“Down in the Meadow” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Down in the Meadow” (in Pennsylvania Dutch) Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
“Down in the Meadow” (in English) Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
A Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Song.
A Song of the Snitzing Party.
♂: Datt drunne in der Wiss, datt waxt des Graas;
Aus demm Wasser datt sauft der Haas.
In der Grick datt schwimme die Fisch,
Luschdich wau noch leddich iss!
♀: Denkscht du ich wott mei yung frisch Leewe
Zu sellem alde Wittman geewe?
Liewer wollt ich Kuggle giesse
Fer denn alde Wittmann schiesse!
♂: Ei, Meedle, wann mer heiere duhne,
Misse mir die Wiegge ziehgge;
Misse singe hei-oh-bei,
Geh un koch demm Kind moll Brei!
♀: Hool die Millich moll aus demm Keller,
Setz des Mehl moll uff der Deller,
Geh un riehr der Beri moll ei,
Setzet iwwer’s Feier nei!
♂: Ach, glei doo kummt sie rausgerennt;
Gell, du hoscht der Brei verbrennt?
Ich denk ich muss dich lanne koche—
Saufe kannscht du ganse Woche!
♀: Geh numme nei un red net viel,
Odder ich zieg der Beesemschtiel;
Der Beesemschtiel iss nix zu viel,
Wann’s net kummt mit em Schippeschtiel!
♂: Down in the meadow, the wild birds sing;
The rabbits drink from the bubbling spring.
In the creek, the shy fish swim.
Glad’s the man who is free of women!
♀: You think for a moment I’d give up this life
To be that widower’s second wife?
I’d rather mold some bullets of lead,
Aim at the pest, and shoot him dead!
♂: Ah, sweetheart, when I marry you,
You’ll rock the cradle the whole night through,
Sing the baby lullabies,
And feed him pap whenever he cries.
♀: Go down in the cellar and fetch the milk;
Set flour on the table as fine as silk.
Go and stir the pap, do you hear?
Then, set it over the cooking fire, dear!
♂: Now, here she comes, running lickety clip.
You’ve burnt the pap, you little snip!
I think I must teach you cooking and frying.
You can drink long weeks without even trying!
♀: Just go and don’t babble so loud,
Or I’ll take the broomstick and drive you out!
The broomsticks not hard—on the level.
You’re lucky I don’t take the root shovel!