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Schlaf wohl, du Himmelsknabe du,
Schlaf wohl, du süßes Kind!
Dich fächeln Engelein in Ruh
Mit sanftem Himmelswind.
Wir arme Hirten singen dir
Ein [herzigs]1 Wiegenliedlein für.
Schlafe!
[Himmelssöhnchen]2, schlafe!
Maria hat mit [Mutterblick]3
Dich leise zugedeckt;
Und Joseph hält den Hauch zurück,
Daß er dich nicht [erweckt]4.
Die Schäflein, die im Stalle sind,
Verstummen vor dir Himmelskind.
Schlafe!
Himmelssöhnchen, schlafe!
[Bald]5 wirst du groß, dann fließt dein Blut
Von Golgatha herab;
Ans Kreuz schlägt dich der Menschen Wuth,
Dann legt man dich ins Grab.
Hab immer deine Äuglein zu,
Denn du bedarfst der süßen Ruh.
Schlafe!
Himmelssöhnchen, schlafe!
So schlummert in der Mutter Schoos
Noch manches Kindlein ein;
Doch wird das arme Kindlein groß,
So hat es Angst und Pein.
O Jesulein! durch deine Huld,
Hilfs ihnen tragen mit Geduld.
Schlafe!
Himmelssöhnchen, schlafe!
C. Loewe sets stanzas 1-2
R. Strauss sets stanza 1
Anonymous sets stanzas 1-3
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Note: this poem is found in Schubart's writings but marked as a "Geistliches Volkslied aus Schlesien", which may mean it is a folk text.
1 Loewe: "herzlich" ; K. W.: "herzig"2 Loewe: "Himmelskindlein"
3 Loewe, K.W.: "Mutterlieb' "
4 K. W.: "weckt"
5 K. W.: "Und"
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739 - 1791), "Der Hirten Lied am Kripplein", subtitle: "Geistliches Volkslied aus Schlesien" [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 Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , as K. W., "Wiegenlied zu Weihnachten", stanzas 1-3 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Der Hirten Lied am Krippelein", op. 22, Heft 1 no. 3 (1828), stanzas 1-2 [ vocal quartet ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739 - 1791), "Weihnachtslied der Hirten", 1786 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Weihnachtslied", WoO. 2 (1870), stanza 1 [ voice, piano ], from Jugendlieder [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Severin Wagner , "Der Hirten Lied am Kripplein", op. 9 (Drei dreistimmige Weihnachtslieder für die Schulfeier) no. 1, published 1900 [ three-part chorus ], Colmar, Wettig [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedikt Widmann (1820 - 1910), "Lied am Kripplein", op. 18 (Vier Weihnachtslieder für 1 Singstimme mit leichter Selbstbegleitung auf dem Pianofortebleitung) no. 3, published 1886 [ voice and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Steyl & Thomas [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Sleep well, you child of heaven", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 141
Dors bien, enfant du ciel, Dors bien, doux enfant ; Des petits anges t'éventent dans ton sommeil Avec la douce brise du ciel. Nous pauvres bergers chantons pour toi Une petite berceuse affectueuse, Dors, petit enfant du ciel, dors. Marie avec un amour maternel T'a recouvert Et Joseph retient son souffle, Pour ne pas te réveiller. Les petits moutons qui sont dans l'étable Se taisent devant toi, enfant du ciel ; Dors, dors, petit fils du ciel, dors !
About the headline (FAQ)
Title for Strauss: "Chant de Noël"Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2014 by Guy Laffaille, (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) possibly by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739 - 1791)
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-22
Line count: 14
Word count: 76