When He kisses my lamb awake to play.
Sleep! sleep! sleep! my baby, sleep.
In the German tongue this sleep-song sung.
But why; why do the children cry,
As the husband true bids a brave good-by?
O why do the women and children weep
As the war-woes over their gladness creep?
O this red! red! red!
O this blood I have shed
When from rifles of warriors I leap;