# Alle meine Entchen

"Alle meine Entchen" is one of the best-known German children's songs — a simple picture of ducklings dabbling on a lake, with a melody documented from the 18th century and a text from the 19th.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Traditional |
| First known | melody 18th c.; text 19th c. |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/alle-meine-entchen/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Alle meine Entchen
schwimmen auf dem See,
schwimmen auf dem See,
Köpfchen in das Wasser,
Schwänzchen in die Höh'.

### English translation (en)

All my little ducklings
swimming on the lake,
swimming on the lake,
little heads down in the water,
little tails up in the air.

## Common questions

**What is "Alle meine Entchen" about?**

Very little, gently observed: a row of ducklings swimming on a lake, dipping their heads into the water and tipping their tails up in the air. Further verses add pigeons, chickens and geese doing much the same. It is a first song for very young children, close to a lullaby in feel.

**How old is "Alle meine Entchen"?**

The melody is documented from around the middle of the 18th century — it appears in old dance manuscripts — while the words are usually dated to the 19th century. Ernst Anschütz is sometimes credited, but that cannot be confirmed; the song was in print in a collection of Hessian children's songs by 1891.

**Why does the tune sound familiar?**

Because that simple rising phrase turns up in many places. Related melodies appear in other European songs, and the same opening shape is heard at the start of the Israeli anthem "Hatikvah" and in Smetana's "Vltava (The Moldau)".

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (German) — Alle meine Entchen](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alle_meine_Entchen)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2648172