☝️ Key Points
- The song is about loving parents putting their child to sleep.
- The parents sing gentle songs to lull the baby to sleep.
- The child is portrayed as something special and loved by everyone.
- A modest and secure environment for the child is described.
- The lyrics emphasize the parents' unconditional love and care for their child.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Schlaf, mein Kindelein' from the folk songs is about a loving mother or father putting their child to sleep. They sing gentle songs to lull the baby to sleep.
The text begins with the lines 'Schlaf, mein Kindelein, Schlaf, mein Söhnelein! Singt die Mutter Jungfrau rein; Schlaf, mein Herzelein, Schlaf, mein Schätzelein! Singt der Vater eben fein.' Here, both the mother and father sing lullabies to the child. It is emphasized that the parents love the child and take care of them.
In the chorus of the song, the baby is referred to as 'little' and 'sweet Jesulein'. It is surrounded by angels and sung to by a thousand sweet voices. This shows that the child is special and loved by all.
The text also mentions the child's bed, filled with hay, and a donkey that surrounds it with warmth. This conveys the image of a simple and humble environment in which the child sleeps and is safe.
In the last lines of the text, the child is asked to close their eyes and cover their hands. It is said that the father sends angels to protect the child and keep them safe from any harm.
Overall, the text is about the unconditional love and care of parents for their child. The importance of the child sleeping well and feeling safe is emphasized. The songs of the parents are meant to convey peace and security to the child.