# Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf Galopp

"Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf Galopp" is a German children's song about a galloping hobby-horse, written by the schoolmaster Karl Hahn around 1807–1808 to a melody by Carl Gottlieb Hering (1809).

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Karl Hahn |
| First known | text 1808; melody 1809 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/hopp-hopp-hopp-pferdchen-lauf-galopp/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

Hopp, hopp, hopp,
Pferdchen lauf Galopp!
Über Stock und über Steine,
aber brich dir nicht die Beine!
Hopp, hopp, hopp, hopp,
Pferdchen lauf Galopp!

### English translation (en)

Hop, hop, hop,
little horse, gallop away!
Over sticks and over stones,
but don't go breaking your legs!
Hop, hop, hop, hop,
little horse, gallop away!

## How to sing it

1. Bounce a child on your knee like a rider on a trotting horse, or let them gallop on a hobby-horse.
2. Speed up on "Hopp, hopp, hopp" and steady the pace on "lauf Galopp".
3. On "aber brich dir nicht die Beine!" give a playful little wobble, then carry on galloping.

## Common questions

**What is "Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf Galopp" about?**

A hobby-horse. The child urges the little horse to gallop away — over sticks and over stones — but warns it not to break its legs. It is a movement song, played either as a knee-bounce for a baby or as a galloping game for a child on a hobby-horse.

**Who wrote "Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen lauf Galopp"?**

The words were written by the schoolmaster Karl Hahn (1778–1854), following older traditional models, and published around 1808 under the title "Steckenpferdliedchen" (little hobby-horse song). The melody was composed by Carl Gottlieb Hering (1766–1853) and published in 1809.

**What does "über Stock und über Steine" mean?**

"Over stick and over stones" — a common German expression for rushing along roughly and headlong, over any obstacle. Here it pictures the little horse galloping wildly across the countryside.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (German) — Hopp, hopp, hopp, Pferdchen, lauf Galopp](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopp,_hopp,_hopp,_Pferdchen,_lauf_Galopp)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113631755