love to go a wandering song

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-deri,Val-dera, Val-deri, Val-dera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Val-deri,Val-dera. 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 ev'ry green wood 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!

• Songwriter Interviews
• Song Writing
• Fact or Fiction
• They're Playing My Song
• Songfacts Pages
• Songwriting Legends
• Songfacts Podcast
• Amanda Flinner
• Bruce Pollock
• Corey O'Flanagan
• Dan MacIntosh
• Laura Antonelli
• Leslie Michele Derrough
• Maggie Grimason
• Nicole Roberge
• Roger Catlin
• Shawna Ortega
• Stephanie Myers
• Trevor Morelli

The Happy Wanderer by The Obernkirchen Children's Choir

• 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 Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
• More songs from The Obernkirchen Children's Choir
• More songs performed on The Ed Sullivan Show
• More songs that were also recorded in other languages
• More songs with children's choirs
• More songs from 1954
• The Happy Wanderer Songfacts

Comments: 8

• Anthony Vincent from Aberdeenshire, Scotland You should watch the Red dwarf version as sung by Adolf Hitler and Lister...I cried with laughter...see it on UKTV Play, Dave...
• Valerie Kanter from Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa My all time favorite... My name sake...!!! I love this...brings back awesome childhood memories...!!!
• Iangraham from Cockermouth I was a 12 year old member of the Whitehaven Grammar School choir which finished second to this German choir at Llangollen in 1953. To put it bluntly we were robbed. The assistant adjudicator even congratulated our conductor, the late Myra Richardson (nee Gibson) on winning the event and he was horrified when he learned of the injustice. Everything fell into place when we learned that the major ethos of the Festival was to foster Anglo-German relations so soon after the War. Likely the Chief Adjudicator was nobbled. As you can see I've nursed this grievance for over 65 years. Oh, the hurt!
• Jacqueline from Canada George from Vancouver is incorrect. This Moeller, the composer who died at age 82 is not the same as the war criminal "Muller" who died at age 49. Just do more research and you'll see the birth and death dates as well as the name are different. Here is and excerpt from this site-https://www.volksliedsammlung.de/meinvate.html (Text: Florence Friedrich Sigismund around 1850 - (1791–1877) Melody: set to music several times, first by Johann Michael Anding (1810–1879). The melody in use today comes from Friedrich Wilhelm Möller (1911–1993), written in the early 1950s for the "Schaumburg fairy tale singer" directed by his sister Edith Möller.)
• George from Vancouver, Canada Zion: he was born in Russia; in WW1 he served with the German army; early WW2 he become Lt.Col., fought the Russiam army, performed many atrocities(war crimes) in Greece & Italy -- he was convicted post-WW2 by Greek military court, for genocide(Holocaust of Kedros) & the murder of POW hostages.
• George from Vancouver, Canada I first heard this in the '70s on The Muppet Show
• Bobby from Van Nuys, Ca I remember seeing this group on the original Mickey Mouse Club during the mid 1950s. They performed several songs, including this one.
• Zion from Hongkong, United States Although sung by children's choir, the song applies equally to all ages who are fond of on the move! As have been my profession (in the merchant navy), I've roamed about a greater part of the globe, north, south, west and east. It was really delightful in earning a living whilst travelling along, merrily! Now that just a question arises, which is, the nationality of the writer, Friedrich-Wilhelm Moller; which sounds more likely to be of Scandinavian origin than English! I would feel grateful if you'll tell me whether I'm right!! Zion C.N Wong

More Songfacts:

Ziggy Stardust David Bowie

David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" was likely based on various musicians in his ambit, including Iggy Pop (zIGGY), and Jimi Hendrix, who played guitar left-handed ("He played it left hand").

Friends In Low Places Garth Brooks

"Friends In Low Places" by Garth Brooks was written by two Nashville songwriters after a meal in a local restaurant. One of them forgot his money, but said not to worry, "I have friends in low places. I know the cook."

Fields Of Gold Sting

Sting wrote "Fields of Gold" after buying a house near a barley field and enjoying the majestic sunsets.

The Rubberband Man The Spinners

"The Rubberband Man" is a "short, fat guy" with rhythm and grace. Spinners producer Thom Bell wrote it to boost the self-esteem of his rotund son.

Freedom '90 George Michael

Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz lip-synched George Michael's lyrics in his "Freedom '90" video.

Talkin' Hawkin' Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Talkin' Hawkin'" uses a sample of Stephen Hawking's synthesized voice taken from a speech he made for a 1994 British Telecom commercial.

Editor's Picks

The Fratellis Songwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song Song Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17 Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos Song Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot Songwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Maria Muldaur Songwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

Information

• Terms of Service
• Our Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy
• Songfacts API
• Music History Calendar
• Song Licensing
• Affiliate Disclosure
• Privacy Manager
• X (Twitter)

Contribution

• Message Boards
• Songfacts Writers

©2024 Songfacts, LLC

Songs for Teaching™ Using Music to Promote Learning 5501 W. Ross Dr. Chandler, AZ 85226 800-649-5514 (480-689-1190)

© 2002-2012 Songs for Teaching™   All rights reserved.

• Artists add

The Happy Wanderer

Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

The Happy Wanderer Lyrics as written by Friedrich Wilhelm Moeller Antonia Ridge

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

• Highest Rated
• Most Recent
• Oldest First
• No Comments

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

• Artists - F
• Presenting Frank Weir & His Saxophone
• The Happy Wanderer Lyrics
• Artists - S
• Speedy Ortiz

More Featured Meanings

Most popular lyric tags

More frank weir lyrics.

• Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Lyrics
• St. Louis Blues Lyrics
• You Go to My Head Lyrics
• Oh Lady Be Good Lyrics

Search this site.

The happy wanderer song lyrics.

The Happy Wanderer song is perfect for singing around the campfire . The tune is cheerful and singable and the lyrics are just the thing for a camping trip - especially if you are going to do some backpacking.

This is also a perfect song to belt out lustily as you hike!

This is a good song for the entire family : the adults and older kids will easily learn the verses, and the youngest children can join in on the chorus.

I love to go a-wandering along the mountain track And as I 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".

Valderi, valdera, valderi, valdera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Valderi, valdera, 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.

Valderi, valdera, valderi, valdera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Valderi, valdera, from every greenwood tree

High overhead the skylark wing, they never rest at home But just like me they love to sing as o'er the world we roam.

Valderi, valdera, valderi, valdera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Valderi, valdera, as o'er the world we roam

O may I go a-wandering until the day I die And may I always laugh and sing beneath God's clear blue sky.

Valderi, valdera, valderi valdera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Valderi, valdera, beneath God's clear blue sky.

History of The Happy Wanderer

• The Happy Wanderer song was written for the Obernkirchen Children's Choir of Germany to sing in a 1953 musical competition in Wales. Edith Moller, the choir's conductor, wrote the German words with another woman, and Edith's brother Friedrich-Wilhelm wrote the music.
• The choir won their competition, which was broadcast by the BBC, and the song became a international hit . The choir was invited to perform all around the world and even appeared twice on the Ed Sullivan show.
• Later, someone named Antonia Ridge wrote English words for the tune.

I'll bet you didn't know that...

• The words to " Mary Had A Little Lamb " fit this tune perfectly.
• An episode of " The Muppet Show " features this song. (It stars 3 hiking pigs!)
• Barney , the purple dinosaur, recorded this song and substituted "Barneri" for "Valderi".
• There is a musical version of the 23rd Psalm that uses this tune. (It begins "The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want, He makes me down to lie/In pastures green He leadeth me the quiet waters by.")

By the way...

After extensive research, I think that I can say with confidence that the words " valderi " and " valdera " have no meaning. They are just nonsense syllables that are fun to sing.

Now that you know everything there is to know about the Happy Wanderer Song, find the words to more great campfire songs !

Click here to visit The Camping Family home page .

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

• Click on the HTML link code below.
• Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Before you go

• camping tips

Where to sleep

What to eat.

• camping menu
• lunch and supper
• campfire cooking
• easiest meals

What to take

• sleeping bags
• sleeping pads

When you're there

• backpacking

Destinations

• US state parks
• US national parks
• advertising
• privacy policy

Sign up for my camping newsletter!

Recipes, tips and more, join our facebook community, we talk about camping every day. please join us.

By Ellen Gray Copyright 2011-2018 The-Camping-Family.com/Complete Family Camping Guide

All Rights Reserved