When the stars go to sleep,
The babies awake,
And they prattle and sparkle all day;
Then the stars light their lamps,
And their playtime they take,
While the babies are sleeping away.
So good night, little baby,
And shut up your eyes;
Let the stars now have their turn at play;
They soon will begin
To shoot through the skies,
And dance in the bright milky way.
No, no, my dear nurse,
I cannot go to sleep;
Since you've put the thought into my head,
Let us have with the stars
One game at bo-peep;
Then good night, and a kiss, and to bed.