Schnappi The Crocodile

The video with this posting is "Schnappi , das Kleine Krokodil." (Schnappi the Little Crocodile) It is one of those children's videos that actually built up a strong following, not only in Germany where it originated in 2004 but in much of Europe. the lyrics are as follows in German and in English.

Ich bin Schnappi das kleine Krokodil,

komm aus Ägypten das liegt direkt am Nil
zuerst lag ich in einem Ei,
dann schni schna schnappte ich mich frei.

Refrain

Schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp
schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

Ich bin Schnappi das kleine Krokodil,
hab scharfe Zähne und davon ganz schön viel
ich schnapp mir was ich schnappen kan
ja schnapp zu weil ich das so gut kann.

Refrain

Schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

Ich bin Schnappi das kleine Krokodil,

ich schnappe gern das ist mein Lieblingsspiel

ich schleich mich an die Mama ran

und zeig ihr wie ich schnappen kann!

Refrain

Schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

ich bin Schnappi das kleine Krokodil

und vom Schnappen da krieg ich nicht zuviel,

ich beiss den Papi kurz ins Bein

und dann dann schlafe ich einfach ein.

Refrain

Schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp (ja! )

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp (schnapp!)

Schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp (ja! )

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi schnapp

The English translation is as follows

I am Schnappi the small crocodile I come from Egypt right by the Nile.
First I lay in an egg, then schni schna snatched myself I freely.

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch

I am Schnappi the small crocodile I have sharp teeth and a lot of them
I snap at whatever I can, and do it because I because I can.

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch

I are Schnappi the small crocodile, I snap gladly that is my favourite way to play.
I creep to the mummy ran, and show it as I to snatch can!

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch

I are Schnappi the small crocodile, and from snatching there war I not too much.
I bite the Papi in the leg, and then, then I just fall asleep.

schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch
schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch schni schna schnappi schnappi schnappi snatch

I got the original lyrics and a very rough English translation which I was able to smooth out a bit.


When I set out to write this article , I was collecting a couple of East German children's songs which captured the spirit of childhood in East Germany. By accident, I found this video. Some of the best children's videos appeal to adults on one level and to children on another. I have no insight into why this video works for me. It just does.

There is a Wikipedia article with a lot of source material on Schnappi the Crocodile. I am including it below.

I will present the East German material that I have collected. But Schnappi was too good to pass up.

What is the point of all of this? Sometimes good things happen when you're trying to do something else. And sometimes you have to just let those good things happen, and return to your original objective later. Schnappi puts a very cute face on this idea. Thank you Schnappi.

Wikipedia article on Schnappi the crocodile
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