Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Schlafe, Liebchen, weil's auf Erden
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Schlafe, Liebchen, weil's auf Erden
Nun so still und seltsam wird!
Oben gehn die goldnen Herden,
Für uns alle wacht der Hirt.

In der Ferne ziehn Gewitter;
Einsam auf dem Schifflein schwank,
Greif' ich draußen in die Zither,
Weil mir gar so schwül und bang.

Schlingend sich an Bäum' und Zweigen
In Dein stilles Kämmerlein,
Wie auf goldnen Leitern, steigen
Diese Töne aus und ein.

Und ein wunderschöner Knabe
Schifft hoch über Tal und Kluft,
Rührt mit seinem goldnen Stabe
Säuselnd in der lauen Luft.

Und in wunderbaren Weisen
Singt er ein uraltes Lied,
Das in linden Zauberkreisen
Hinter seinem Schifflein zieht.

[Ach, den süßen Klang verführet]1
Weit der buhlerische Wind,
Und durch Schloß und Wand ihn spüret
Träumend [jedes schöne]2 Kind.

F. Mendelssohn sets stanzas 1, 3, 6

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff, Gedichte, Berlin, Verlag von M. Simion, 1841, page 233.

1 Mendelssohn: "Und der Töne Klang entführet"
2 Mendelssohn: "wohl das süsse"

Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Serenata vespral", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Evening serenade", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Sérénade", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Paolo Montanari) , "Ninna-nanna", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2004-04-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 122

Evening serenade
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Sleep, my darling, because on earth
It now becomes so quiet and strange!
Overhead travel the golden herds,
Over us all the shepherd watches.

In the distance there are thunderstorms;
Alone upon the agile little ship,
I strum the strings of my zither outside,
Because I feel so oppressed and anxious.

Winding themselves about trees and branches
Into your little chamber,
As upon golden ladders, climb
These sounds in and out.

And a wondrously beautiful lad,
Sails high over valley and ravine,
With his golden staff he creates
A rustling in the warm breeze.

And in wondrous tunes
He sings an ancient song
That behind his little boat
Trails in gentle magical circles.

[Ah, the sweet sounds are ensnared]1
[And carried] into the distance by the amorous wind,
And through locks and walls they are discerned
Dreamily by [every beautiful]2 child.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Mendelssohn: "And the ringing of the sounds are taken up"
2 Mendelssohn: "the sweet"

Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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: 2013-08-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 141