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Nun 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!
Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall,
Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu
Allüberall.
...
Von Thür zu Thüre wallet
Der Traum, ein lieber Gast,
Das Harfenspiel verhallet
Im schimmernden Pallast;
Im Nachen schläft der Ferge,
Die Hirten auf dem Berge
Sie halten um's Feuer Rast.
Schlafet in Ruh, schlafet in Ruh!
Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall;
Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu
Allüberall.
...
Gut' Nacht denn, all' ihr Müden,
Ihr Lieben nah' und fern!
Nun ruh' auch ich in Frieden
Bis glänzt der Morgenstern.
Die Nachtigall alleine
Singt noch im Mondenscheine
Und lobet Gott den Herrn.
Schlafet in Ruh, schlafet in Ruh!
Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall;
Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu
Allüberall.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Gute Nacht", op. 131 no. 6 (1882), stanzas 1,3,6 [ SSAA chorus ]
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. ... Dream wanders from door to door, A beloved guest, The song of the harp dies away In the shimmering palace, The ferryman sleeps in his skiff, The shepherds on the mountain Find rest around the fire. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion 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.
About the headline (FAQ)
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 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. 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: 2022-08-26
Line count: 66
Word count: 331