The tinkling sheep bell knells the parting day,
The flocks collect from meadow, hill and moor,
The happy Goatherd homeward takes his way,
His wife and children wait him at the door,
His wife and children wait him at the door.
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs alone, alone,
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs alone, alone.
Tinkle the bells upon the mountain steeps,
Fainter and fainter down the narrow ways,
Soon in his cot, the shepherd, ere he sleeps,
Joins with his lov'd ones in their hymn of praise,
Joins with his lov'd ones in their hymn of praise.
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs alone, alone,
To me the bells speak with no cheering tone,
Only the night wind sighs alone, alone,
Only the night wind sighs alone, sighs alone.