by
Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934), as Joachim Ringelnatz
Die Schnupftabaksdose
Language: German (Deutsch)
Es war eine Schnupftabaksdose,
Die hatte Friedrich der Große
Sich selbst geschnitzelt aus Nußbaumholz.
Und darauf war sie natürlich stolz.
Da kam ein Holzwurm gekrochen.
Der hatte Nußbaum gerochen.
Die Dose erzählte ihm lang und breit
Von Friedrich dem Großen und seiner Zeit.
Sie nannte den alten Fritz generös.
Da aber wurde der Holzwurm nervös
Und sagte, indem er zu bohren begann:
"Was geht mich Friedrich der Große an!"
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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Die Schnupftabaksdose", 2006 [ medium voice or high voice and piano ], from Strumpfsinn Lieder, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alice Samter (1908 - 2004), "Die Schnupftabaksdose", 1968 [ mixed chorus ], from Zwei Chöre, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alfred Uhl (1909 - 1992), "Die Schnupftabaksdose" [ soli, chorus, and orchestra ], from Wer einsam ist, der hat es gut, no. 12 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "The snuff box", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-05-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 69
The snuff box
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
There was a snuff box,
that Frederick the Great himself
Had carved out of walnut.
And for this he was naturally proud.
There came a woodworm crawling.
He had smelled walnut.
The snuff box told him at length
Of Frederick the Great and his age.
He said the Old Fritz was generous.
But that made the woodworm jittery
And he said, as he began to bore:
"What has Frederick the Great to do with me!"
Text Authorship:
Based on:
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 75