THE HAPPY WANDERER

(orig. German text by Florenz Friedrich Sigismund;
music by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller;
German text adapted to music by Edith Möller;
Eng. lyrics by Antonia Ridge)

Eng. lyrics (Antonia Ridge)

I love to go a-wandering, 
Along the mountain track, 
And as I go, I love to sing, 
My knapsack on my back. 

	Val-deri,
	Val-dera,
	Val-deri,
	Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha 
	Val-deri,
	Val-dera. 
	My knapsack on my back.

I love to wander by the stream 
That dances in the sun, 
So joyously it calls to me, 
"Come! Join my happy song!"

	Val-deri ...
	"Come! Join my happy song!"
	
I wave my hat to all I meet, 
And they wave back to me, 
And blackbirds call so loud and sweet 
From ev'ry green wood tree.

	Val-deri ...
	From ev'ry green wood tree.
	
High overhead, the skylarks wing, 
They never rest at home 
But just like me, they love to sing, 
As o'er the world we roam.

	Val-deri ...
	As o'er the world we roam.
	
Oh, may I go a-wandering 
Until the day I die! 
Oh, may I always laugh and sing, 
Beneath God's clear blue sky!

	Val-deri ...
	Beneath God's clear blue sky!





German orig. (Edith Möller)

Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann,
Und mir steckt's auch im Blut;
Drum wandr' ich froh, so lang ich kann,
Und schwenke meinen Hut.

	Faleri, 
	Falera, 
	Faleri,
	Falera ha ha ha ha ha ha
	Faleri, 
	Falera,
	Und schwenke meinen Hut.

Das Wandern schaffet frische Lust,
Erhält das Herz gesund;
Frei atmet draußen meine Brust,
Froh singet stets mein Mund:

	Faleri ...
	Froh singet stets mein Mund:

Warum singt Dir das Vögelein
So freudevoll sein Lied?
Weil's nimmer hockt, landaus, landein
Durch and're Fluren zieht.

	Faleri ...
	Durch and're Fluren zieht.

Was murmelt's Bächlein dort und rauscht,
So lustig hin durch's Rohr,
Weil's frei sich regt, mit Wonne lauscht
Ihm dein empfänglich Ohr.

	Faleri ...
	Ihm dein empfänglich Ohr.

D'rum trag ich Ränzlein und den Stab
Weit in die Welt hinein,
Und werde bis an's kühle Grab
Ein Wanderbursche sein!

	Faleri ...
	Ein Wanderbursche sein!





more direct trans. of the German

My father was a wanderer
And it's in my blood too;
So I wander happily as long as I can
And wave my hat.









Hiking creates fresh pleasure,
Keeps the heart healthy;
My chest breathes freely outside,
My mouth always sings gladly:




Why does the bird sing to you
Is his song so joyful?
Because it never sits in any one land,
But moves through other fields.




Such a brook murmurs there and rustles
Laughing through the channel,
Because it moves freely: listen with delight
Through your receptive ear.




That's why I carry a satchel and staff
Far into the world
And I will go to the cool grave
Still as a wanderer!

recording: Obernkirchen Children's Choir (1954, orig. German recording, UK charts Jan-Jun 1954) [YouTube]

recording: The Stargazers (1954, Eng. lyrics, UK charts Apr 1954) [YouTube]

background: UK chart statistics [Official Charts]

background: UK chart history [45 Worlds]

background: Song history and translations [Wikipedia]

recording: The Muppet Show (1979) [YouTube]

notes: The Muppet Show, Episode 401 [Muppet Wiki]