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Ich bin der [wohlbekannte]1 Sänger, Der vielgereiste Rattenfänger, Den diese altberühmte Stadt Gewiß besonders nöthig hat; Und wären's Ratten noch so viele, Und wären Wiesel mit im Spiele; Von allen säubr' ich diesen Ort, Sie müssen mit einander fort. Dann ist der gut gelaunte Sänger Mitunter auch ein Kinderfänger, Der selbst die wildesten bezwingt, Wenn er die goldnen Mährchen singt. Und wären Knaben noch so trutzig, Und wären Mädchen noch so stutzig, In meine Saiten greif' ich ein, Sie müssen alle hinter drein. Dann ist der vielgewandte Sänger Gelegentlich ein Mädchenfänger; In keinem Städtchen langt er an, Wo er's nicht mancher angethan. Und wären Mädchen noch so blöde, Und wären Weiber noch so spröde; Doch allen wird so liebebang Bei Zaubersaiten und Gesang.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1827, pages 200-201; and with Taschenbuch auf das Jahr 1804, Herausgegeben von Wieland und Goethe, Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, pages 148-149. Just below the poem it says "(Von Anfang.)".
1 Methfessel: "weitgereiste"; further changes may exist not noted.Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Rattenfänger", first published 1804 [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):
- by (Carl) Ludwig (Heinrich) Berger (1777 - 1839), "Der Rattenfänger", op. 17 no. 6, published 1825 [ voice and piano ], from Neun deutsche Lieder mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 6, Berlin: bei Fr. Laue [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nikolaus, Freiherr von Krufft (1779 - 1818), "Der Rattenfänger", c1814, published 1870, from Zwölf Lieder, no. 9 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Nanna Magdalene Liebmann (1849 - 1935), "Der Rattenfänger" [ voice and piano ], from 7 Sange, no. 7, Kbh, Frankfurt : Wilhelm Hansen [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Methfessel (1771 - 1807), "Der Rattenfänger aus Hameln", op. 6 (Kleine Romanzen und Lieder für die Guitarre) no. 7, published 1805 [ voice and guitar ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emil Naumann (1827 - 1888), "Der Rattenfänger ", op. 6 (Sechs Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran oder Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1856 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
- by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Der Rattenfänger", op. 37 (Drei Balladen für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1871 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Schlottmann (1826 - 1905), "Der Rattenfänger", op. 45 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1881 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Challier & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Rattenfänger", D 255 (1815), published 1850 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Der Rattenfänger", op. 54 (Gedichte von Goethe: II) no. 5 (1815?) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Der Rattenfänger", published 1891 [ voice and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 11, Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Sílvia Pujalte Piñán) , "El caçador de rates", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Karel Dostál-Lutinov) , "Krysař", first published 1917
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De rattenvanger", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le chasseur de rats", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il cacciatore di topi", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- TUR Turkish (Türkçe) (Gül Sabar) , "Fare Avcısı", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 124
I am the well-known singer, the widely-travelled rat-catcher, of whom this old, famous city certainly has an especial need. And even if the rats are very numerous, and even if there are weasels in the picture, of each and every one I'll clear this place; they must all go away. Then also, this well-disposed singer is from time to time a child-catcher, who can capture even the wildest when he sings golden fairy tales. And even if the boys are defiant, and even if the girls are startled, I pluck my strings and each and every one must follow. Then also, this many-skilled singer occasionally is a maiden-catcher; in no town does he stay where he does not bewitch many. And even if the maidens are shy, and even if the women are prim, each and every one becomes lovestruck from his magical strings and songs.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Der Rattenfänger" = "The rat-catcher"Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Rattenfänger", first published 1804
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 147