# La le lu

"La-Le-Lu" is a German lullaby written by Heino Gaze in 1950 and made famous by the 1955 film "Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne"; in it, only the Man in the Moon looks on while the little children sleep.

## At a glance

| | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Sung in | German |
| Words by | Heino Gaze |
| First known | 1950 |
| Best for ages | 2–7 |
| Mood | lullaby |
| Page | https://littlesongbook.com/songs/la-le-lu/ |

## Lyrics

### Verse 1 (de)

La le lu,
nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu,
wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen,
drum schlaf' auch du.

### Verse 2 (de)

La le lu,
vor dem Bettchen steh'n zwei Schuh
und die sind genauso müde,
geh'n jetzt zur Ruh'.

### Verse 3 (de)

Dann kommt auch der Sandmann,
leis' tritt er ins Haus,
sucht aus seinen Träumen
dir den schönsten aus.

### Verse 4 (de)

La le lu,
nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu,
wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen,
drum schlaf' auch du.

### Verse 5 (de)

Sind alle die Sterne
am Himmel erwacht,
dann sing ich so gerne
ein Lied dir zur Nacht.

### Verse 6 (de)

La le lu,
nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu,
wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen,
drum schlaf' auch du.

### English translation (en)

La le lu,
only the Man in the Moon looks on,
while the little babies sleep,
so you sleep too.

La le lu,
by the little bed stand two shoes
and they are just as tired,
going now to rest.

Then along comes the Sandman,
softly he steps into the house,
and out of all his dreams
picks the loveliest one for you.

La le lu,
only the Man in the Moon looks on,
while the little babies sleep,
so you sleep too.

When all the stars
have woken in the sky,
then how gladly I sing
a song to you for the night.

La le lu,
only the Man in the Moon looks on,
while the little babies sleep,
so you sleep too.

## Common questions

**What is "La-Le-Lu" about?**

Going to sleep, watched over by the moon. Only the Man in the Moon is still awake, looking down while the little children sleep — so, the song says, you should sleep too. Later verses add two tired little shoes by the bed and the Sandman choosing the loveliest dream for the child.

**Who wrote "La le lu", and when?**

Both words and music were written by Heino Gaze in 1950. The original recording was sung that same year by Lonny Kellner and René Carol.

**Why is "La le lu" so well known in Germany?**

Because of a film. In 1955 the actor Heinz Rühmann sang it with the child actor Oliver Grimm in the comedy "Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne", and that performance turned it into one of Germany's best-loved bedtime songs.

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (German) — La-Le-Lu](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/La-Le-Lu)
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19883460