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Die Sterne schau'n in stiller Nacht Herab zur Lagerstätte, Wo's blonde Mädchen sitzt und wacht, An kranker Mutter Bette. Was blickst du einsam zu uns auf? Willst späh'n der rollenden Welten Lauf? Ihr Sternlein, ach! versteht ihr nicht Der Tochter bangen Kummer? Daß nicht das treu'ste Auge bricht, O schenkt ihm süßen Schlummer, Ihr Sternlein all', hab' euch so gern! Doch Mutterlieb' ist der schönste Stern. Nur still, du weinend Mädchen, du! Der Schlummer senkt sich nieder, Ein holder Engel schließt ihr zu Die müden Augenlider; Schau' nur, wie sanft sie ruht im Bett! Ja, wenn nicht der Mensch seine Engel hätt'!
Text Authorship:
- by Albert (Ernst Ludwig Karl), Graf von Schlippenbach (1800 - 1886) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Die Sterne schau'n in stiller Nacht", op. posth. 99 (Sechs Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2 (1841-45) [ voice and piano ]
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "En la tranquil·la nit, les estrelles esguarden", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De sterren zien in stille nacht", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In the silent night, the stars are gazing down", copyright © 2017
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 102
In the silent night, the stars are gazing down Upon the place Where the blonde maiden sits and watches At the bedside of her ill mother. Why do you look up at us in such loneliness? Do you wish to see the paths of turning worlds? You little stars, ah! Don't you understand The anxious sorrow of a daughter? So that these truest of eyes may not fail, O grant them sweet slumber, All you little stars - I love you so dearly! - Yet a mother's love is the fairest star. Now hush you weeping maiden, you! Slumber is descending, A lovely angel is closing Your weary eyelids; Just behold how gently she now rests in bed! Yes, what would one do without one's [guardian] angel?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Albert (Ernst Ludwig Karl), Graf von Schlippenbach (1800 - 1886)
This text was added to the website: 2017-03-09
Line count: 18
Word count: 125