by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Hänschen ist fürwahr zu dumm
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Our translations:  ENG
Hänschen ist fürwahr zu dumm,
  Sagt, er könne fliegen,
Springt und kommt natürlich gleich
  Auf die Nas' zu liegen!

Schwester Ännchen sieht ihm zu,
  Und sie spricht mit Lachen:
Hänschen, der du fliegen willst,
  Was für dumme Sachen!1

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   E. Frank 

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Am Fenster in Bildern und Versen von Kate Greenaway, der deutsche Text von Käthe Freiligrath-Kroeker, München: Theodor Stroefers Kunstverlag, [1880], page 36.

1 Frank adds: 
Kinder, nehmet euch die Lehr'
  Hier von Hans dem Kleinen:
Haltet nichts für gar so leicht,
  Will's auch oft so scheinen.

Jedem, der dies übersieht,
  Sagt die Welt mit Lachen:
Hänschen, der du fliegen willst,
  Was für dumme Sachen!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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 (Sharon Krebs) , "Little Hans is truly too stupid", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2020-05-31
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Little Hans is truly too stupid
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Little Hans is truly too stupid,
  He said that he could fly,
Leaps and naturally right away
  Lands on his nose!

Sister Annie watches him,
  And she says with a laugh:
Little Hans, who wishes to fly,
  What a silly notion!1

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Frank adds: 
Children, learn a lesson here
  From Hans the little one:
Do not think anything is so easy
  Though it may often seem that way.

To everyone who overlooks this
  The world says with laughter:
Little Hans, who wishes to fly,
  What a silly notion!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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.
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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2024-09-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 42