06
Ein Vogel wollte Hochzeit machen
A bird wanted to get married

Ein Vogel wollte Hochzeit machen

in dem grünen Walde,

fidirallala, fidirallala,

fidirallalalala.

 

Die Drossel war der Bräutigam,

die Amsel war die Braute,

fidirallala…

 

Die Lerche, die Lerche,

die führt’ die Braut zur Kerche1),

fidirallala…

 

Die Taube, die Taube,

die bracht’ der Braut die Haube,

fidirallala…

 

Die Eule, die Eule

nahm Abschied mit Geheule,

fidirallala…

A bird wanted to get married

in the green woods,

fidirallala, fidirallala,

fidirallalalala.

 

The thrush was the groom,

the black bird was the bride,

fidirallala…

 

The lark, the lark,

it guides the bride to the church

fidirallala…

 

The pigeon, the pigeon,

it brought the bride the cap,

fidirallala…

 

The owl, the owl,

said farewell with howl,

fidirallala…

1) Kirche (church)

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.