Hänschen klein facts for kids
Hänschen klein (which means "Little Hans") is a very old and popular German folk song. It's also a well-known children's song. It first appeared in the 1800s during a time called the Biedermeier period.
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What is "Hänschen klein"?
This song was written by Franz Wiedemann (1821–1882). It's one of the first songs many German children learn, often in kindergarten.
The Story Behind the Song
The original song told a longer story. It was about a young boy who left home to explore the world. He returned years later as a grown man to his family.
However, around 1900, a shorter version became much more popular. This is the one most people know today. In this version, a little boy named Hans goes away. But his mother starts crying because she misses him so much. So, Hans quickly changes his mind and comes right back home to her.
Other Songs with the Same Tune
The tune of "Hänschen klein" is quite famous! You might know it from other songs. For example, the simple Mother Goose rhyme "Lightly Row" uses the same melody. Other children's songs like "Little bird, have you heard" and "Baby-bye, there's a fly" also share this tune.
The song's melody has even appeared in movies! It's the main theme song for the 1977 war film Cross of Iron. Also, in the German version of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, the computer HAL 9000 sings "Hänschen klein" when it's being turned off. This might be because a real computer in 1958, a Z22, was programmed to sing this tune as a demonstration.
The Song's Words
The most common version of "Hänschen klein" is a shortened one. It's believed to have been created around 1899 by Otto Frömmel (1873–1940). Here are the words in German and their English translation:
<score %vorbis="1"%%T257066%> \relative c { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 128 g4 e4 e2 | f4 d4 d2 | c4 d4 e4 f4 | g4 g4 g2 | g4 e4 e2 | f4 d4 d2 | c4 e4 g4 g4 | c,1 | d4 d4 d4 d4 | d4 e4 f2 | e4 e4 e4 e4 | e4 f4 g2 | g4 e4 e2| f4 d4 d2| c4 e4 g4 g4 | c,1 \bar "|."} \addlyrics { Häns -- chen klein | ging al -- lein | in die wei -- te | Welt hin -- ein. | Stock und Hut | stehn ihm gut, | ist gar wohl -- ge -- mut. | A -- ber Mut -- ter | wei -- net sehr, | hat ja nun kein | Häns -- chen mehr! | Da be -- sinnt | sich das Kind, | läuft nach Haus ge -- schwind. } </score>
Hänschen klein
ging allein
in die weite Welt hinein.
Stock und Hut
stehn ihm gut,
ist gar wohlgemut.
Aber Mutter weinet sehr,
hat ja nun kein Hänschen mehr.
Da besinnt
sich das Kind,
kehrt nach Haus geschwind.
Little Hans
went alone
out into the wide world.
Staff and hat
suit him well.
He is in good spirits.
But his mother cries so much,
for she no longer has little Hans.
Look! the child
changes his mind
and returns home quickly.
