Sleep is pretty cool

On Going to Sleep

Now that day wearies me,
my yearning desire
will receive more kindly,
like a tired child, the starry night.

Hands, leave off your deeds,
mind, forget all thoughts;
all of my forces
yearn only to sink into sleep.

And my soul, unguarded,
would soar on widespread wings,
to live in night's magical sphere
more profoundly more variously.


I attended a Strauss only concert at the Pasedena Symphony Orchestra consisting of the tone poem Don Juan, the Four Last Songs (the above is the Hermann Hesse text of the third), Serenade in E-flat major (an early piece), and the last scene of Salome. Soprano Jane Eaglen was great singing the songs and Salome.

For you German speakers:

Beim Schlafengehen

Nun der Tag mich mued' gemacht,
soll mein sehnliches Verlangen
freundlich die gestirnte Nacht
wie ein muedes Kind empfangen.

Haende, lasst von allem Tun,
Stirn, vergiss du alles Denken,
alle meine Sinne nun
wollen sich in Schlummer senken.

Und die Seele unbewacht
will in freien Fluegen schweben,
um im Zauberkreis der Nacht
tief und tausendfach zu leben.