knispert -- Fast könnte man sich graun -- Es flüstert und es wispert Und küsst sich über'n Zaun. Da klappt es von Pantoffeln -- Wo steckst du denn, Marie? Ich sah nach den Kartoffeln Und nach dem Sellerie!
Confirmed with Gesammelte Schriften von Heinrich Seidel, XIV. Band, Die Augen der Erinnerung und Anderes, Leipzig: A.G. Liebeskind, 1897, pages 66-67.
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Seidel (1842 - 1906), "Am Zaun", appears in Lieder eines alten Mannes (1895-1896), no. 7, first published 1895-1896 [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 (Friedrich) August Bungert (1845 - 1915), "Am Zaun", published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Kassel, Kramer-Bangert [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mary Clement (1861 - c1907), "Am Zaun", op. 10 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Stern [sung text not yet checked]
- by Heinrich Pfannschmidt (1863 - 1944), "Am Zaun", op. 6 (Vier Lieder im Volkston für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1898 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Plothow [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "At the fence", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2019-12-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 83
Beside the house there is a garden, Along the garden there's a fence. If you can wait a little while, There shall be something to see there. Yes, only wait till it grows dark; That is the right time. Now just listen how there is a little noise, And does not a dress rustle there? It rustles and it crackles -- One could almost be alarmed -- There is a whispering and a susurration And a kissing across the fence. Then comes a clomping of clogs -- Where on earth are you, Marie? I was checking on the potatoes And on the celery!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Heinrich Seidel (1842 - 1906), "Am Zaun", appears in Lieder eines alten Mannes (1895-1896), no. 7, first published 1895-1896
This text was added to the website: 2026-07-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 100