by Mascha Kaléko, née Golda Malka Aufen (1907 - 1975)
Translation by Andreas Nolte
Kein Kinderlied
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wohin ich immer reise, Ich fahr nach Nirgendland. Die Koffer voll von Sehnsucht, Die Hände voll von Tand. So einsam wie der Wüstenwind. So heimatlos wie Sand: Wohin ich immer reise, Ich komm nach Nirgendland. Die Wälder sind verschwunden, Die Häuser sind verbrannt. Hab keinen mehr gefunden. Hat keiner mich erkannt. Und als der fremde Vogel schrie, Bin ich davongerannt. Wohin ich immer reise, Ich komm nach Nirgendiand.
Confirmed with Mascha Kaléko, Die paar leuchtenden Jahre, München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag, 2003, p.34
Text Authorship:
- by Mascha Kaléko, née Golda Malka Aufen (1907 - 1975), "Kein Kinderlied", appears in Die paar leuchtenden Jahre [author's text checked 1 time 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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Andreas Nolte , "Not a Children's Song" ; composed by Victoria Bond.
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 68
No matter where I travel
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
No matter where I travel, I go to Nowhereland. The suitcase full of longing, Just knick-knacks in my hand. As lonely as the desert wind. As homeless as the sand. No matter where I travel, I come to Nowhereland. The forests are all gone now, Each home a firebrand. Found no one left whom I know. Not one knew me first-band. And when the alien bird screeched loud, I ran, could not withstand. No matter where I travel, I come to Nowhereland.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Andreas Nolte , "Not a Children's Song" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Mascha Kaléko, née Golda Malka Aufen (1907 - 1975), "Kein Kinderlied", appears in Die paar leuchtenden Jahre
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Victoria Bond (b. 1945), "Nowhereland", 2022, first performed 2022 [ mezzo-soprano and guitar ], Protone [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 83