Mussorgaky's recital song -- he wrote the song by itself,
this composer did NOT make an opera out of Goethe's Faust,
as other composers did --

has been so popular, that
numerous English translations, singable ones, exist.
This one comes from a published vocal-piano score of Mussorgsky,
Rosa Newmarch wrote the English here.

SONG OF MEPHISTOPHELES IN AUERBACH'S CELLAR,
FROM GOETHE'S 'FAUST.'

Once long ago a King lived,
Who kept such a fine fat flea.

What -- a flea? What -- a flea!

And cherish'd him as dearly
As tho' a son were he. A flea!

Ha ha ha ha ha! a flea! Ha ha ha ha ha! a flea!

He sent for his own tailor,
Who came to court in haste:
"Now, cut my flea a doublet,
And clothe him in good taste!" With very good taste!

Ha ha ha ha ha! a flea? Ha ha ha ha ha! a flea!
Ha ha, ha ha!   ha ha ha ha ha! A flea of taste!

Our flea is dress'd in velvet,
And silks of golden hue,
A riband o'er his shoulder,
A jewell'd order too! Ha ha!

Ha ha ha ha ha! a flea!
Ha ha, ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! a flea!

A minister they made him,
A diamond star he wore,
And all his poor relations
Got orders galore! Ha ha!

The courtiers, male and female,
They were no longer gay,
The Queen and all her ladies
Were pestered night and day! Ha ha!

To scratch they were forbidden;
They had to bear the prick,
But we, when we are bitten,
Know how to scratch and kick!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

-- This edition has the text in English only.

The original German of Goethe is not given.

The Russian translation is not given,

and the name of the Russian translator is not given.

Publisher of origin: W. Bessel & Cie., St Petersburg and Moscow, 1911.

Distributed by Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig et alia.

Composer: Modeste P. Mussorgsky.

Arranger: Nicolai A. Rimsky-Korsakov.

Online at the Petrucci Music Library website.