# Maček Muri

"Maček Muri" is the song of Slovenia's most famous cat, from Kajetan Kovič's 1975 picture book: Muri the cat wakes, tidies himself, and heads to the inn "At the Merry Cow" for breakfast and the cat newspapers.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Slovenia |
| Sung in | Slovenian |
| Words by | Kajetan Kovič |
| First known | book 1975; music by Jerko Novak, sung by Neca Falk |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | playful, traditional |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/macek-muri/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (sl)

Ko zapoje zvonček v uri,
prebudi se maček Muri,
s taco si oči pomane,
vzdigne rep in hitro vstane.
Mačjo posteljo prezrači,
mačjo suknjo pokrtači,
in za zajtrk se odpravi
v krčmo Pri veseli kravi.

### Verse 2 (sl)

Tam ga čaka stalna miza
in točajka muca Liza,
ki prinese lonček mleka
in še mačji kruh od peka.

### Verse 3 (sl)

Ob jedači poglobi se
Muri v mačje časopise,
vse prebere brez razlike,
tudi vejice in pike.

### Verse 4 (sl)

Potlej plača in čez cesto
gre na sprehod v mačje mesto.

### English translation (en)

When the little bell in the clock rings,
Muri the cat wakes up,
rubs his eyes with a paw,
lifts his tail and quickly gets up.
He airs out his cat's bed,
brushes his cat's coat,
and sets off for breakfast
to the inn "At the Merry Cow".

There a regular table awaits him
and the barmaid, the cat Liza,
who brings a little pot of milk
and cat's bread from the baker.

Over his meal, Muri
buries himself in the cat newspapers,
reads everything without exception,
even the commas and the full stops.

Then he pays, and across the street
he goes for a stroll through the cat city.

## Common questions

**What is "Maček Muri" about?**

A day in the life of a very civilised cat. When the little bell in the clock rings, Muri the cat wakes, rubs his eyes with a paw, airs his bed and brushes his coat, then goes for breakfast to the inn "At the Merry Cow", where the barmaid cat Liza brings him milk and cat's bread. He reads the cat newspapers — every comma and full stop — then strolls out into the cat city.

**Where does "Maček Muri" come from?**

From "Maček Muri", a much-loved Slovenian picture book written by the poet Kajetan Kovič in 1975, with illustrations by Jelka Reichman. The poems were later set to music by Jerko Novak and sung by Neca Falk, and the songs became inseparable from the book.

**Why is Maček Muri so famous in Slovenia?**

He is a national childhood icon — "the best-known Slovenian cat". The book has been reprinted many times and translated into several languages, and generations of children have grown up with Muri, his friend the cat Maca, and their little cat town.

## Sources

- [Wikipedija — Maček Muri](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma%C4%8Dek_Muri)