ABENDSEGEN
(ABENDS WENN ICH SCHLAFEN GEHEN)
WHEN AT NIGHT I GO TO SLEEP
Lyrics: Adelheid Wette (1858-1916)
Music: Engelbert Humperdinck (1854 – 1921)
from the "Hänsel und Gretel" opera

Kathleen Battle



Abends, will ich schlafen gehn,
Vierzehn Engel um mich stehn:
Zwei zu meinen Häupten,
Zwei zu meinen Füßen,
Zwei zu meiner Rechten,
Zwei zu meiner Linken,
Zweie, die mich decken,
Zweie, die mich wecken,
Zweie, die mich weisen,
Zu Himmels-Paradeisen.


*****


EVENING PRAYER (WHEN AT NIGHT I GO TO SLEEP)
From "Hänsel & Gretel"
(Engelbert Humperdinck)

Recorded by : Charlotte Church; Richard Kapp; Mary Van Arsdel.


When at night I go to sleep
Fourteen angels watch do keep
Two my head are guarding
Two my feet are guiding
Two are on my right hand
Two are on my left hand
Two who warmly cover
Two who o’er me hover
Two to whom ’tis given
To guide my steps to heaven

Sleeping sofly, then it seems
Heaven enters in my dreams;
Angels hover round me,
Whisp'ring they have found me;
Two are sweetly singing,
Two are garlands bringing,
Strewing me with roses
As my soul reposes.
God will not forsake me
When dawn at last will wake me.


*****