Liedtext (Lyrics)
Der vollständige Liedtext von „La le lu“ mit englischer Übersetzung.
La le lu, nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu, wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen, drum schlaf' auch du.
#La le lu, vor dem Bettchen steh'n zwei Schuh und die sind genauso müde, geh'n jetzt zur Ruh'.
#Dann kommt auch der Sandmann, leis' tritt er ins Haus, sucht aus seinen Träumen dir den schönsten aus.
#La le lu, nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu, wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen, drum schlaf' auch du.
#Sind alle die Sterne am Himmel erwacht, dann sing ich so gerne ein Lied dir zur Nacht.
#La le lu, nur der Mann im Mond schaut zu, wenn die kleinen Babies schlafen, drum schlaf' auch du.
#English translation
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.
#La le lu at a glance
- Country of origin
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Sung in
- German
- Words by
- Heino Gaze
- First known
- 1950
- Best for ages
- 2–7
- Mood
- lullaby
- Last updated
- 25 July 2026
Meaning and origin
Unlike most of the songs in this collection, “La-Le-Lu” has a known author and a precise birthday. Both the words and the gentle melody were written by Heino Gaze in 1950, and the very first recording was made that same year by the singers Lonny Kellner and René Carol. It is a modern composition in the shape of an old lullaby — soft nonsense syllables, a watchful moon, a child being coaxed to sleep.
Its images are the classic furniture of bedtime. Only the Man in the Moon is still awake, looking down while the little ones sleep; two little shoes stand by the bed, “just as tired” as their owner; and the Sandman slips quietly into the house to pick out the loveliest dream. Everything in the song is winding down, which is exactly what a lullaby is for.
It became a national favourite through the cinema. In 1955 the beloved actor Heinz Rühmann sang it with the child actor Oliver Grimm in the film Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne, and that tender scene fixed the song in German memory for good. Written for a film barely seventy years ago, “La-Le-Lu” has nonetheless earned a place beside lullabies many centuries older.
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.
