Wenn's mitternächtigt und nicht Mond
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: DUT ENG FRE
Wenn's mitternächtigt und nicht Mond
noch Stern das Himmelshaus bewohnt,
läuft zwölfmal durch das Himmelshaus
die Mitternachtsmaus.
Sie pfeift aus ihrem kleinen Maul, -
im Traume brüllt der Höllengaul...
Doch ruhig läuft ihr Pensum aus
die Mitternachtsmaus.
Ihr Herr, der große weiße Geist,
ist nämlich solche Nacht verreist.
Wohl ihm! Es hütet ihm sein Haus
die Mitternachtsmaus.
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", 2010 [ soprano and piano ], from Zehn Morgenstern-lieder, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Michael Brough (b. 1960), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", op. 13 (Acht Lieder) no. 6 (1999) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alex Eckert , "Die Mitternachtsmaus" [ chorus ], from Galgenlieder, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Farber (b. 1945), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", from Galgenlieder, no. 23 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sofia Gubaidulina (1931 - 2025), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", first performed 1996 [ mezzo-soprano, percussion, and contrabass ], from Galgenlieder à 3 1996/1998, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sofia Gubaidulina (1931 - 2025), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", first performed 1997 [ mezzo-soprano, flute, bayan, percussion, and contrabass ], from Galgenlieder à 5 1996, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudolf Jaggi (b. 1940), "Die Mitternachtsmaus" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Siegfried Matthus (1934 - 2021), no title, 1987, first performed 1988 [ baritone, string quartet and harp ], from Nachtlieder, no. 6, confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Siegfried Strohbach (b. 1929), "Die Mitternachtsmaus", from 5 Galgenlieder nach Christian Morgenstern, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Nicolaas (Koos) Jaspers) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "The midnight mouse", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La souris de minuit", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-11-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 56
The midnight mouse
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
When it's midnight and neither moon
Nor stars do light the sky,
Then twelve times across the heavens
The midnight mouse doth fly.
It squeaks with its tiny teeny mouth, --
In dreams howl the nags of hell . . .
Yet calmly, gently onward goes
This midnight mouse's spell.
Its lord, that spirit great and wise,
Leaves to it the night wind's care.
Take heed then! He watches o'er
The midnight mouse's lair.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 73