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Wiegenlied redirects here. For other works with this name, see Lullaby.

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Brahms' Lullaby is the common name for a number of children's lullabies with similar lyrics and the same melody, the original of which was Johannes Brahms' Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Op. 49, No. 4. (Published in 1868.)The first verse is taken from a collection of German folk poems called Des Knaben Wunderhorn

1 Wiegenlied
2 Versions
3 Arrangements
4 References
5 Bibliography
6 External links

[edit] Wiegenlied

Johannes Brahms' original version was composed in German:

Guten Abend, gute Nacht, mit Rosen bedacht,

Mit Näglein besteckt, schlüpf unter die Deck!'

Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt

Guten Abend, gute Nacht, von Englein bewacht

Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum

Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traum's Paradies

A close English translation of which is:

Good evening, and good night, with roses adorned,

With carnations covered, slip under the covers.

Early tomorrow, if God wills, you will wake once again.

Good evening, and good night. By angels watched,

Who show you in your dream the Christ-child's tree.

Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, see the paradise in your dream.

[edit] Versions

The most common English version is as follows:

Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight

With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed

Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed

Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight

Bright angels beside my darling abide

They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast

Further verses from various sources may be added to lengthen the lullaby:

Sleepyhead, close your eyes, mother's right here beside you.

I'll protect you from harm, you will wake in my arms.

Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.

Lullaby, and sleep tight, hush! My darling is sleeping,

On his sheets white as cream, with his head full of dreams.

When the sky's bright with dawn, he will wake in the morning.

When noontide warms the world, he will frolic in the sun.

Go to sleep, little one, think of puppies and kittens.

Go to sleep, little one, think of butterflies in spring.

Go to sleep, little one, think of sunny bright mornings.

Go to sleep, little one, sleep tight through the night.

Brahms' Lullaby is also commony sung to the Hebrew words of Jacob's blessing in Genesis 48:16.

[edit] Arrangements

In 1922, Australian pianist and composer Percy Grainger arranged the Wiegenlied as one of his "Free Settings of Favorite Melodies" for solo piano. This study was characterized by much use of suspensions and arpeggiation, with the first statement of the melody placed in the tenor range of the keyboard. This last practice was a favorite one of Grainger.^[1]