The lyrics of this song had already been passed on with the title “birds’ wedding” in a manuscript of 1603. It was also included in a collection called “Wienhäuser Liederbuch” (songbook of the Wienhausen monastery) that was written around 1470. At that time, poems about birds were very popular, so there are numerous lyrics evolving around birds. Even today, up to 22 strophes are still sung – with differences between regions. In German, “to get (to be brought) under the cap” (fourth strophe) means getting married. The melody has been passed on orally from about 1800 on.