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Versions: Sleep Little Prince

GUEST,Fancyfeet 02 Oct 00 - 07:59 PM
GUEST,Fancyfeetcan 02 Oct 00 - 08:09 PM
GUEST,leeneia 02 Oct 00 - 10:51 PM
GUEST,Fancyfeetcan 02 Oct 00 - 11:34 PM
GUEST,leeneia 03 Oct 00 - 06:30 PM
GUEST,Fancyfeetcan 03 Oct 00 - 07:55 PM
Lanfranc 04 Oct 00 - 07:39 PM
GUEST,Fancyfeetcan 04 Oct 00 - 11:12 PM
GUEST,Jemimah 10 Jun 08 - 01:52 AM
GUEST,Jemimah 10 Jun 08 - 02:01 AM
Leadfingers 10 Jun 08 - 07:26 AM
GUEST,John 30 Aug 08 - 08:32 AM
GUEST,leeneia 30 Aug 08 - 09:04 AM
Joe Offer 30 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM
GUEST,soph 08 Oct 08 - 02:48 PM
ard mhacha 09 Oct 08 - 01:00 PM
GUEST,Helper 03 Jun 10 - 08:51 PM
GUEST,dc bird 06 Sep 10 - 04:07 PM
GUEST,German 07 Sep 10 - 05:50 AM
GUEST,Angela 12 Aug 11 - 11:21 AM
GUEST,leeneia 12 Aug 11 - 11:47 AM
GUEST,kay 02 Oct 11 - 07:11 AM
GUEST 09 May 12 - 01:15 AM
GUEST 18 Jul 12 - 08:21 AM
blinddrunkal 18 Jul 12 - 10:50 AM
blinddrunkal 18 Jul 12 - 10:52 AM
GUEST,leeneia 19 Jul 12 - 10:50 AM
GUEST,Bernadette 15 Aug 13 - 09:36 AM
GUEST,Gerry in Coventry UK 14 Jan 14 - 04:43 AM
GUEST,Barbara 05 Apr 14 - 04:12 AM
GUEST,lj 17 Sep 14 - 04:09 PM
GUEST 17 Sep 14 - 04:14 PM
Joe Offer 04 May 15 - 07:43 PM
Joe Offer 04 May 15 - 07:45 PM
GUEST,Bernadette 28 Jul 15 - 12:07 PM
GUEST 29 Oct 15 - 01:13 AM
GUEST,Rosiewh 16 Dec 15 - 09:36 PM
GUEST,Ann pyper 03 Jan 17 - 03:21 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 20 Sep 21 - 08:41 AM
leeneia 21 Sep 21 - 11:31 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 23 Sep 21 - 07:01 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 01 Nov 21 - 04:00 AM
leeneia 03 Nov 21 - 02:05 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 04 Nov 21 - 11:03 AM
leeneia 06 Nov 21 - 05:52 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 07 Nov 21 - 08:25 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 07 Nov 21 - 09:11 AM
Stilly River Sage 07 Nov 21 - 11:02 AM
Monique 07 Nov 21 - 01:38 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 07 Nov 21 - 03:49 PM
leeneia 07 Nov 21 - 04:22 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 07 Nov 21 - 05:08 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 24 Nov 21 - 09:49 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 16 Dec 21 - 11:48 AM
Reinhard 16 Dec 21 - 12:23 PM
GUEST,Annabelle 17 Dec 21 - 06:45 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 04 Jan 22 - 02:43 PM
leeneia 07 Jan 22 - 12:18 PM
leeneia 08 Jan 22 - 12:15 AM
Monique 08 Jan 22 - 03:10 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 09 Jan 22 - 09:39 AM
leeneia 12 Jan 22 - 12:30 AM
GUEST,Annabelle 15 Jan 22 - 08:50 PM
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Subject: Sleep Little Prince Song
From: GUEST,Fancyfeet
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 07:59 PM

I've been searching every where for this song. Problem is that I don't know the title or who sang it. Goes like this:
    "Sleep little prince all is still
    ..... (?) the sheep on the hill
    Softly the hum of the bees
    Birds are at rest in the trees
    Safe from the maiden who sighs
    Soft in her sweet slumber lies
    All will be thine if thou will
    Sleep little prince and be still
    Lie still, lie still" (CHORUS)

Does anyone know it? Thanks.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Fancyfeetcan
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 08:09 PM

Let me repost this. Didn't show the way I typed it. Here it is with punctuation marks:
    "Sleep little prince all is still;
    ..... (?) the sheep on the hill;
    Softly the hum of the bees;
    Birds are at rest in the trees;
    Safe from the maiden who sighs;
    Soft in her sweet slumber lies;
    All will be thine if thou will;
    Sleep little prince and be still;
    Lie still, lie still".
Thanks again.


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Subject: ADD: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 10:51 PM

I have this in a book of Christmas music. It says the English text is by Richard D. Row and the music is by Mozart. There is no indication that Row's words are copyrighted. Which Mozart was the composer remains unclear. Anyway, here goes.

Sleep, Little Prince

Sleep my little prince sleep
the birds and the lambs watch will keep
silent each flower and tree
hushed is the hum of the bee
see the moon's silvery rays
fall where the rippling wave plays
in through the window they peep
sleep my little prince sleep

2. All in the manger is still
all on the meadow and hill
quiet is all in the house
stirring not even a mouse
day with its labor is o'er
darkness enfolds us once more
mother watch o'er thee will keep
sleep my little prince sleep.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Fancyfeetcan
Date: 02 Oct 00 - 11:34 PM

The words are a little different, maybe there's some other translation? Do you know what year it was written? I would like the words and music, so any other info would be helpful. Is the title actually "Sleep Little Prince"? Thank you again Leeneia.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:30 PM

That's all I know. There are so many similarities I am sure it is a version of the same piece. Sorry I can't seem to get my computer to transfer music to the web, or else I would send it to you.

The book just says "Mozart" for a composer. That could be Leopold Mozart or his famous son Wolfgang or even a third party we've never heard of. Maybe you can find the music through the composer's name. (The song may not have been a Christmast song originally.)

It is no suprise that your words are different from my words. If the original was in German and people have tried to translate it over the last 200 years, then there are bound to have been different results from their efforts. It is particularly hard to translate a poem and to end up with rhymes, so people tend to go with what works rather than to cling to the meaning of the original.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Fancyfeetcan
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 07:55 PM

Thanks for your help, Leeneia. I'm sure it's the same song I'm looking for, so I will continue pursuing this. You've given me a great start. Much appreciated.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: Lanfranc
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 07:39 PM

As far as I know the music was written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but I can't quote it's K number offhand. I suspect it was originally a piano piece and the words were added later. I will do a bit of research and post again if the thread lingers.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Fancyfeetcan
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 11:12 PM

Thank you Lanfranc. I've got my fingers crossed! There's a neat little story connected to this search which I will share later. Thanks again.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Jemimah
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 01:52 AM

Hey, has anyone found this song yet? I've also been trying to track it down.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Jemimah
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 02:01 AM

I can help with some of the lyrics, but not all. I sang this song in the lullaby section of the eistedford when I was in primary school (grade school), and I've been trying to track down the lyrics for months so I can sing it properly to my little girl, now 9 months old. :) Her cousin even has a Peter Rabbit doll with a mini music box inside that plays THIS SONG, so it's been really getting to me that I can't remember or find it. LOL


I think the middle verse was...
Not even a mouse is astir, Kitchen and cellar are bare,
Calm lies o'er palace and park, never a sound in the dark,
Save for the maiden who sighs, stirs in her slumber and cries, Dreaming as fond lovers will, Sleep Oh my prince and be still,
Lie still, lie still.

And from the final verse, I can remember these bits:

(missing a line or two here)
Plenty of nice things to eat, fine golden shoes for thy feet,
Carriage and horses to ride, _________ to run by thy side, [coachmen? horsemen? servants?]
All will by thine, if thoust will,
Sleep, O my princling, be still,
Lie still, lie still


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 07:26 AM

I dont know wether this will clear anything , or just cloud the waters still more , but Acker Bilk recorded "GoodNight Sweet Prince"
which , as far as I know was Mozarts "Slaffe Mein Prinzen" done as a sort of slow stomp !
The record I have is Melodisc EPM 7-94 , recording first published 1959


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,John
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 08:32 AM

The German song "Schlafe, mein Prinzchen" was originally accredited to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but later they found out that is was actually written by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter (words) and Bernard Flies (music). If you search the internet for the exact title above, you will find many references to this beautiful song.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 09:04 AM

The good old ingeb site has the words auf Deutsch and a MIDI.

http://ingeb.org/Lieder/schlafem.html

If you have a music program, you can download the MIDI and edit it. For example, I personally would soften the oompah's.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM

Let's see if I can clean off some of the HTML and post the version from ingeb.org

Schlafe, mein Prinzchen
lyrics: Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter, in dem Schauspiel "Esther", Leipzig 1795
Melody: Bernhard Flies, Berlin 1796

Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein!
Es ruh'n Schäfchen und Vögelein.
Garten und Wiese verstummt,
Auch nicht ein Bienchen mehr summt.
Luna mit silbernem Schein
Gucket zum Fenster herein.
Schlafe beim silbernem Schein,
Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein,
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein!

Alles im 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 dies 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 das künftig noch sein?
Schlafe mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein.
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein.


Dieses Wiegenlied wurde ein Jarhundert lang W. A. Mozart (Köchel-Verz. Nr. 350) zugeschrieben; Die Komposition des Berliner Arztes Bernhard Flies erschien 1796 in Berlin. [it was attributed to Mozart for a century, but this composition of Bernhard Flies was published in Berlin in 1796]


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,soph
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 02:48 PM

sleep little price close your eyes
all naturing slumbering lies
silent the birds in the trees
silent the hum of the bees
even the silverly moon
bids its farewell to us soon
sleep by the moons gentle light
sleep dear prince charming good night
good night,good night


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Oct 08 - 01:00 PM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zm8CTJl8yA
Many renditions on You Tube, Schlaf mein Prinzchen.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Helper
Date: 03 Jun 10 - 08:51 PM

We sang this in German and English in school quire. I seem to remember the first verse of the English along the lines of:

Sleep little prince close your eyes
All the world slumbering lies
Garden and Meadow are still
Bees are not home from the hill
Moonbeam-like silvery light
Sweps in to kiss thee goodnight
Sleep by the silvery light
Sleep dear prince charming good night
Good night, good night


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,dc bird
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 04:07 PM

I heard Mozart's dad wrote the melody. This is the version I grew up with in Ireland.

Sleep little prince and lie still
folded the sheep on the hill
silent the hum of the bees
birds are at rest in the trees
quiet and peaceful the room
slowly the big silver moon
rises and peeps o'er the sill
sleep little prince and lie still
lie still, lie still (very slowly)

not even a mouse is a stir
cupboard and cellar are bare
calm lies o'er palace and park
never a sound in the dark
save for the maiden who cries
wakes from her slumber and sighs
dreaming as fond lovers will
sleep little prince and lie still
lie atill....lie still

None is so happy as thou
free as a bird on the bough
plenty of nice things to eat
fine golden shoes for thy feet
carriage and horses to ride
footmen to run by thy side
all will be thine if thou wilt
sleep little prince and lie still,
lie still lie still


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,German
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 05:50 AM

The German text is from Gotter's play "Esther". It was probably first printed in 1795 (Leipzig), when W.A. and L. had long joined the Heavenly Choirs. The melody by the physician Bernhard Flies seems to be just a variant of an original by Friedrich Fleischmann. (The Wikipedia article has been written by the composer's descendants and thus may not be unbiased.)

Folk tradition changed the beginning of the lyrics for better rhythm: "Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, es ruhn / Schäfchen und Vögelein nun ...". For girls, "mein Prinzchen" is changed to "Prinzesschen".

Only the first stanza is common knowledge, my mum sang it at my cradle. Indeed, the sighing maid may not be the best idea to make a child sleep. (A genuine prince is not supposed to worry about maids, but will he know that when he's alone at night?)


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Angela
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 11:21 AM

I grew up listening to the version dc bird wrote out there. I am in Ireland too though it was my mother who sang it to me and she is English. Been trying to find it on you tube cos its the only song that will put my son to sleep and my throat is raw from singing it. My son is autistic and he is very particular about what songs he wants to hear and when.If I try other songs he just fusses about. I can sing it 30 times in a night. If I sing Sleep My Little Prince one more time I may go crazy....


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 11:47 AM

You have my sympathy, Angela.

I think most children respond to the idea of fairness. Try setting a a number of times you will sing it, and count them together. After that, say, "Mommy's throat is hurting from so much singing. It's time to stop." If he fusses, say "It's not fair to make Mommy hurt. I don't make YOU hurt." And let him fuss.

I just learned something new about autism. An article said autistic children learn, but they learn more slowly. Twenty percent of autistic children eventually grow up normal. I hope you find that encouraging.

Hey, I just had an idea. Why don't you put up a new post and ask Mudcatters if somebody will make a YouTube of the song for you. Specify exactly what you want. Woman's voice, I suppose. The first verse only? If you do, I can produce a MIDI file which somebody can convert to an abc file, if needed.

The only trouble is those last lines of the verses, ("lie still, lie still") I don't have those in my version and I don't know how they go. Do you sing those last lines?


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,kay
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:11 AM

I have been trying to find the words to the begining of this lullaby but I can perhaps help with some of the rest.

? folded the sheep on the hill
silent the hum of the bees
birds are at rest in the trees
quiet and peaceful the room
slowly the big silver moon
rises and peeps ore the sill
sleep oh my prince and be still
lie still lie still

Who is so happy as thou
free as a bird on the bough
plenty of nice things to eat
fine golden shoes for thy feet
carriage a horses to ride
footmen to run by thy side
all will be thine if thou will
sleep oh my prince and be still
lie still lie still


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 12 - 01:15 AM

I was taught this at school (only one verse, we were only 4/5)

Sleep Little Prince and lie still,
Folded the sheep on the hill
Silent the hum of the bees
birds are a' resting in trees

Silent and still is the room
Slowly the big Silver Moon
Rises and peeps o'er the 'sill
Sleep little Prince and lie still.......
Lie still...lie still........

I sang this to my sons & grandsons

I adapted the verse for my
daughter/grandaughters
& greatgrandaughters

"Sleep little Princess lie still"


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 08:21 AM

Sleep Little Prince

Sleep Little Prince and lie still,
Folded the sheep on the hill
Silent the hum of the bees
birds are at rest in trees

Quiet and peaceful the room
Slowly the big Silver Moon
Rises and peeps o'er the 'sill
Sleep little Prince and lie still.......
Lie still...lie still........

Who is as happy as thou
Free as a bird on the bough
Plenty of nice things to eat
Fine golden shoes for thy feet
Horses and carriage to ride
Footman to run by thy side

All will be thine if thy will
Sleep little prince and lie still
Lie still…… Lie still

I adapted this song for my daughter with the word princess


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: blinddrunkal
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 10:50 AM

http://youtu.be/XjtHdUl-YI0


can't get the blue clicky to work!


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: blinddrunkal
Date: 18 Jul 12 - 10:52 AM

http://youtu.be/XjtHdUl-YI0


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 Jul 12 - 10:50 AM

Thanks for the link. Now we have the words and the tune.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Bernadette
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 09:36 AM

I learned this song at school, but only the first verse.....

Sleep Little Prince and lie still
Folded the sheep on the hill
Silent the hum of the bees
Birds are a'resting in trees
Silent and still is the room

Slowly the big silver moon
Rises and peeps o'er the sill
Sleep little Prince and lie still
Lie still, lie still.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Gerry in Coventry UK
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 04:43 AM

Our music teacher at the
Star of the Sea PES in Belfast taught us one verse (only) of this lullaby. She was a Maureen O'Hara look-alike and wore an engagement ring. Funny the things you take in as a child!Probably married with a squad of kids now!

Sleep little prince and be still
Silent the sheep on the hill
Slowly the big silver moon
Rises and peeps over the sill
Sleep little prince and be still
Lie still.l.l.l.l
Lie still.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Barbara
Date: 05 Apr 14 - 04:12 AM

As I remember it from my school days the missing word is .......Folded the sheep on the hill.   I used to love singing this.o


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,lj
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 04:09 PM

Folded the sheep on the hill

beautiful song


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 14 - 04:14 PM

sorry - silent the hum of the bees, birds are at rest in the trees


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Subject: Lyr Req: Sleep Little Prince, All Is Still
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 15 - 07:43 PM

from the FAQ:

    Thread #19340   Message #3706318
    Posted By: GUEST,Lynne
    04-May-15 - 07:52 AM
    Thread Name: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
    Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide

    I was also looking for a song and your page came up.

    I know some of the words:

    "Sleep little prince all is still
    Folded the sheep on the hill
    Silent the hum of the bees
    Birds are at rest in the trees
    ??????????????? in the room
    Slowly the big silver moon
    Rises and peeps o'er the hill
    Sleep little prince all is still"


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sleep Little Prince, All Is Still
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 May 15 - 07:45 PM

I found this: https://ar.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070305065116AAz0dOM:

    Sleep little prince all is still,
    Foldeth the sheep on the hill.
    Silent the hum of the Bees,
    Birds are at rest in the trees.
    Quiet and peaceful the room.
    Slowly the big silver moon,
    Rises and peeps o'er the hill.
    Sleep little prince all still,
    Lye still, lye still.


And note all that's been posted above.

-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Bernadette
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 12:07 PM

Sleep little Prince and lie still
Folded the sheep on the hill
Silent the hum.of the bees, birds are a nesting in trees
Silent and still is the room
Slowly the big silver moon

Rises and peeps o'r the sill, sleep little Prince and lie still, lie still......lie still


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Oct 15 - 01:13 AM

Sleep Little Dream Prince of Mine
Leave your toys soldiers in line
Birds are asleep in the nests
Even the bees are at rest
Heavenly Stars and the Moon
All will be greeting you soon
Through the dark night they will shine
Sleep Little Dream Prince of Mine

All of the house is quite still
Sheep grazing over the hill
Cows and the pigs are asleep
even the Chicks will not peep
Heavenly Stars and the Moon
All will be greeting you soon
Through the dark night they will shine
Sleep Little Dream Prince of Mine

Sleep on, Sleep on


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Rosiewh
Date: 16 Dec 15 - 09:36 PM

I was so pleased to find this site, thank you. This song was sung to me when I was small, I sang it to my son and now I'm singing it to my grandchildren! The all love it and I became curious to see who else uses it and where it came from.    This is the version I use:

Sleep little prince all is still
Folded the sheep on the hill
Silent the hum of the bees
Birds are at rest in the trees
Silent and peaceful the room
Slowly the big silver moon
Rises and peeps o'er the hill
Sleep little prince all is still"


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Ann pyper
Date: 03 Jan 17 - 03:21 PM

Sleep little prince all is still
Folded the sheep on the hill
Calm lies o'er palace and park
Not ev'n a sound in the dark
Except for the maiden who sighs
Dreams of her lover and cries
Dreaming as dream lovers will
Sleep little prince all is still
Lie still......lie still


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Subject: Schlafe, Mein Prinzchen, Schlaf Ein'
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 20 Sep 21 - 08:41 AM

Out of curiosity, I wonder how this lullaby would scan for a little daughter. Would it be something like, "Schlaf, Mein Prinzesschen, Schlaf Ein'"? Since I have trouble pronouncing German, as it sounds like French when I try (I'm pretty good at speaking French), I wonder, can anyone provide a written pronunciation guide for me? I know that "Schlaf Ein" is something like "Shlof Ine", but that's all I can easily pronounce.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Sep 21 - 11:31 AM

Prinzessin is the German for princess. The z is very crisp, like ts. Leave out Mein and you'll be all right.

Here's a nice YouTube with the lyrics and very clear singing. Sing at the front of your mouth, not back in your throat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5A1rS0OKHE

Providing a written guide would take a long, long time.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 23 Sep 21 - 07:01 PM

@Leeneia That was so beautiful! The guy's voice reminds me of my American dad. So you say that for a daughter, I would sing something like, "Schlafe, prinzessin, schlaf ein'"?


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 01 Nov 21 - 04:00 AM

@leeneia You say that "Princess" in German is "Prinzessin". Yet somebody a few posts earlier, who went by the name German, clearly wrote this:
For girls, "mein Prinzchen" is changed to "Prinzesschen".
Now I'm confused! Which one is the one that would scan musically?


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 03 Nov 21 - 02:05 PM

The -chen ending means "little." To make it scan. Sing:

   schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein

    OR

   schlaf, Prinzesschen, schlaf ein

Prinzessin and Prinzesschen have the same number of syllables. Me, I think the -chen form is too much of a mouthful for pretty singing.


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Subject: RE: Help: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 04 Nov 21 - 11:03 AM

I don't think it would be a mouthful for me. I could make it sound beautiful. And no, I don't have to sound like an opera star to have a beautiful voice! I even have a sweet version I made up in English, which I'm sure you might say would scan beautifully with the melody.


Sleep, little princess, lie still.
The lambs are at rest on the hill.
Crickets will sing you a song.
Rock you to sleep all night long.
The nightingales whistle their tune.
And shine with the bright silvery moon.
I love you and I always will.
Sleep, little princess, lie still.
Lie still, lie still!

And here's the version in German that I would sing.



Schlafe, prinzesschen, schlaf ein.
Es ruhn schäfchen und vögelein.
Garten und wiese verstummt.
Auch nicht ein bienchen mehr summt.
Luna mit silbernem Schein.
Gucket zum Fenster herein
Schlafe beim silbernem Schein
Schlafe, prinzesschen, schlaf ein!
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein!



Does that look and sound right to you?


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 06 Nov 21 - 05:52 PM

I can't vouch for all of it, but "Schlafe, Prinzessin, schlaf ein" looks right.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 08:25 AM

@leeneia Interestingly enough, I heard a version where they sing: Schäfchen ruh'n und vögelein. Would that be less of a mouthful than, "Es ruh'n schäfchen und vögelein"? The part where a solo soprano would usually sing so high that glass would shatter? I've made an arrangement where that part is a softly playing flute instead. Since I don't like opera singing, flutes sound pretty to my ears. So do soprano saxophones. Especially when played softly. I mean, aren't lullabies supposed to be soft, not shrill like arias? I even put a bit of a crying tone in my voice (That's natural for me.), and no, this is not fake crying, the tears are for real!


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 09:11 AM

I recently found this version where a guy, at least I think it's a guy, who goes by the name Soy Martino, plays this on a guitar. I think it might be a nylon guitar, then again, it could be a steel guitar. That's where I'm confused!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbbhuXukOkk


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 11:02 AM

"Soy Martino" in Spanish means "I am Martino." So I suspect it's a business name, not actually his first name.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: Monique
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 01:38 PM

This SoYmartino guy is a Slovak guitar player.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 03:49 PM

The part where I'm confused is whether he's playing a nylon guitar or a steel guitar. Sometimes they can sound the same, even if someone like me can tell them apart by ear most of the time.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 04:22 PM

I think those are nylon strings, because if you stop the video at 35 seconds and look at the strings where they go over the nut, they look transparent.

I agree that lullabies should be soft. I remember my mother singing them softer and softer, until the baby went to sleep, listening.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 07 Nov 21 - 05:08 PM

@leeneia There's one problem, I'm sight challenged. I have no sight at all. That's why I say that I tell instruments apart just by listening to their tones.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 24 Nov 21 - 09:49 AM

@leeneia "until the baby went to sleep". I'm confused! Was the baby one of your siblings? Or was it you?


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 11:48 AM

Interestingly enough, I'm confused on the pronunciation of "schlafe". Some pronounce it "Shlah fay", while others pronounce it more like "Shlah fuh" (to rhyme with "luftwaffe"). Which one is right? I pronounce it with the latter rather than the former.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: Reinhard
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 12:23 PM

Yes, the second pronounciation is the usual one. The 'e' at the end is a schwa vowel as in 'the' or 'taken'.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 17 Dec 21 - 06:45 AM

@Reinhard Then I wonder why some people pronounce it "Shlah fay", as if it's more like Spanish than German? I'm making a version of this song for a very special friend of mine. My beautician, Cassie, whose aunt is from Germany, is having a baby soon, hopefully in the second week of January 2022. A little girl she's going to name Marley May Josephine, and I want to sing this lullaby to her little one. And no, I'm not going to make it shrill like an aria, as I don't like opera. My voice is meant for soft, tender tones, which are the things that lullabies are made of. At the end, I whisper, "Süße träume, kleines prinzesschen!". I could be wrong, but I think that would be approximately, "zoosa troyma, kline es prin tsess yen". Am I right that this approximately translates as, "Sweet dreams, little princess!"?


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 04 Jan 22 - 02:43 PM

@Reinhard If that's the case, then I wonder why some people pronounce it "Shlah fay", as if it's more like Spanish than German? I'm making a version of this song for a very special friend of mine. My beautician, Cassie, whose aunt is from Germany, is having a baby soon, on January 6, 2022. A little girl she's going to name Marleigh May Josephine, and I want to sing this lullaby to her little one. And no, I'm not going to make it shrill like an aria, as I don't like opera. My voice is meant for soft, tender tones, which are the things that lullabies are made of. At the end, I whisper, "Süße träume, kleines prinzesschen!". I could be wrong, but I think that would be approximately, "zoosa troyma, kline es prin tsess yen". Am I right that this approximately translates as, "Sweet dreams, little princess!"?


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 07 Jan 22 - 12:18 PM

People pronounce it shlah fay if they haven't had any German classes.

Your pronunciation of the last phrase is close enough for someone who has not had classes. I hope little Marleigh is thriving.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 22 - 12:15 AM

I've decided to explain more about the word "suesse." (When one can't type those two dots, one inserts an e after the vowel.) That u with two dots above is a "front vowel", or in German, an umlaut. It's a u, and it has two s's after it. That makes it short.

So here's what you do. You say the s like an English z. For the vowel you say short i as in pin, then you promptly round your lips slightly, so that the i is modified into a complicated-sounding new vowel.

These front vowels are heard in German, French, Scottish dialect and U.S. southern dialects, and probably in other languages. Come to think of it, I believe I've heard Bulgarians use them.

I wonder if they occur in Irish dialects.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: Monique
Date: 08 Jan 22 - 03:10 AM

How to pronounce the German "ü" and French "u" sound: 1 and 2. Video #1 is about German words and video #2 is about French words but the sound is exactly the same and both explanations may come handy.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 09 Jan 22 - 09:39 AM

@leeneia That seems quite interesting. So would the ü be pronounced something like the "eu" in "berceuse" (approximately pronounced "bear sirs"?


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Jan 22 - 12:30 AM

Google thinks that berceurse is bear suz, similar to suds, so that's no help. Monique's link is nice, but it's only talking about the long u umlaut. The long umlaut has ee in the back, but the short one has short i in the back.

Not every umlaut calls for rounded (or pursed) lips. Traueme is pronounced troy-meh. And Haendel (the composer) is Hendel. Spaet, the word for late, is schpate.

To finish the story, the long o umlaut has long ay in the back, and the short o umlaut has short e in the back. That's all of them, I think.

In Milwaukee, where I grew up, if you were named Schroeder, you were called Schrayder, because people remembered that long a in the back of the mouth. Also Koenig was Kay-nig.


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Subject: RE: Versions: Sleep Little Prince
From: GUEST,Annabelle
Date: 15 Jan 22 - 08:50 PM

@leeneia For example, "wunderschön, from what I hear, sounds like "voon-da-shern". Is your "Troy-meh" pronunciation supposed to be more like "troima", with the ? (schwa) as in "again" and "sofa"?


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