"Die Blümelein, sie schlafen" is the first line of the German lullaby "Sandmännchen" (Sandman), from Anton Wilhelm von Zuccalmaglio's collection Deutsche Volkslieder (1840). The melody is based on a French song from the late 1500s which was also used for the Christmas carol "Zu Bethlehem geboren" (1638) to a text by Friedrich Spee.
A sandman is a mythical figure in German and other European folk tales who sprinkles sand in the children's eyes at night, making them drowsy and inspiring beautiful dreams.
Johannes Brahms wrote a piano accompaniment for this song in 1858 as no. 4 in his collection 15 Volkskinderlieder (15 Folk Songs for Children), WoO 31., incl. "No. 4 'Sandmännchen He dedicated this collection to the children of Robert and Clara Schumann.
Text Die Blümelein, sie schlafen schon längst im Mondenschein, sie nicken mit den Köpfen auf ihren Stengelein. Es rüttelt sich der Blütenbaum, er säuselt wie im Traum: Schlafe, schlafe, schlaf du, mein Kindelein!
Die Vögelein, sie sangen so süß im Sonnenschein, sie sind zur Ruh gegangen in ihre Nestchen klein. Das Heimchen in dem Ährengrund, es tut allein sich kund: Schlafe, schlafe, schlaf du, mein Kindelein!
Sandmännchen kommt geschlichen und guckt durchs Fensterlein, ob irgend noch ein Liebchen nicht mag zu Bette sein. Und wo er nur ein Kindchen fand, streut er ihm in die Augen Sand. Schlafe, schlafe, schlaf du, mein Kindelein!
Sandmännchen aus dem Zimmer, es schläft mein Herzchen fein, es ist gar fest verschlossen schon sein Guckäugelein. Es leuchtet morgen mir Willkomm das Äugelein so fromm! Schlafe, schlafe, schlaf du, mein Kindelein!Text and links to English and other language translations, LiederNet Archive The little flowers are sleeping Already well under the moonlight, They bow their heads On their stems. The flower tree is rustling, It whispers as in a dream: Sleep, sleep, you sleep, my little child.
The little birds, they warbled so sweetly in the sun, they have gone to slumber in their little nests. The cricket on the blade of grass, Only he coos softly: Go to sleep, go to sleep, my precious child!
The sandman comes creeping and peeks through the window, to see if still a child might not yet be in bed. And where he finds even one child, he scatters the sand in his eyes. Go to sleep, go to sleep, my precious child!
The sandman exits from the room, my darling sleeps so well, his eyes are shuttered firmly, quite tightly locked the lids. The welcome dawn illuminates those little eyes so pure! Go to sleep, go to sleep, my precious child!
Melody
References
External links
, TTBB 4-part setting by Ernst Rudorff
, (soprano), (piano)