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Hänschen ist fürwahr zu dumm, Sagt, er könne fliegen, Springt und kommt natürlich gleich Auf die Nas' zu liegen! Schwester Ännchen sieht ihm zu, Und sie spricht mit Lachen: Hänschen, der du fliegen willst, Was für dumme Sachen!1
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotesConfirmed with Am Fenster in Bildern und Versen von Kate Greenaway, der deutsche Text von Käthe Freiligrath-Kroeker, München: Theodor Stroefers Kunstverlag, [1880], page 36.
1 Frank adds:Kinder, nehmet euch die Lehr' Hier von Hans dem Kleinen: Haltet nichts für gar so leicht, Will's auch oft so scheinen. Jedem, der dies übersieht, Sagt die Welt mit Lachen: Hänschen, der du fliegen willst, Was für dumme Sachen!
Text Authorship:
- by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904), no title, appears in Am Fenster in Bildern und Versen von Kate Greenaway [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Catherine "Kate" Greenaway (1846 - 1901), no title, appears in Under the Window: Pictures & Rhymes for Children, first published 1879
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ernst Frank (1847 - 1889), "Hänschen ist fürwahr zu dumm", op. 14 no. 11, published 1881 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], from 16 Duettinen aus 'Am Fenster' in Bildern und Versen von Kate Greenaway, no. 11, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Little Hans is truly too stupid", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2020-05-31
Line count: 8
Word count: 39
Little Hans is truly too stupid, He said that he could fly, Leaps and naturally right away Lands on his nose! Sister Annie watches him, And she says with a laugh: Little Hans, who wishes to fly, What a silly notion!1
1 Frank adds:
Children, learn a lesson here From Hans the little one: Do not think anything is so easy Though it may often seem that way. To everyone who overlooks this The world says with laughter: Little Hans, who wishes to fly, What a silly notion!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904), no title, appears in Am Fenster in Bildern und Versen von Kate Greenaway [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in English by Catherine "Kate" Greenaway (1846 - 1901), no title, appears in Under the Window: Pictures & Rhymes for Children, first published 1879
This text was added to the website: 2024-09-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 42