Wenn de Kinner slapen,
heff ick Tied för di,
sick uns’ Harten drapen,
Leiw is üm un bi.
Un ick segg denn wedder:
„Mit di is dat schön.“
Abend kümmt nu nedder,
Wind strakt as ein Föhn.

Kinner wassen ranne,
Wünsche warden grot.
Sitten Klaus un Hanne
lang’ nich up denn’ Schot.
Un uns’ Leiw un Sorgen
wassen ümmer mit.
Frag mi oft, ‘Wat morgen
bringt so disse Tied...?’

All’ dat Kinnerhoegen
is mi nich tau düer.
Will mi ümmer rögen,
gläuh’n as so’n Füer.
Ok dat Kinnerweinen
söcht sien gaudet Recht;
all’ de lütten Beinen
bruken ehr’n Weg.

Wenn de Kinner slapen,
heff ick ok noch Tied.
Wat uns all’ künn drapen,
is dat all so wiet ...?
Un mien Hart will swäwen,
nich blot för uns’ Glück.
All’ dat Minschenläben
brukt sien gaudet Stück.

When the kids are sleeping
I have time for you.
While our hearts are meeting,
Love surrounds us two.
And again I mutter,
“It’s so nice with you!”
Soft breezes make hues flutter
As daylight says adieu.

Children keep on growing,
Their dreams do so as well.
Adulthood’s signs are showing,
And soon they’ll say farewell.
And our love and sorrow,
They keep up with the growth.
I think about tomorrow.
How will it treat us both?

For childhood’s simple treasure
No price can be too high.
I pay for it with pleasure
Until the day I die.
And childhood’s tears and sorrow,
They have their use today.
They’re lessons for tomorrow
To guide them on their way.

When the kids are sleeping
I have some time for me.
Those fears keep gnawing, creeping.
The end … When will it be?
My heart craves soaring, floating,
Not only for our bliss.
All life requires devoting
To it a lot of this.