Der Frosch
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Der Frosch sitzt in dem Rohre,
Der [kleine, breite]1 Mann,
Und singt sein Abendliedchen,
So gut er singen kann - Quak! Quack!
Er meint, es klingt gar herrlich,
[Könnts Niemand so]2 wie er,
Er bläst sich auf gewaltig,
Meint Wunder, was er wär! - Quak! Quack!
Mit seinem breiten Maule
Fängt er sich Mücken ein,
Guckt mit den dicken Augen
Froh nach [der Sonne Schein]3! - Quak! Quack!
Das ist ein ewig Quaken,
Er wird es nimmer müd,
So lange noch ein Blümchen
Im Wiesengrund nur blüht! - Quak! Quack!
Herr Frosch! nur zu gesungen,
[Du bist ein lustger]4 Mann;
Im Lenz muß Alles singen,
So gut es singen kann! - Quak! Quack!
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with Die Tierwelt nach ihrer Stellung in Mythologie und Volksglauben, in Sitte und Sage, im Geschichte und Litteratur, im Sprichwort und Volksfest. Kulturgeschichtliche Streifzüge von Carl Joseph Steiner, Gotha, Verlag von E. F. Thienemanns Hofbuchhandlung,
1891, pages 283-284. Note that the spelling of "Quak" changes to "Quack" in the repetition at the end of each stanza.
1 Músiol: "breite, dicke"
2 Músiol: "Und niemand kann's"
3 Músiol: "dem Sonnenschein"
4 Músiol: "Er ist ein braver"
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Músiol (1846 - 1903), "Der Frosch", op. 49 no. 1, published 1886 [ voice and piano ], in Musikal. Jugendpost, Köln, P.J. Tonger [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Karl Gottfried) Wilhelm Taubert (1811 - 1891), "Der Frosch", op. 118 no. 5, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], from Klänge aus der Kinderwelt, Heft VI, no. 5, Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The frog", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 108
The frog
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The frog sits in the reeds,
The little, broad fellow,
And sings his little evening song,
As well as he can sing - Croak! Croak!
He thinks it sounds quite splendid,
And that no one can sing it like he can,
He puffs himself up mightily
And thinks what a wonder he is! - Croak! Croak!
With his wide mouth
He catches himself mosquitoes
With his bulging eyes he gazes
Happily into the sunshine! - Croak! Croak!
That is an eternal croaking,
He never grows tired of it,
As long as still a floweret
Blooms in the meadow! - Croak! Croak!
Mister Frog! only keep on singing,
You are a jolly fellow;
In spring everything must sing
As well as it can sing! - Croak! Croak!
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2014-02-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 121