Songs

Wiegenlied im Sommer

by Hugo Wolf From Sechs Lieder für eine Frauenstimme (1877) 1877 - 82

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
This song was recorded live at the Oxford Lieder Festival as part of Hugo Wolf: The Complete Songs on Stone Records.
Click here to listen to this song with Lydia Teuscher and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.

Text & Translation

Wiegenlied im Sommer
German source: Robert Reinick

Vom Berg hinabgestiegen
Ist nun des Tages Rest,
Mein Kind liegt in der Wiegen,
Die Vögel all im Nest;
Nur ein ganz klein Singvögelein
Ruft weit daher im Dämmerschein:
„Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!

Lieb Kindlein, gute Nacht!“
Die Wiege geht im Gleise,
Die Uhr tickt hin und her,
Die Fliegen nur ganz leise
Sie summen noch daher.
Ihr Fliegen, lasst mein Kind in Ruh!
Was summt ihr ihm so heimlich zu?
„Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!

Lieb Kindlein, gute Nacht!“
Der Vogel und die Sterne
Und Alle rings umher,
Sie haben mein Kind so gerne,
Die Engel noch viel mehr.
Sie decken’s mit den Flügeln zu
Und singen leise: „Schlaf in Ruh!
Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!
Lieb’ Kindlein, gute Nacht!“

A lullaby in summer
German translation © Richard Stokes

What remains of day
Has now descended from the mountain,
My child lies in its cradle,
The birds are all in their nests,
Just one tiny little song-bird
Calls from afar in the twilight:
“Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”

The cradle goes on rocking,
The clock ticks to and fro,
The flies very quietly still
Come buzzing through the air.
Leave my child in peace, you flies!
Why buzz at him so secretly?
“Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”

The birds and the stars,
And all things round about,
Are so very fond of my child,
The angels even fonder.
They cover him with their wings
And softly sing: “Sleep in peace!
Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”

Wiegenlied im Sommer
German source: Robert Reinick

A lullaby in summer
German source: Richard Stokes

Vom Berg hinabgestiegen
What remains of day
Ist nun des Tages Rest,
Has now descended from the mountain,
Mein Kind liegt in der Wiegen,
My child lies in its cradle,
Die Vögel all im Nest;
The birds are all in their nests,
Nur ein ganz klein Singvögelein
Just one tiny little song-bird
Ruft weit daher im Dämmerschein:
Calls from afar in the twilight:
„Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!
“Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”

Lieb Kindlein, gute Nacht!“
The cradle goes on rocking,
Die Wiege geht im Gleise,
The clock ticks to and fro,
Die Uhr tickt hin und her,
The flies very quietly still
Die Fliegen nur ganz leise
Come buzzing through the air.
Sie summen noch daher.
Leave my child in peace, you flies!
Ihr Fliegen, lasst mein Kind in Ruh!
Why buzz at him so secretly?
Was summt ihr ihm so heimlich zu?
“Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”
„Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!

Lieb Kindlein, gute Nacht!“
The birds and the stars,
Der Vogel und die Sterne
And all things round about,
Und Alle rings umher,
Are so very fond of my child,
Sie haben mein Kind so gerne,
The angels even fonder.
Die Engel noch viel mehr.
They cover him with their wings
Sie decken’s mit den Flügeln zu
And softly sing: “Sleep in peace!
Und singen leise: „Schlaf in Ruh!
Good night! good night! Dearest child, good night!”
Gut’ Nacht! gut’ Nacht!
Lieb’ Kindlein, gute Nacht!“

Composer

Hugo Wolf

Hugo Filipp Jakob Wolf was born on 13 March 1860, the fourth of six surviving children, in Windischgraz, Styria, then part of the Austrian Empire. He was taught the piano and violin by his father at an early age and continued to study piano at the…

Poet

Robert Reinick

Robert Reinick was a German painter and poet, associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. One of his poems, Dem Vaterland, was set to music by Hugo Wolf. Reinick was born in Danzig (Gdańsk) and died in Dresden. Taken from Wikipedia. To view…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets