Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Sov min Søn, o slumre sødt! Endnu gaar din Vugge blødt, Ak, skjøndt Hun, dig Livet gav, Ligger i den kolde Grav. Kan ej vaage ved din Blund, Kysser ej din Rosenmund, Fanger ej dit første Smil - Fik ved dig kun Dødens Pil. Sov min Søn, dog blidelig - Fader sidder end hos dig, Vugger dig med uvant Fod, Skjærmer dig med Liv og Blod. Ensomt er det om ham nu, Livet ham en Kval og Gru - Sorgens helle tunge Last Bærer han for dig dog fast. Aldrig skal din Morgen lyst Mørknes af hans tunge Dyst, - Aldrig skal dit glade Blik Se hans bittre Taaredrik. Sov min Glut, en Slummer sød! Trives vel, du Liv af Død! Fader har jo ene dig - Ak, saa er han endnu rig. Føler end din Moder nær I dit milde Uskyldsskjær. - Er det hende, som du ser Naar du sødt i Søvne ler? Fader selv kan Intet se, Intet uden Dødens Ve - Kun din spæde Haand igjen Hjælper ham udover den. Sov min Søn, o slumre sødt! Endnu gaar din Vugge blødt, Ak, skjøndt Hun, dig Livet gav, Ligger i den kolde Grav.
Text Authorship:
- by Andreas Munch (1811 - 1884), "Vuggesang", written 1852, appears in Sorg og Trøst, in Klage og Kamp, Old Danish, a forerunner to modern Norwegian [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 Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Vuggesang", op. 9 (Romancer og Ballader af A. Munch) no. 2 (1863-1866), published 1866 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Nigel Parker) , "Cradle song", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 189
Sleep tight my son I rock your cradle While she who gave you life Lies in her cold grave. She will never watch over your slumber Nor kiss your rose red lips Nor catch your first smile, She ended her life as yours began. Sleep tight my son Your father is here Though not yet used to rocking He guards you with his life and blood. Left alone now He suffers Bearing the heavy load of sorrow For your sake. But never will your bright morning Be darkened by his heavy mood Never will your happy smile Glimpse his bitter tears. Sleep tight my son Who sprang from death Your father now has you alone But that, a rich reward. I sense your mother's presence In your innocent countenance Is it her you are seeing When you smile thus in your sleep? For myself I see nothing But her death throes With only your little hand To help me. Sleep tight my son I rock your cradle While she who gave you life Lies in her cold grave.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2023 by Nigel Parker, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Andreas Munch (1811 - 1884), "Vuggesang", written 1852, appears in Sorg og Trøst, in Klage og Kamp, Old Danish, a forerunner to modern Norwegian
This text was added to the website: 2023-08-12
Line count: 36
Word count: 178