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Sachte will's dämmern, Mit seinen Lämmern Zieht schon der Mond an dem Himmel die Bahn; Müde vom Singen Vögelein schwingen Sich zu dem traulichen Neste hinan. Draußen den zarten Blümlein im Garten Fallen die schimmernden Äugelein zu. Horch, und die Glocken, Wie sie dich locken: Schlafe, mein rosiges Kindlein, auch du! Hörst du das Englein? Fächelt die Wänglein Dir mit den [Flügeln]1 leise zur Nacht; Hebt dich vom Pfühle, Trägt in der Kühle Dich in die himmlischen Gärten voll Pracht. Morgens dann wieder Fliegt's mit dir nieder, Legt dich behutsam in's Bettchen zurück, Daß beim Erwachen, Froh noch dir lachen, Kindlein, die Augen vor seligem Glück.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser. 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel, Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 234-235.
Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the word "Äuglein" becomes "Aeuglein", but as can be seen in how "über" becomes "Ueber" when capitalized, this is due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, so we use "Äuglein".
1 Abt: "Flügelein"Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wiegenlied", appears in Liederbuch, in 3. Hauslieder, no. 263 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Wiegenlied", op. 282 (4 Lieder) no. 4, published 1873 [ soprano or tenor and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Wiegenlied" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Wiegenlied", op. 38 (Drei Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 2, published 1883 [ satb chorus ], Hamburg: Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Lullaby", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Donderwinkel , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 107
Twilight comes gently; With his lambs, the moon Is already traversing his path upon the heavens; Wearied from singing, The birdlets lift their wings Toward their homey nests. Outdoors the shimmering Eyes of the delicate Little flowers in the garden fall shut. Hark, and the bells, How they entice you: Sleep, my rosy little child, you [sleep] too! Do you hear the little angel? With its [wings]1 it Quietly fans your cheeks by night; Lifts you from your pillow, Carrying you in the coolness Into the heavenly gardens full of splendour. In the morning it again Flies down with you, Placing you carefully back into your little bed, So that when you wake Your eyes, little child, Are still smiling in blessed happiness.
1 Abt: "little wings"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (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 German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wiegenlied", appears in Liederbuch, in 3. Hauslieder, no. 263
This text was added to the website: 2026-06-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 124