"Das Glühwürmchen", known in English as "The Glow-Worm", is a song from Paul Lincke's 1902 operetta Lysistrata, with German lyrics by Heinz Bolten-Backers. In the operetta, it is performed as a trio with three female solo voices singing alternately and the women's chorus joining in the refrain. Rhythmically, it is in the form of a gavotte. The song, with its familiar chorus, was translated into English and became an American popular song. It was originally translated into English by Lilla Cayley Robinson, in the early 20th century, and was used in the 1907 Broadway musical The Girl Behind the Counter. American lyricist Johnny Mercer later expanded and greatly revised Robinson's lyrics, for the 1952 recording by The Mills Brothers. His version was a hit for the Mills Brothers, and it has been performed by several others. The tune is also quite popular as an orchestral instrumental.

Lyrics

Robinson's English-translation lyrics (circa 1905): Johnny Mercer kept the original chorus basically intact and added three new "verses" to that same tune but did not use music from the original song's verses at all.

Renditions and other appearances in popular culture