We children, we have a taste
For pleasure, we really like it,
We mess about and tease people,
When we are playing, needless to say;
We make a noise and we sing
And we run around,
And hop and jump
About in the grass.

Why not? - Grumbling?
There will be enough time for that later!
Anybody who wanted to moan
Would not be very clever.
What fun there is out there
With the corn and the grass!
Describe it with words?
Nobody can ever do that.

Hey, little brothers, run
And roll around in the grass!
We are still allowed to do that,
It is something that is still suitable for us to do!
Oh, when we are older
It will no longer be appropriate,
By then we will have a colder,
More rigid bearing.

Hey, look at that, brothers,
Look at that butterfly there!
Who wants to catch it for us?
Oh no, just let him go!
There's another one flapping about over there,
Who must be his friend,
So don't hit him any of you
Otherwise that other one will cry.

Isn't that singing I can hear over there?
How majestic it sounds!
Young people, how splendidly
The nightingale is singing.
That's where she is sitting, up there
In the apple tree, there;
We ought to praise her
Then she will carry on singing.

Come down here, love,
And let yourself be admired!
Who teaches you those songs?
You are doing it really beautifully!
Oh, don't let yourself be disturbed,
You little bird, you!
All of us are listening 
To you with such pleasure.

Where is she, is she still there?
We can't see her any more.
She is up there, flying off.
Come back here!
In vain, the pleasure
Has come to an end this time:
Somebody did something to hurt her,
Whatever it was.

Let us plait ourselves a garland,
There are lots of flowers here.
Anybody who finds violets
Will get something in exchange for them!
The gift of a little kiss
Is what your mother will give you, possibly two.
Yippee! I've got one,
I've got one, yippee!

Oh, is it going down already,
Is the sun setting so early?
But we are still up and about,
Oh sun, forgive us!
So, see you tomorrow brothers,
Sleep well, good night!
Yes, tomorrow there is again going to be 
Play and laughter.