"Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein" ("Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep") is perhaps the most famous '' Wiegenlied'' (German for '

lullaby A lullaby (), or cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults see music and sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies they are used to pass down cultural knowledg ...

'), dating from the 18th century.

History

The words are by

Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter (3 September 1746 – 18 March 1797) was a German poet and dramatist. Biography He was born at Gotha. He started out studying law, but early on was influenced to write for the theatre. After the completion of his univer ...

. For many years, the common view was that the melody was composed by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

and it was entered into the

Köchel catalogue The Köchel catalogue (german: Köchel-Verzeichnis, links=no) is a chronological catalogue of compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, originally created by Ludwig Ritter von Köchel, in which the entries are abbreviated ''K.'', or ''KV''. The n ...

as K. 350. Attribution for the melody has since shifted to either Bernhard Flies or

Friedrich Fleischmann Johann Friedrich Anton Fleischmann (19 July 1766 – 30 November 1798) was a German composer.Some sources give his first name as Josef rather than Johann. Life and career Born at Marktheidenfeld, Fleischmann studied at Mannheim with Ignaz Holz ...

Lyrics

Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein, Schäfchen ruhn und Vögelein, Garten und Wiese verstummt, auch nicht ein Bienchen mehr summt, Luna mit silbernem Schein gucket zum Fenster herein, schlafe bei silbernem Schein, schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein, schlaf ein, schlaf ein! Auch in dem Schlosse schon liegt alles in Schlummer gewiegt, reget kein Mäuschen sich mehr, Keller und Küche sind leer, nur in der Zofe Gemach tönet ein schmachtendes Ach! Was für ein Ach mag das sein? Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein, schlaf ein, schlaf ein! Wer ist beglückter als du? Nichts als Vergnügen und Ruh! Spielwerk und Zucker vollauf und noch Karossen im Lauf, Alles besorgt und bereit, dass nur mein Prinzchen nicht schreit. Was wird da künftig erst sein? Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein, schlaf ein, schlaf ein! Sleep, my little prince, sleep, The sheep and the birdies rest, The garden and the meadow are quiet, Not even a little bee buzzes anymore. Luna, with a silverly glow Looks in through the window, Sleep by the silvery glow, Sleep, my little prince, sleep, Sleep, sleep! By now, all are in bed in the castle, All lulled into a slumber, No more mice stir, The basement and kitchen are empty. Only in the maid's chambers There sounds a languishing sigh! What might this sigh be for? Sleep, my little prince, sleep, Sleep, sleep! Who is happier than you? Nothing but pleasure and peace! All trinkets and sugar, And a trotting stage-coach. Everyone's anxious and ready That my little prince will just not cry. But what will the future bring? Sleep, my little prince, sleep, Sleep, sleep!English translation
Mama Lisa's World

Melody

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References

External links

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recording by Andreas Scholl (voice), Tamar Halperin (piano), Liederprojekt {{Authority control Lullabies German-language songs German children's songs Songs about childhood Mozart: spurious and doubtful works 18th-century songs