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Es flog einmal ein muntres Fliegel Zu einem vollen Honigtiegel. Da tunkt es mit Zufriedenheit Den Rüssel in die [Süßigkeit]1. Nachdem es dann genug geschleckt, Hat es die Flüglein ausgereckt Und möchte sich nach oben schwingen. Allein das Bein im Honigseim Sitzt fest als wie in Vogelleim. Nun fängt das Fliegel an zu singen: Ach, lieber Himmel, mach mich frei Aus dieser süßen Sklaverei! Ein Freund von mir, der dieses sah, Der seufzte tief und rief: Ja, ja!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Gál: "Flüssigkeit"
Text Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908), no title, appears in Kritik des Herzens [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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Sklaverei", 2010 [ baritone and piano ], from Busch-lieder , no. 10 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Der Unvorsichtige", op. 34 no. 3 (1929), published 1931 [ four-part men's chorus and piano ], from Drei Porträtstudien, no. 3, Deutscher Arbeiter-Sängerbund, Berlin [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Erich Zeisl (1905 - 1959), "Der Unvorsichtige", 1931 [ soprano and piano ], from Sieben Lieder, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , written 2010, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-04
Line count: 14
Word count: 78
Once there was a merry little fly Who chanced upon a honey pot. Intent to drink its sweetness dry Its proboscis dipped and sought. After the sweetness fully sated it, It thought it time to fly away; Well satisfied it stretched each wing. But its feet were into honey knit And therein did they sticky stay. For this the fly began to sing: "Heavens high, what knavery! This is a honeyed slavery." A friend I knew once, more or less, Just sighed and said: O yes, O yes.
About the headline (FAQ)
Rhymed paraphrase; Bachlund's title: "Slavery"Text Authorship:
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), written 2010, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908), no title, appears in Kritik des Herzens
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 ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-12-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 88