The Glow Worm (Das Glühwürmchen)
German Lyrics by Heinz Bolten-Backers, English Lyrics by Lilla Cayley Robinson,
Music by Paul Lincke
German Lyrics by Heinz Bolten-Backers, English Lyrics by Lilla Cayley Robinson,
Music by Paul Lincke
Verse 1: When the night falls silently
The night falls silently on forests dreaming,
Lovers wander forth to see,
They wander forth to see the bright stars gleaming.
And lest they should lose their way,
Lest they should lose their way, the glow-worms nightly
Light their tiny lanterns gay,
Their tiny lanterns gay and twinkle brightly.
The night falls silently on forests dreaming,
Lovers wander forth to see,
They wander forth to see the bright stars gleaming.
And lest they should lose their way,
Lest they should lose their way, the glow-worms nightly
Light their tiny lanterns gay,
Their tiny lanterns gay and twinkle brightly.
Here and there and ev'rywhere, from mossy dell and hollow,
Floating, gliding through the air, they call on us to follow.
Floating, gliding through the air, they call on us to follow.
Chorus: Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer!
Lead us, lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling younder!
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love.
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer!
Lead us, lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling younder!
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love.
Repeat Chorus
Verse 2: "Little glow-worm, tell me pray,
Oh glow-worm, tel me pray, how did you kindle,
Lamps that by the break of day,
That by the break of day, must fade and dwindle?"
"Ah, this secret, by your leave,
This secret, by your leave, is worth the learning!
When true lovers come at eve,
True lovers come at eve, their hearts are burning!
Oh glow-worm, tel me pray, how did you kindle,
Lamps that by the break of day,
That by the break of day, must fade and dwindle?"
"Ah, this secret, by your leave,
This secret, by your leave, is worth the learning!
When true lovers come at eve,
True lovers come at eve, their hearts are burning!
Glowing cheeks and lips betray, how sweet the kisses tasted!
Till we steal the fire away, for fear lest it be wasted!"
Till we steal the fire away, for fear lest it be wasted!"
Chorus: Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer!
Lead us, lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling younder!
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love.
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer!
Lead us, lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling younder!
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer,
Shine, little glow-worm, glimmer
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love.
Repeat Chorus
1952 Version with additional lyric adaptation by Johnny Mercer
Chorus 1: Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer,
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer,
Lead us lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling yonder.
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer,
Hey, there don't get dimmer, dimmer.
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love!
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer,
Lead us lest too far we wander,
Love's sweet voice is calling yonder.
Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer,
Hey, there don't get dimmer, dimmer.
Light the path below, above,
And lead us on to love!
Chorus 2: Glow little glow-worm, fly of fire,
Glow like an incandescent wire,
Glow for the female of the species,
Turn on the AC and the DC.
This night could use a little brightnin',
Light up you little ol' bug of lightnin',
When you gotta glow, you gotta glow,
Glow little glow-worm, glow.
Glow like an incandescent wire,
Glow for the female of the species,
Turn on the AC and the DC.
This night could use a little brightnin',
Light up you little ol' bug of lightnin',
When you gotta glow, you gotta glow,
Glow little glow-worm, glow.
Chorus 3: Glow little glow-worm, glow and glimmer,
Swim through the sea of night, little swimmer.
Thou aeronautical boll weevil,
Illuminate yon woods primeval.
See how the shadows deep and darken,
You and your chick should get to sparkin',
I got a gal that I love so,
Glow little glow-worm, glow.
Swim through the sea of night, little swimmer.
Thou aeronautical boll weevil,
Illuminate yon woods primeval.
See how the shadows deep and darken,
You and your chick should get to sparkin',
I got a gal that I love so,
Glow little glow-worm, glow.
Chorus 4: Glow little glow-worm, turn the key on,
You are equipped with taillight neon,
You got a cute vest-pocket Mazda,
Which you can make both slow and fazda.
I don't know who you took a shine to,
Or who you're out to make a sign to,
I got a gal that I love so,
Glow little glow-worm, glow
You are equipped with taillight neon,
You got a cute vest-pocket Mazda,
Which you can make both slow and fazda.
I don't know who you took a shine to,
Or who you're out to make a sign to,
I got a gal that I love so,
Glow little glow-worm, glow
