You most likely have heard of Johannes Brahms' soothing "Lullaby," at least once in your life, one way or another. Also known as "Wiegenlied" or the "Cradle Song,' Brahms' composition has been putting babies to sleep for over one and a half centuries.
It might have even been the first song you have heard of. From CDs to a 1-hour loop of the song posted on YouTube, parents have played a version of "Lullaby" to their babies since it was first written in 1868.
The song is probably the most-known lullaby ever composed and is definitely the most famous German lullaby ever. It has been performed by a variety of artists like classical giant Anne Sofie von Otter and even by crooner Legend Frank Sinatra.
That said, the origin of Brahms' "Lullaby" is not as familiar to many, not to mention the meaning behind its original German lyrics. That's why we'll explore both of those below.
How and Why Johannes Brahms Made 'Lullaby'
'Lullaby' was written by Brahms simply as a gift to his close friend, Bertha Faber, after she gave birth to her second son. However, Brahms saw the song in a new light after he had sent it to Bertha's husband, Artur.
"Bertha will realize that I wrote the 'Wiegenlied' for her little one. She will find it quite in order... that while she is singing Hans to sleep, a love song is being sung to her," Brahms wrote to Artur.
Delving deeper, Bertha and Brahms' relationship went as far back as during the composer's mid-20s, when he was still living in Hamburg. There, he had initiated a women's choir which Bertha joined, and since then the two struck a cherished relationship with each other.
They would often go on walks with each other along the German countryside. Eventually, their connection bloomed into romance, and Bertha would sing to Brahms a famed German folk song called "S'Is Anderscht" during their walks. This tune became "their song."
Although the intimacy between Brahms and Bertha faded, the German composer continued to fondly hold onto their time together and even hid the tune Bertha used to sing as a counter-melody to the "Lullaby" he made for her son.
The song was first played publicly on Dec. 22, 1869, performed by another of Brahms' former romantic interests, Clara Schumann, playing the piano accompaniment to Luise Dustmann's singing.
The Original and Translated Lyrics to Johannes Brahms' 'Lullaby'
Brahms' composition originally only had one verse and was initially written in German, with the lyrics lifted directly from "Des Knaben Wudnerhorn" or "The Boy's Magic Horn," which was a collection of German folk poems. Later on, Brahms would add a second verse taken from Georg Scherer's poem.
Here's the original German lyrics to Brahms' Lullaby:
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
mit Rosen bedacht,
mit Näglein besteckt,
schlupf' unter die Deck':
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
von Englein bewacht,
die zeigen im Traum
dir Christkindleins Baum:
schlaf nun selig und süß,
schau im Traum 's Paradies."
Translated to English, it would mean the following:
Good evening, good night,
With roses covered,
With cloves adorned,
Slip under the covers.
Tomorrow morning, if God wills,
you will wake once again.
Good evening, good night.
By angels watched,
Who shows you in your dream
the Christ-child's tree.
Sleep now blissfully and sweetly,
see paradise in your dreams."
