The Cousin from Nowhere (German: Der Vetter aus Dingsda) is an operetta composed by Eduard Künneke with a libretto by Herman Haller [de] and Fritz Oliven, based on a comedy by Max Kempner-Hochstädt.
It was first performed on 15 April 1921 in the Neues Schauspielhaus, Berlin.
An English language version, billed as a "musical comedy", was adapted by Fred Thompson with lyrics by Adrian Ross, Robert C. Tharp and Douglas Furber, and was first performed in 1922 in the United Kingdom.
A separate English language adaptation, with book and lyrics by Harry B. Smith, was performed in 1923 at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway under the title Caroline.
[1][2] The song "I'm Only a Strolling Vagabond", from the operetta, became the signature song of English performer Cavan O'Connor, who first recorded it in 1925.