by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Mutter singt
 (Sung text for setting by J. Rheinberger)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
 ... 

"Eia popeia,"
Das ist ein altes Lied;
Der Mond hat's oft gehöret,
Ist oft schon worden müd';
Die Bäche und die Quellen,
So wach sie sich auch stellen,
Im Traum nur zieh'n die Wellen:
"Eia popeia,"
Sobald's die Nacht gesungen,
Wird alles, alles müd'.

"Eia popeia,"
Das ist ein altes Lied;
Doch eine singt und singt es
Und wird davon nicht müd'. 
Es schweigt in allen Räumen,
Es blühet in allen Bäumen,
Sie kann nicht schlafen, träumen,
"Eia popeia."
Eh' nicht ihr Kindlein schlummert,
Die Mutter wird nicht müd'.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-3 of the original text.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-03-26
Line count: 30
Word count: 137

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

"Eia popeia" 
Is an old song.
The moon has often heard it
And has often grown tired.
The streams and the springs,
No matter how wide-awake they pretend to be,
In dreams the waves sing it:
 "Eia popeia."
As soon as the night has sung it,
Everything grows tired.

 "Eia popeia" 
Is an old song,
Yet there is one who sings and sings it
And does not grow tired from it.
There is silence in all the rooms,
There is blossoming in all the trees,
But she cannot sleep or dream.
 "Eia popeia" --
Until her child is slumbering,
The mother does not grow tired.

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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-3 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2008-03-26
Line count: 30
Word count: 154