Déjà la nuit commence à tomber

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by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)

Translation © by Pierre Mathé

Gute Nacht

(Sung text for setting by F. Abt)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: DUT ENG ENG FRE

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:

Franz Wilhelm Abt

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

Bonne nuit

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Abt)

See original

Language: French (Français) after the German (Deutsch)

Déjà la nuit commence à tomber       
La lune s'éveille, et comme un berger,
Chante aux nuages, ses agneaux,
Une berceuse pour la nuit ;
Et tandis qu'elle chante si doucement,
Alors, du cercle des étoiles,
Sa voix parvient délicatement à mon oreille,
    Dormez en paix, dormez en paix !
    Le jour et ses bruits sont terminés, 
    L'amour de Dieu vous couvre,
    Partout.

 ... 

Bonne nuit donc, vous tous qui êtes fatigués,
Vous, mes chers, proches et lointains !
Maintenant je repose aussi en paix
Jusqu'à ce que brille l'étoile du matin.
Seul le rossignol,
Chante encore au clair de lune
    Et loue Dieu le Seigneur.
    Dormez en paix, dormez en paix !
    Le jour et ses bruits sont terminés ;
    L'amour de Dieu vous enveloppe
    Partout.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,6 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2026 by Pierre Mathé, (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 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: 2026-05-17
Line count: 66
Word count: 337