from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Laura Prichard

Nur ein Gesicht auf Erden lebt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Nur ein Gesicht auf Erden lebt,
so mich vergnügen kann,
nur eines unt'r der Sonne schwebt,
so ich nicht meiden kann.
Mein Herz im Leib vor Freud aufspringt,
wenn ich nur denk daran,
aber der Seel groß Schmerz bringt,
wenn ichs nicht sehen kann.

Ob ich schon oft muß leiden viel
von bösen Zungen hart,
auf keine Weis doch meiden will,
Schönste, dein Gegenwart.
Wann ich dich lieb, o schönstes Kind,
was geht es Andre an.
Ein jeder jetzund Lieben find't,
das niemand wehren kann.

Ach lieber Schatz, erlaube mir,
zu küssen deinen Mund,
dieweil dein liebes Angesicht,
mich also hart verwund't.
Mein Herz, Gesicht, mein'n ganzen Leib
auf ewig dir verschreib,
der Himmel selbst mir Zeuge sei,
daß ich dein Diener bleib.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Només hi ha un rostre que viu a la terra", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Maar één gezicht op aarde leeft", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "There’s only one face on earth", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Il y a seulement un visage qui vit sur terre", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 123

There’s only one face on earth
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
There’s only one face on earth
that can satisfy me so,
only one face under the sun,
that I can’t avoid.
My heart leaps in my chest for joy
whenever I think of her,
but it brings great pain to my soul
when I can’t see her.

Even though I often suffer a lot
from villainous, sharp tongues,
in no way do I wish to avoid,
Fairest, your presence.
If I may love you, oh beautiful child,
the others don’t matter.
Everyone finds loving to be something
that no one can resist.

Ah, dear treasure, allow me
to kiss your mouth,
because your lovely face
wounds me so harshly.
My heart, face, my whole body
are eternally devoted to you,
may heaven itself bear witness,
that I remain your servant.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2016-05-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 130