10) The Little Sandman

trad.

 

The flow‘rs long been sleeping

Beneath the pale moonshine

Their tiny heads are nodding

Up on their stalks so fine.

 

The rosetree bends her dreaming head,

And shakes her petals red.

Slumber, slumber

My own sweet baby dear!

 

By day the birds sang sweetly,

But now it‘s time to rest,

And so they‘ve gone a-sleeping,

Each in its little nest.

 

The cricket in the field I hear,

No other sound is near.

Slumber, slumber,

My own sweet baby dear!

 

The sandman comes a-sneaking,

And through the window peeps,

To see if any darling

Has still not gone to sleep.

 

For when he sees a child awake,

He‘ll throw sand in its eyes.

Slumber, slumber,

My own sweet baby dear!

 

Off with you little sandman!

See, here my baby lies,

So fast asleep already,,

Tight-closed those little eyes.

 

Tomorrow I‘ll be greeted by

Wide open eyes so bright!.

Slumber, slumber,

My own sweet baby dear!

 

from

Volkskinderlieder

für eine Singstimme und Klavier WoO 31 Nr. 4

Den Kindern Robert & Clara Schumanns gewidmet

 

Translation by R.H. Benson adapted by Anne Gabriel, Julian Schoenfeld & Lia Pale