Tonight is Walpurgis Night
April 30th
The following are the lyrics for the middle piece in the YouTube recording. It's a traditional folk song that is usually sung along with two or three more songs by high school and college choirs.
The melodies are attributed to Johannes Brahms.
The Fiddler
There once was a fiddler from Frankfurt-am-Main.
His back had a hump, but his fiddling was fine.
On the way to his house he crossed the square,
He crossed the square.
A crowd of lovely ladies was gathering there.
"You poor hunched back fiddler come play us a tune!
We promise to grant you a worthiest boon!
Play a polka or waltz so gay and bright
So gay and bright
For we are celebrating Walpurgis tonight!"
The fiddler began how his fiddle did sing!
The ladies went dancing around in a ring.
When the fiddle had played it's final chord,
It's final chord
One lady said "Oh fiddler, come claim your reward!"
She tapped on his shoulder and counted to ten.
The fiddler stood slender and tall once again.
"Oh, I'll fiddle no more!" cried he with glee,
Cried he with glee.
"For now the pretty maidens will go dancing with me!"