by Hans Bötticher (1883 - 1934), as Joachim Ringelnatz
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Volkslied
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Wenn ich zwei Vöglein wär,
Und auch vier Flügel hätt,
Flög die eine Hälfte zu dir.
Und die andere, die ging auch zu Bett,
Aber hier zu Haus bei mir.

Wenn ich einen Flügel hätt
Und gar kein Vöglein wär,
Verkaufte ich ihn dir
Und kaufte mir dafür ein Klavier.

Wenn ich kein Flügel wär
(Linker Flügel beim Militär)
Und auch keinen Vogel hätt,
Flög ich zu dir.
Da 's aber nicht kann sein,
Bleib ich im eignen Bett
Allein zu zwein.

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):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Folksong", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 82

Folksong
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
If I were two birds,
And had four wings,
Half of me would fly to you.
And the other half, he would go to bed
But here at my house.

If I had no bird at all
And was no bird myself,
I would buy a such a thing
By buying myself therefore a piano.

If I were no bird (or piano)
(and not flying for the Air Force)
And also if I had no bird (or piano),
I would fly to you.
Ah, but that cannot be,
So I shall stay in my own bed
Alone in my bed for two.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 102