# Hänschen Klein

"Hänschen Klein" is a 19th-century German song by Franz Wiedemann about a boy who sets off into the world; the short version sung to children today has his mother weeping and asking him to come home soon.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Franz Wiedemann |
| First known | mid-19th century |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | traditional, calming |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/hanschen-klein/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Hänschen klein ging allein
in die weite Welt hinein.
Stock und Hut steht ihm gut,
ist gar wohlgemut.
Aber Mutter weinet sehr,
hat ja nun kein Hänschen mehr.
„Wünsch dir Glück!" sagt ihr Blick,
„kehr nur bald zurück!"

### English translation (en)

Little Hans went off alone
out into the wide, wide world.
Stick and hat suit him well,
he is in the best of cheer.
But his mother weeps and weeps —
now she has no Hans at all.
"Wish you luck," says her look,
"only come back soon!"

## Common questions

**Who wrote "Hänschen Klein"?**

The words are by the German writer Franz Wiedemann (1821–1882), from the middle of the nineteenth century. The melody is an older folk tune — the same one English speakers know as "Lightly Row".

**What is "Hänschen Klein" about?**

Little Hans (Hänschen) leaves home to see the wide world, cheerful with his walking stick and hat, while his mother weeps to see him go. In Wiedemann's original three-verse version he stays away for years and comes home grown and unrecognisable — only his mother knows him at once. The short version sung to small children keeps just the tender farewell.

**Why is the version children sing so short?**

The original had three verses. In 1900 Otto Frömmel made a two-verse version for kindergartens, and today usually only the first verse is sung, which is why the modern song ends gently with the mother asking Hans to come back soon.

**Where else have I heard the tune?**

The melody is widely used as a first piece for beginners on the piano and recorder. It is also the tune HAL 9000 sings while being shut down in the German-language release of the film "2001: A Space Odyssey".

## Sources

- [Wikipedia — Hänschen klein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4nschen_klein)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1185304