Die Schlangenkochin (Grossmutter Schlangenkochin)- (N. Germany) 1840
[From: Deutsche Volkslieder mit ihren Original-Weisen, Andreas Kretzschmer - 1838. Commonly known as Grossmutter Schlangenkochin, which is the title found in Jamieson 1814 who translated the older version. A seven-stanza text with a similar opening stanza first appeared in 1802 in Clemens Brentano's novel 'Godwi'. Reprinted with melody and single stanza in "Songs from Scotland and the North Country" by Lucy E. Broadwood, Cecil J. Sharp, A. G. Gilchrist; Journal of the Folk-Song Society, Vol. 5, No. 19 (Jun., 1915), pp. 104-121. Broadwood's notes follow. Complete text given below.
A nearly identical text with two line stanzas (the second line omitted) first appeared in 1802 in Clemens Brentano's novel 'Godwi'.
R. Matteson 2018]
A German version, with seven stanzas and a very simple tune, is to be found in Neues Wunderhorn (Fischer and Franke, Berlin), under the title of "Stiefmutter." Another very interesting version, from North Germany, is in Zuccalmaglio's Deutsche Volkslieder (I840), under the title of " Die Schlangenkochin." This has fourteen verses, relating how "Maria" has been to an old neighbour who gave her a baked fish, caught with sticks and rods in her herb-garden. The dog having eaten of it burst into a thousand bits. The North German air is of interest, as showing a strong likeness to certain English tunes, equally sung by solo and chorus alternating, such as the Sussex version of " Bango," referred to in this Journal under "Cobbler and Tinker" (see Sussex Songs, Broadwood and Birch- Reynardson). It is therefore subjoined.-L. E. B.
DIE SCHLANGENKOCHIN
HESSEN UND N. DEUTSCHLAND
Maria, wo bist du zu Gaste gewesen?
Ihr Heligen helft!
Ihr Heligen helft!
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
Maria where have you been visiting?
In Heligen help
In Heligen help
Maria, my only child!
A translation is reprinted from Jamieson in Scottish Ballads by Robert Chambers 1829:
Mr Jamieson also translates, as follows, a German popu'ar ditty, entitled Grossmutter Schlangenkoechin, i, e. Grandmother Adder-cook.
Maria, what room have you been in—Maria, my only child ?
I've been with my grandmother—Alas, lady mother, what pain!
What has she given thee to eat—Maria, &c
She has given me fried fishes—Alas, &c.
Where did she catch the little fishes—Maria, &c.
She caught them in the kitchen garden—Alas, &c.
With what did she catch the little fishes—Maria, &c.
She caught them with rods and little sticks—Alas, &c.
What did she do with the rest of the fishes—Maria, &c.
She gave it to her little dark-brown dog—Alas, &c.
And what became of the dark-brown dog—Maria, &c
It burst into a thousand pieces—Alas, &c.
Maria, where shall I mane thy bed—Maria, my only child?
In the churchyard shalt thou make my bed—Alas, lady mother, what pain!
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Die Schlangenkochin- from Hessen, N. Germany) published in 1838 by Kretzschmer.
1. Maria, wo bist du zu Gaste gewesen?
Ihr Heiligen, helft, ihr Heiligen, helft,
Maria, mein einziges Kind?
2. Ich bin bei der alten Nachbarin gewesen,
ihr Heiligen, helft, ihr Heiligen helft!
Wie weh, o Mutter, wie weh!“
3. Was hat sie dir dann zu eben gegeben?
Ihr Heiligen helft! ihr Heiligen helft!
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
4. Sie hat mir gebackene Fischlein gegeben.
Ihr Heiligen helft! Ihr Heiligen helft!
5. Wo hat sie dir dann das Fischlein gefangen?
ihr Heiligen helft! ihr Heiligen helft!
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
6. In ihrem Krautgarten that sie's, fangen."
Ihr Heiligen helft! Ihr Heiligen helft!
Wie weh, Herzmutter, wie weh!
7. Womit hat sie das Fischlein gefangen?
Ihr Heiligen helft! Ihr Heiligen helft !
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
8. Sie hat es mit Stecken und Ruthen gefangen.
Ach weh, Frau Mutter, wie weh!
9. Wo ist dann das übrige vom Fischlein hinkommen?
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
10. Sie hats ihrem schwarzbraunen Hündlein gegeben
Ach weh, Frau Mutter, wie weh!
11. Wo ist dann das schwarzbraun Hündlein hinkommen?
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
12. Es ist in tausend Stücke zersprungen,
Ach weh, Frau Mutter, wie weh!
13. Maria, wo soll ich dein Bettlein hinmachen?
Maria, mein einziges Kind!
14. Du sollst mirs auf den Kirchhof machen.
Ach weh, Frau Mutter, wie weh!
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"Die Schlangenkochin."
1. Maria, where have you been visiting?
Ye Saints, help, ye Saints, help,
Maria, my only child?
2. I was with the old neighbor,
Ye saints, help, ye saints help !
How hurt, oh mother, how hurt (am I!)"
3. What did she give you then?
Ye Saints, help, ye Saints, help,
Maria, my only child!
4. She gave me baked fish,
Ye Saints, help, ye Saints, help,
5. Where did she catch the fish for you?
Ye Saints, help, ye Saints, help,
Maria, my only child!
6. In her herb garden she did catch it."
Help ye saints, help ye saints,
how painful, my mother!
7. How did she catch the little fish?
Ye Saints help! You holy help!
Maria, my only child!
8. She caught it with sticks and rods.
Alas, mother, how hurt!
9. Where is the rest of the little fish?
Maria, my only child!
10. She gave her black-brown doggie
Alas, mother, how hurt!
11. Where is the black and brown dog then?
Maria, my only child!
12. It has burst into a thousand pieces,
Alas, mother, how hurt!
13. Mary, where shall I put your little bed?
Maria, my only child!
14. Thou shalt make it in the churchyard.
Alas, mother, how hurt!