The Cuckoo and the Donkey (Der Kuckuck und der Esel) | Lyrics

from the MMF Songbook


History for 'The Cuckoo and the Donkey'

The Cuckoo and the Donkey is a classic German children’s song dating back to the early 19th century. The lyrics were written by Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1835, while the melody was composed in 1810 by Carl Friedrich Zelter. The song tells the story of a singing contest between a cuckoo and a donkey. Since neither the cuckoo or the donkey is known for a beautiful voice, their playful competition is all the more amusing.


English Lyrics for 'The Cuckoo and the Donkey'

The cuckoo and the donkey,
Agreed to have a test.
One lovely day in May,
One lovely day in May.
To see who sang the best,
To see who sang the best.

I'll show you said the cuckoo,
But screams were all he made.
Oh, I can sing much better,
Oh, I can sing much better.
The donkey loudly brayed,
The donkey loudly brayed.

They sounded so delightful,
The said they'd fight no more.
They sang along together,
They sang aliong together.
Cuckoo,Cuckoo, Hee Haw, Hee Haw.
Cuckoo, Cuckoo, Hee Haw, Hee Haw.


German Lyrics for 'The Cuckoo and the Donkey'

Der Kuckuck und der Esel,
Die hatten einen Streit,
Wer wohl am besten sänge,
Wer wohl am besten sänge
Zur schönen Maienzeit,
Zur schönen Maienzeit.

Der Kuckuck sprach: “Das kann ich!”
Und hub gleich an zu schrei’n.
“Ich aber kann es besser!,
Ich aber kann es besser!”
Fiel gleich der Esel ein,
Fiel gleich der Esel ein.

Das klang so schön und lieblich,
So schön von fern und nah;
Sie sangen alle beide,
“Kuckuck, Kuckuck, i-a, i-a! Kuckuck, Kuckuck, i-a, i-a!”
“Kuckuck, Kuckuck, i-a! Kuckuck, Kuckuck, i-a!”




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