Rose wrote me asking about the Afrikaans version of Brahms’ Lullaby that’s sung in South Africa…
Dear Lisa,
When I was a baby in Joburg, my mom used to sing a Brahms lullaby…
Slaap my kindkie slaap sag,
onder rose fannaag,
iers die armpies on my neck,
en dan warmpies toe gedek,
more frieg as God vill,
word my kindkie ge vekSorry for the spelling, it has been many years ago. My daughter is God willing having a little girl end of December, and would like to find that song sung in Afrikaans, for the baby called Riley. I used to sing this song to my daughter when she was very small, and now I am feeling rather sentimental. Can you please help. I stumbled on your site by accident.
Many thanks Rose.
If anyone can help with the original Afrikaans words, an English translation and/or a recording of this lullaby, please let us know in the comments below or email me.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 9:48 pm and is filed under Afrikaans, Brahms, Brahms' Lullaby, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Lullabies, Mama Lisa, Music, Questions, Readers Questions, South Africa, South African Children's Songs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:06 am
WIEGELIEDJIE (Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag)
Woorde: JAN F.E. CELLIERS
Musiek: JOHANNES BRAHMS; Op. 49 nr. 4
Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag, onder rose vannag.
Eers die armpies om my nek en dan warmpies toegedek.
Môre vroeg, as God wil, word my kindjie gewek;
môre vroeg, as God wil, word my kindjie gewek.
Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag, onder eng’le se wag;
hulle toon jou in ‘n droom kindjie Jesus se boom.
Slaap nou soet, hulle wys jou ‘n droomparadys,
Slaap nou soet, hulle wys jou ‘n droomparadys.
Here you can find a version with a English translation:
http://whitegranny.blat.co.za/2008/03/03/wiegeliedjie-slaap-my-kindjie-slaap-sag/
Maarten
January 24th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Dear Rose
My Mom also san the Afrikaans version of Brahms Lullaby and as I remember it – it’s like this
Slaap my kindkie slaap sag,
onder rose bedek,
eers die armpies on my neck,
en dan warmpies toe gedek,
more vroeg as God wil,
sal my kindkie gewek
sal my kindkie gewek
My Afrikaans spelling is not that great either
Hope this helps
Rowena – Namibia
October 16th, 2010 at 8:46 am
I remember it slightly differently as
Slaap my kindjie slaap sag
——-( vague about this bit)
more vroeg soos God wil
wek jou moeder jou weer
more vroeg soos God wil, wek jou moeder jou weer
( in the early morning, as God wills, your mother will wake you again)
June 2nd, 2013 at 12:41 am
WIEGELIEDJIE (Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag)
Woorde: JAN F.E. CELLIERS
Musiek: JOHANNES BRAHMS; Op. 49 nr. 4
Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag, onder rose vannag.
Eers die armpies om my nek en dan warmpies toegedek.
Môre vroeg, as God wil, word my kindjie gewek;
môre vroeg, as God wil, word my kindjie gewek.
Slaap, my kindjie, slaap sag, onder eng’le se wag;
hulle toon jou in ‘n droom kindjie Jesus se boom.
Slaap nou soet, hulle wys jou ‘n droomparadys,
Slaap nou soet, hulle wys jou ‘n droomparadys.
English Translation:
Sleep my Child, Sleep Softly, under the roses tonight.
First your arms around my neck, then warmly coverd in bed.
Early tomorrow, God willing my child to wake,
Early tomorrow, God willing my child to wake.
Sleep my Child, Sleep Softly, with Angels at watch.
They show you in a dream , Baby Jesus’s tree.
Sleep softly, as they show you Paradise,
Sleep softly, as they show you Paradise!
December 10th, 2016 at 10:33 pm
Maarten and Etienne, you MADE MY DAY with this. I always sing it to my kids at night, but I was (like Berenice) a bit vague on some of it. So thanks for filling in the blanks!
August 7th, 2020 at 4:43 am
Brought back fond memories of my baby daughter, (Colleen) when she was a baby. Sang it to her all the time. Always put her to sleep.