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Schon fängt es an zu dämmern,
Der Mond als Hirt erwacht,
Und singt den Wolkenlämmern
Ein Lied zur guten Nacht;
Und wie er singt so leise,
Da dringt vom Sternenkreise
Der Schall ins Ohr mir sacht,
Schlafet in Ruh, schlafet in Ruh!
...
Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu
... .
...
Gut' Nacht denn, all' ihr Müden,
Ihr Lieben nah' und fern!
Bald ruh' auch ich in Frieden
Bis glänzt der Morgenstern.
Die Nachtigall alleine
Singt noch im Mondenscheine
Und lobet Gott den Herrn.
...
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Gute Nacht", op. 95 (4 Duetten für Sopran und Alt mit Pianoforte. 3te Samml.) no. 4, published 1853, stanzas 1,6 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Offenbach: André
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gute Nacht", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Goede Nacht", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2005-07-14
Line count: 66
Word count: 320
The twilight has already come upon us,
The shepherding moon awakens,
And sings to the cloud lambs
A good night song;
And how quietly he sings,
So that, down from the stars’ orbit,
The sound gently reaches my ear:
Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace!
The day and its noises have ended;
God’s love blankets you
Completely.
...
Good night, then, to all you weary ones,
You beloved ones near and far!
Now I also will take my rest,
Until the star of morning shines.
The nightingale alone
Still sings when the moon shines
And praises the Lord God.
Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace!
The day and its commotion have ended;
God’s love blankets you
Completely.
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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gute Nacht", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen
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This text was added to the website: 2022-08-26
Line count: 66
Word count: 331