The Happy Wanderer

A long time ago, in my early years of schooling, I think I must have been abducted by aliens. This is the only explanation I have for the strange phenomenon of The Happy Wanderer. All of a sudden every other kid in class seemed to spontaneously know the lyrics to this rather annoying song, and even worse the teachers seemed to encourage all and sundry to burst out with this appalling ditty at every opportunity. Despite the fact that I had not missed any appreciable amount of school, I remain to this day blissfully unaware of the lyrics to this song so beloved of all my classmates. This page may alleviate this, but I doubt it...

(Whilst researching this page, I found some interesting photo’s of the people that really get off on this song. I’ve included a few of these pictures for your edification, as well as a few MIDI versions of the tune. Research alone required several bottles of cheap red, so proceed at your own risk).


Der fröhliche Wanderer Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann Und mir steckt's auch im Blut D'rum wand're ich froh so lang ich kann Und schwenke meinen Hut Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Und schwenke meinen Hut Das Wandern schafft stets frische Lust Erhält das Herz gesund Frei atmet draußen meine Brust Froh singet stets mein Mund Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Froh singet stets mein Mund Warum singt Dir das Vögelein So freudevoll sein Lied Weil's nimmer hockt Land aus Land ein Durch and're Fluren zieht Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Durch and're Fluren zieht Was murmelt's Bächlein dort und rauscht, So lustig hin durch's Rohr, Weil's frei sich regt, mit Wonne lauscht Ihm dein empfänglich Ohr. Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Ihm dein empfänglich Ohr. D'rum trag ich Ränzlein und den Stab Weit in die Welt hinein Und werde bis an's kühle Grab Ein Wanderbursche sein Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Ein Wanderbursche sein




		The Happy Wanderer Words by Antonia Ridge and music by Friedrich W. Moller, copyright © 1954 by Bosworth & Co., Ltd. I love to go a-wandering, Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. CHORUS: Val-de-ri, val-de-ra, Val-de-ri, val-de-ra, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, Val-de-ri, val-de-ra (repeat last line of previous verse). I love to wander by the stream, That dances in the sun, So joyfully it calls to me, Come join my happy song. (CHORUS) I wave my hand to all I meet, And they wave back to me, And the blackbirds call so loud and sweet, From every greenwood tree. (CHORUS) High overhead the skylarks sing, They never rest at home, Just like me they laugh and sing, As o'er the world they roam. (CHORUS) Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die, Oh, may I always laugh and sing, Beneath God's clear blue sky, (CHORUS)

Let Music Calm The Savage Breast
For the musically unenlightened, feel free to explore the delights of various renditions of The Happy Wanderer. All MIDI files I’m afraid, for some reason I couldn’t find an MP3 version. If you have one, I guess you’d better send it to me.

A revolting, yet putrid version.

A putrid, yet revolting version.

A putrid and revolting version.

A revolting and putrid version.


The Happy Wanderer I love to go a-wandering, Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Chorus: Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra- Val-de-ri--Val-de ha ha ha ha ha ha Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra. My knapsack on my back. I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun, So joyously it calls to me, "Come! Join my happy song!" Chorus: Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra- Val-de-ri--Val-de ha ha ha ha ha ha Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra. My knapsack on my back. I wave my hat to all I meet, And they wave back to me, And blackbirds call so loud and sweet From ev'ry green-wood tree. Chorus: Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra- Val-de-ri--Val-de ha ha ha ha ha ha Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra. My knapsack on my back. High overhead, the skylarks wing, They never rest at home, But just like me, they love to sing, As o'er the world we roam. Chorus: Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra- Val-de-ri--Val-de ha ha ha ha ha ha Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra. My knapsack on my back. Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die! Oh may I always laugh and sing Beneath God's clear blue sky! Chorus: Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra- Val-de-ri--Val-de ha ha ha ha ha ha Val-de-ri--Val-de-ra. My knapsack on my back.





Bloody Happy Wanderer I love to go a-wandering Along the mountain track And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera My knapsack on my back. I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun, So joyously it calls to me, Come join my happy song. Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Come join my happy song. I wave my hat to all I see, And they wave back to me And blackbirds all so loud and sweet From every greenwood tree. Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera From every greenwood tree. O may I go a-wandering Until the day I die, O may I always laugh and sing Beneath God's clear blue sky. Faleri falera faleri falera ha ha ha ha ha ha Faleri falera Beneath God's clear blue sky.


		Happy Wanderer I love to go a-wandering Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. Cho: Val da ree, Val da rah Val da ree, Val da rah ha ha ha ha ha Val da ree, Val da rah My knapsack on my back. I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun So joyously it calls to me, Come join my happy song. I wave my hat to all I meet And they wave back to me. The bluebird calls so loud and sweet From every greenwood tree. High overhead the skylarks wing, They never rest at home, But just like me they love to sing As o'er the world we roam. Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die Oh, may I always laugh and sing Beneath God's clear blue sky!



	Happy Wanderer I love to go a-wandering Along the mountain track. And as I go, I love to sing My knapsack on my back. chorus: Valdereee, Valderaaa, Valdereee, Valderaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha, (repeat last line of verse) I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun. So joyously it calls to me, "Come, join my happy song." chorus "I wave my hat to all I meet And they wave back to me, And blackbirds call so loud and sweet, From every greenwood tree." chorus "High overhead the skylarks wing, They never rest at home, But just like me they love to sing As o'er the world we roam." chorus Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die. And may I always laugh and sing Beneath the clear blue sky.

Ecstatic Wanderer I love to go a-wandering Along the mountain track And as a go I love to sing My knapsack on my back Valderi, Valdera, Valderi Valdera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Valderi, Valdera My Knapsack on my back I love to wander by the stream That dances in the sun So joyously it calls to me Come join my happy song I wave my hat to all I meet And they wave back to me And blackbirds call so loud and sweet From every greenwood tree High overhead the skylarks wing They never rest at home But just like me they love to sing As o'er the world we roam Oh, may I go a-wandering Until the day I die And may I always laugh and sing Beneath God's clear blue sky

The Happy Wanderer
(A Contemporary Version)

I love to go awandering
Along the mountain track
And when I go, I love to sing
My knapsack on my back

Valderee, valderah,
Valderee, valderah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha,
Valderee, valderah,
My knapsack on my back

I love to wander by the stream
That dances in the sun
So joyously, it calls to me
Come join my happy song

Valderee, valderah,
Valderee, valderah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha,
Valderee, valderah,
Come join my happy song
[Play it Jeffrey!]

Overhead, the skylarks wing
They never rest at home
But just like me, they love to sing
As o'er the world we roam

Valderee, valderah,
Valderee, valderah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha,
Valderee, valderah,
As o'er the world we roam

I Love To Go A-Gorging

I love to go a-gorging
Amid great gobs of food,
And as I do my abdomen
Continues to protrude.

Calorie, calorah,
Calorie, calorah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Calorie, calorah,
My body is obese.

Italian food with all its cheese
And thick tomato paste,
It never seems to pass on through
But hangs around my waist.

French cuisine inspires me
To even greater heights.
An eight-course meal is quickly done
In seven standard bites.

A German meal is all I need
To make my day complete.
It's hard to keep account of all
The strudel that I eat.

At hot dog stands and burger joints
To make my power play,
They bring it in a wheelbarrow
Instead of in a tray.

Top 30 Of 1954

(* indicates a #1 song)

POS-TITLE-Artist (Peak Position-Peak Month)

*1   LITTLE THINGS MEAN ALOT
      Kitty Kallen (#1, June)
*2   WANTED
      Perry Como (#1, April)
*3   HEY THERE
      Rosemary Clooney (#1, Sept)
*4   SH-BOOM
      The Crew-Cuts (#1, Aug)
*5   MAKE LOVE TO ME
      Jo Stafford (#1, March)
*6   OH MY PA-PA (O Mein Papa)
      Eddie Fisher (#1, Jan)
7   I GET SO LONELY (When I Dream About You)
      The Four Knights (#3, April)
8   THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN
      The Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts (#2, July)
*9   SECRET LOVE
      Doris Day (#1, Feb)
10 HERNANDO'S HIDEAWAY
      Archie Bleyer (#2, July)
11 YOUNG-AT-HEART
      Frank Sinatra (#2, May)
*12 THIS OLE HOUSE
      Rosemary Clooney (#1, Nov)
*13 I NEED YOU KNOW
      Eddie Fisher (#1, Nov)
14 CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE
      Patti Page (#3, May)
15 THE LITTLE SHOEMAKER
      The Gaylords Three Friends and a Stranger (#2, Aug)
16 THAT'S AMORE
      Dean Martin (#2, Dec 1953)
17 THE HAPPY WANDERER
      Frank Weir with His Saxophone, Chorus and Orchestra (#4, June)
18 ANSWER ME, MY LOVE
      Nat King Cole (#6, May)
19 STRANGER IN PARADISE
      Tony Bennett (#3, Jan)
20 IF I GIVE MY HEART TO YOU
      Doris Day (#4, Nov)
21 IF YOU LOVE ME (Really Love Me)
      Kay Starr (#4, June)
22 SKOKIAAN
      Ralph Marterie and His Orchestra (#3, Sept)
23 HOLD MY HAND
      Don Cornell (#5, Nov)
24 CHANGING PARTNERS
      Patti Page (#4, Jan)
25 PAPA LOVES MAMBO
      Perry Como (#4, Nov)
26 SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
      Bill Haley and His Comets (#7, Nov)
*27 RAGS TO RICHES
      Tony Bennett (#1, Nov 1953)
28 IN THE CHAPEL IN THE MOONLIGHT
      Kitty Kallen (#5, Sept)
29 STRANGER IN PARADISE
      The Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts (#5, Jan)
30 HERE
      Tony Martin (#7, May)

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