Wagner estate officially acknowledges that ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ lyrics are ‘Kill the wabbit’

The estate of Richard Wagner, composer of The Ring Cycle has officially acknowledged that the lyrics to Ride of the Valkyries are ‘Kill the Wabbit.’

For many years, the estate has held that the lyrics were something incomprehensible in German but, in the thirties, a classic Bugs Bunny cartoon suggested that the lyrics were actually as follows –

‘Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit,

‘Oooooooooooooooo.’

“I think that, from that moment on, the game was up,” said opera expert Stewart James.

“It was obvious that the ‘Kill the wabbit’ refrain was correct because it fit the music so perfectly. There was no way that you could get German words with all their ichs and achs to really scan with the music, it simply doesn’t work.”

However, Wagner’s estate held out, insisting that the lyrics describe the warrior battle maidens of Wotan riding into war.

“Well, of course, they would say that, wouldn’t they? I mean, it’s all dramatic and everything so, to the casual listener, you might think that it’s a battle song.

“But I think anyone who really understands Opera, if they hear a talented singer sing ‘Kill the wabbit’ over that tune, it’s quite obvious those are the correct lyrics.”

It is thought that Glyndebourne In Sussex will be staging the world premiere of a performance of The Ring Cycle with the correct ‘Kill the wabbit’ lyrics used in Ride of the Valkyries as part of their summer season next year.

It is unlikely to be as good as the cartoon.

Hello, seems a lot of people are reading this one. So, if this is all baffling to you. This is the Bugs Bunny clip that first exposed me to Ride of the Valkyries. It’s loads better than that bit from Apocalypse Now.