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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):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Nur ein Gesicht auf Erden lebt", WoO. 33 no. 19, published [1894], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 19, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
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 Stanfield 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 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 Stanfield 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website: 2016-05-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 130