by
Marie Mindermann (1808 - 1882)
Die Nacht will niedersinken
Language: German (Deutsch)
Die Nacht will [niedersinken]1,
Der Tag geht leis zur Ruh',
Die Sterne droben blinken,
Mein Herz, was willst denn du? --
Kannst du nicht Ruhe finden
In deiner tiefen Pein? --
O lerne überwinden,
Und du wirst ruhig sein.
Die Blumen stehn im Schlummer,
Erquickt vom kühlen Naß;
Du aber bist voll Kummer,
Quälst dich um dies und das;
Sieh, deine Tage schwinden,
Nur kurze Zeit ist dein;
O lerne überwinden,
Und du wirst ruhig sein.
Im Strom die Wellen rauschen,
Als sängen sie zur Ruh',
Die Sterne droben lauschen,
Und du, mein Herz, und du?
Du kannst nicht Frieden finden
In deiner Erdenpein;
O lerne überwinden,
Und Frieden wiegt dich ein.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with Bremer Dichter dees neunzehnten Jahrhunderts, ed. by Julius Graefe and August Freudenthal, Bremen: Karl Tannen, 1875, pages 237 - 238.
1 Siemers: "wieder sinken"
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2021-09-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 112
Night wishes to descend
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Night wishes to [descend]1,
The day quietly goes to rest,
The stars twinkle on high,
My heart, what do you want, then? --
Can you not find rest
In your deep pain? --
Oh, learn to overcome,
And you shall become quiet.
The flowers stand in slumber,
Refreshed by the cool wetness;
But you are full of misery,
[You] torture yourself about this and that;
Lo, your days are passing,
Only a short time is yours;
Oh, learn to overcome,
And you shall become quiet.
The waves in the river are rushing,
As if they were singing [someone] to rest,
The stars on high are listening,
And you, my heart, and you?
You cannot find peace
In your earthly suffering;
Oh, learn to overcome,
And peace shall rock you to rest.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Translations of titles:
"Die Nacht will niedersinken" = "Night wishes to descend"
"Die Nacht will wieder sinken" = "Night wishes to descend again"
1 Siemers: "descend again"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Marie Mindermann (1808 - 1882), "Die Nacht will niedersinken"
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-31
Line count: 24
Word count: 131
