HAPPY WANDERER
“The Happy Wanderer” (“Der fröhliche Wanderer” or “Mein Vater war ein
Wandersmann”) is a popular song by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller written shortly after
World War II. It is often mistaken for a German folk song, but it is actually an original
composition. On January 22, 1954, the song entered the the UK singles chart, and would
stay on the chart – only a Top 12 at the time – for 26 non-consecutive weeks. With BBC
Radio’s strong international influence, “The Happy Wanderer” suddenly turned up
everywhere, e.g. as the winning song of the 1955 calypso road march season of the
Trinidad Carnival (prompting protest that from now on, only calypsos should be chosen
over foreign music). The song’s original German lyrics have been translated into several
languages, and it has since become a choir classic. The English lyrics were written by
Antonia Ridge. Milton DeLugg wrote a famous arrangement, and is sometimes falsely
credited as the composer of the song.
I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain track,
And as I go, I love to sing,
My knapsack on my back.
Chorus:
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!”
(Chorus concludes with ‘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.
(Chorus concludes with ‘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.
(Chorus concludes with ‘As o’er the world we roam.’)
One thought on “HAPPY WANDERER”
Henri Rene…….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fwAM1qKBXY