songs with german words

This page is being prepared with material shared by Sue Gibbs from Vicarage Park Primary School, Kendal, who hopes it will promote German language songs in schools. "You'll find authentic traditional resources, which you can use either to support your German teaching, or simply to enjoy and explore the musical potential within the beautiful songs."
Each song will eventually have:
pdfs: score, lyric sheet and translation and actions
mp3s: song, spoken word and spoken call and response for pronunciation.
If anyone has more songs they would like to add, including new compositions or arrangements, please get in touch.

Auf der Mauer
Traditional childrens song. 'On the wall, lying in wait, there sits a little bug. Just look at the little bug! How it can dance!'
song | spoken words with call and response

Der Kuckuck und der Esel
A lovely funny song about an argument between a cuckoo and a donkey as to who is the better singer!
KS 2.
score

He-jo, spann den Wagen an
German version of the English traditional Hey ho, nobody home. A round in three parts
KS 2,3.
song | score

Kuckuck, kuckuck ruft aus dem Wald
Cuckoo, cuckoo, calling from the woods - an Austrian folksong tells how the cuckoo heralds the arrival of Spring.
KS 2,3.
score

Happy Birthday!
Sung to the traditional English tune
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!
Zum Geburtstag liebe* ... (add the name) *for a boy use lieber
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!

Laurentia
Traditional song with a lovely tune - a great way to learn the days of the week. 'Laurentia, my dear Laurentia, when will we be together again?' 'On Sunday (etc.)' 'When will it be Sunday (etc) again?'
KS 2,3.
score | song | spoken words with call and response

Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken
Traditional childrens song, fun and easy to sing, with actions taking the place of missing words.
KS 2,3.
song | score with lyrics, translation and actions

Meine Oma
Funny song, about a practical Grandmother who does things like drive a motorbike in the chicken coop and has glasses with curtains etc. From the original by Robert Steidl (1865-1927). Shared by Korinna Hedinger-Farrell
KS 2,3.
song | lyrics | translation

Tomatensalat
Tomato Salad - funny tongue twister
KS 2,3.
score

Viel Glück und viel Segen
Happy Birthday song in Germany
All KS
score

Was müssen das für Bäume sein
Great song where the group is divided into elephants and trees
KS 2.
score

Widele, wedele
The Beggarmans Wedding
KS 2,3
song | score with translation

Vocal Union is funded through Sing Up and is part of its national singing programme.