The Bremen Town Musicians is a heartwarming tale of friendship, adventure, and the power of music. Follow a guitar-playing donkey, a drumming dog, a piano-playing cat, and a singing rooster as they set off on a journey to Bremen, dreaming of a better life. Along the way, they discover that true happiness isn’t just about reaching a destination—it’s about the friends you make and the music you share.
The Bremen Town Musicians
Once upon a time, there was a guitar-playing donkey. He lived on a farm, and it was his job to pull the cart to market and back each week, but the rest of the time, he lay comfortably in the hay barn, practicing his guitar, writing songs, and getting lost in the music. It was a pleasant life, but the donkey dreamt of more.
He had heard of a wonderful place where music rang out from the streets and everyone danced and sang wherever they went. Bremen. A place where a donkey could make his fortune, and folks would come from far and wide to hear him play.
So one day, the donkey slung his guitar over his shoulder and set off.
Along the way, he passed through a small town, and as he wandered the streets, he heard the sound of drumming—a snappy and jumping beat that thumped through his bones and made his toes tap in time. He followed the groovy sound and found a dog playing the drums while strangers tossed coins into his upturned hat.
“I’m going to Bremen,” the donkey said. “Would you like to come with me?”
“Would I ever!” the dog said. And they set off on their journey together.
Next, they came across the sound of a piano playing a jaunty and jazzy tune that made their shoulders bob up and down in time. They followed the sound and found a cat tinkling away at the keys.
“We’re going to Bremen,” they said. “Would you like to come?”
“Yes, please!” the cat said. And off they went.
As they carried on through the town, they heard sweet, soulful singing, the voice so beautiful it almost brought them to tears. They followed the sound and found a rooster, shining shoes while singing his heart out.
“We’re going to Bremen,” they said. “Would you like to come?”
“You better believe it!” the rooster said, and the happy band was complete. They set off for Bremen.
By day, they would travel through towns and countryside, sharing their dreams and telling the wonderful stories they had each heard of Bremen.
At night, they would play their music at inns in exchange for a hot meal and a room to sleep in.
As they played their instruments together, they became more and more in tune with their bandmates, able to tell what the others were going to do next without a word. It seemed like their heartbeats were all thumping to the same tune, and they had never been happier.
One night, they came across a cottage in the woods. There had been no inn or anywhere to stay for miles, and they were growing cold and tired. They decided to knock on the door to ask if they could stay in a barn or stable, but as they got closer, they saw through the windows that the cottage was not occupied by a friendly family as they had hoped, but a gang of nasty robbers.
The robbers were eating a delicious stolen feast and laughing about all the people they had swindled and pickpocketed and the houses they had broken into that day.
The musicians were all very cross.
“These awful robbers must be taught a lesson!” the donkey said, and the others nodded in agreement.
Without a word, they each knew what they should do. They banged on the door, making the robbers rise from the table to investigate the source of the sound.
The musicians hid in the woods, the darkness making it impossible for the robbers to see. The robbers split up and began to search the trees, carrying clubs and daggers, ready to fight whoever was out there.
But together with their new friends, the musicians felt braver than they ever had. They were unstoppable when they all worked together!
All at once, the musicians came together—the donkey standing firm, the dog leaping onto his back, the cat springing onto the dog’s shoulders, and the rooster flapping onto the cat’s shoulders. Together, they made the most terrifying noise, braying and snorting and barking and growling and hissing and yowling and crowing and squawking.
The robbers cowered in fear at the horrible beast in the shadows and then ran away as fast as they could, tripping over themselves and crying for their mums.
When they were sure the coast was clear, the musicians leapt down and fell about laughing. They filed into the cottage and sat down to enjoy the feast laid out before them. The cottage was warm and felt like home, and they sat around the fire playing their instruments until they all fell asleep, totally at peace.
The cat was awoken by a strange sound outside—a scratching at the door… Someone was trying to get in!
The cat peeped through the window and saw it was one of the robbers, who had returned to try and take back the cottage!
The cat hurried to rouse his companions, and again, they knew just what to do. Quickly, they blew out the candles and put out the fire so the cottage was in complete darkness.
When the robber came through the door, they made their deafening cacophony of sound again, and this time the donkey lashed out with a swift kick, the dog took a chomping bite, the cat swiped a sharp scratch, and the rooster gave a hard peck.
The robber was totally bamboozled and utterly terrified! He ran away as fast as his legs could carry him and told his fellow robbers that the cottage was haunted and that they must never return. And they never, ever did!
The next day, when the musicians were all rested and well-fed, they packed their belongings and readied themselves to leave the cottage to head to Bremen, as planned. They stood outside the cottage, a little forlorn.
“Maybe,” said the dog, “we should stay another night. Just to make sure we’re really well-rested and can be our best selves when we get to Bremen.”
“Oh yes, good idea,” the others all said. “We mustn’t be too tired when we get there!”
And so, they all unpacked their bags and filed back into the cottage. They took up their comfy seats by the fire and began playing their instruments again, playing a peaceful melody.
“Do you know,” said the donkey, “I don’t believe I have ever been as happy as this.”
The others all nodded truthfully.
“I don’t think I could ever be happier,” said the rooster.
The musicians all looked at one another and had the same thought at the same time, as they often did.
“What if…” the dog said, “what if we just stayed here?”
The others all sighed in relief.
“That’s what I was going to say!” they all echoed.
At that, they all fell about laughing again, full of joy and contentment.
And so, the musicians stayed in that cottage for the rest of their days, playing their instruments and living in harmony. They put on shows for weary travelers and gave music lessons to the young animals in the woods.
They never felt the need to leave their new home, and not one of them ever set foot in Bremen. Not even once. They had all they needed right there—great friends, a happy home, and sweet, sweet music.
And they all lived happily ever after.
Also read: Rumpelstiltskin
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