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Schlaf, [mein Knäblein]1, schlaf!
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav.
Mutter will für all die Mühe,
Die du ihr, so spät, als frühe,
Machst, du lachst nun, oder schmollst,
Nichts, als daß du schlafen sollst.
Schlaf, mein Knäblein, schlaf,
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav.
Draußen, roth im Mittagsscheine,
Glüht der schönsten Kirschen eine,
Wenn du aufwachst, gehen wir,
Und mein Finger pflückt sie dir.
Schlaf, [mein Knäblein]1, schlaf,
Wie Du schläfst, so bist du brav.
Immer süßer kocht die Sonne
Deine Kirsche, dir zur Wonne,
Schlaf denn, [Knäblein]1, leicht bedeckt,
Bis der Durst nach ihr dich weckt.
Schlaf, [mein Knäblein]1, schlaf,
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1, 4-7
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Friedich Hebbel's sämmtliche Werke, Achter Band, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, 1891, pages 163-164.
1 Schumann: "Kindlein"Text Authorship:
- by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863), "Wiegenlied", written 1839 [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 Oskar Kahl (1872 - 1915), "Wiegenlied", op. 1 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1901 [ soprano and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Wiegenlied am Lager eines kranken Kindes", op. 78 (Vier Duette für Sopran und Tenor mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 4 (1849), published 1850, stanzas 1,4-7 [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Wiegelied aan het bed van een ziek kind", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David K. Smythe) , "Cradle-song at the bed-side of a sick child", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Berceuse", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2009-08-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 111
Sleep, little child, sleep! As you sleep, you are so good. Outside red in the midday sun There glows one of the finest cherries. When you awaken, we shall go, And my finger will pluck it for you. Sleep, little child, sleep! As you sleep, you are so good. Ever sweeter the sun ripens Your cherry, for your delight; Sleep, then little child, lightly covered, Until you awake with an appetite for it. Sleep, little child, sleep! As you sleep, you are so good.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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 (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863), "Wiegenlied", written 1839
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 84