The song, "Dat du min Leevsten büst" emerged from "Dass du mein Schatzgen", a popular song known since the second half of the 18th century. This Westphalian (dialect) song was probably already known before 1750. However, the Low German text was written much later and was mainly distributed at the beginning of the 20th century via song books of the Wandervogel and other youth movements. Since the first edition in 1909, "Dat du min Leevsten büst" has been present in the collection of folk songs called "Zupfgeigenhansel".

Notes

According to Wikipedia:

Most of the publications of this song contain only these three stanzas (above). The "nightly events" are left to the imagination. The two additional stanzas (below), first published in 1925 in Hamburg Youth Songs (2nd booklet, Nest songs), are said to have been written by the Holstein writer Iven Kruse (1865-1926). The story in the song doesn't begin until the next morning...

4. Kummt denn de Morgenstund, kreiht de ol Hahn.
Leevster min, Leevster min, denn mößt du gahn!
Leevster min, Leevster min, denn mößt du gahn!

5. Sachen den Gang henlank, lies mit de Klink!
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind;
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind.

English Translation:

When early morning comes, the old rooster crows
My dearest, then you must go!
My dearest, then you must go!

Slip down the hallway, quiet with the door handle!
Father will think, Mother will think that it's the wind
Father will think, Mother will think that it's the wind.

Other spelling

Zum Stelldichein (To the rendez-vous)

Dat du myn Leevsten bist, dat du wul weest;
Kumm by de Nacht, kumm by de Nacht,
Segg my wo du heest.

Kaem du um Mitternacht, kaem du Klock een,
Vader slöpt, Moder slöpt, ik slaep alleen.

Klopp an de Kammerdær, klopp an de Klink,
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wint.

Another version and spelling

Dat du myn Schätsken bist, dat du wol weest! (That you are my little treasure, you know it well!)
Kum by de Nacht, kum by de Nacht, segg wo du heest

Kum du üm Middernacht, kum du Klok een
Vader slöpt, Moder slöpt, ik slaap alleen

Klop an de Kamerdör, faat an de Klink!
Vader meent, Moder meent, dat deit de Wind

*******

In Schleswig-Holstein there are other stanzas, such as those sung by the Holstein country rock band "De Drangdüwels" before the above 4th stanza of the 1st version in the notes:

Kumm to de Kammer rin, swieg ok fien still,
links steiht een Schapp, rechts steiht een Schapp, meern steiht dat Bett;
links steiht een Schapp, rechts steiht een Schapp, meern steiht dat Bett.

Gah op dat Bett hento, liesen un still,
baben liggt een Deck, ünnen liggt een Deck, meern dat bün ick;
baben liggt een Deck, ünnen liggt een Deck, meern dat bün ick.

Wenn du nich kommen magst, lat dat man blieven,
fief ohn di, fief ohn di, kann ick wohl kreegen;
fief ohn di, fief ohn di, kann ick wohl kreegen.

Translation

Come in the bedroom, hush and stand still/don't make noise
On the left is a wardrobe, on the right is a wardrobe, in between is the bed,
On the left is a wardrobe, on the right is a wardrobe, in between is the bed,

Climb into the bed, silently and still,
Above there's a bedsheet, below there's a bedsheet, I am in between,
Above there's a bedsheet, below there's a bedsheet, I am in between.

If you don't want to come, forget it,
Five without you*, five without you I can well get,
Five without you, five without you I can well get.

*"Five without you" means "Five girls without including you".

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Christina Weising for checking the French translation of the last verses in the notes and clarifying the meaning of the very last line.