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Wer seine Liebste küssen will, Thu's nicht auf offnem Wege! Denn küssest du auch leis und still, Lauscht Einer im Gehege, Der hat euch Beiden zugesehn, Und denkt, wie gut's die Zwei verstehn! Gewißlich dann die Küsse Dir nimmer schmecken süße! Wer seine Liebste küssen will, Geh' nicht zu nah an's Fenster! Die Nachbarin horcht mäuschenstill Zur Stund' auch der Gespenster, Und hat's gesehn ganz sicherlich, Und denkt, die küssen manchmal sich! Gewißlich dann die Küsse Dir nimmer schmecken süße! Am besten, gehst in's Kämmerlein, Wenn traut die Nacht gekommen! Da magst du unbesorget sein, Daß Jemand es vernommen. Und werden auch die Wangen roth, Bis Morgens früh hat's keine Noth! Gewißlich so die Küsse Dir immer schmecken süße!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 166.
Note: In the published poem the last line of stanza 1 began with the word "Die" instead of "Dir"; this error has been corrected above.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wer seine Liebste küssen will", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 188 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Carl Gramm , "Wer seine Liebste küssen will", op. 15 no. 2, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], from Schelmische Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Hannover, Oertel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl North (1859 - 1914), "Wer seine Liebste küssen will", op. 2 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 3, published 1889 [ ttbb chorus ], Basel: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "He who wishes to kiss his beloved", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2017-11-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 120
He who wishes to kiss his beloved Should not do it on the open road! For even if you kiss gently and quietly, Someone in a nearby enclosure is listening, [Someone who] has watched the two of you, And thinks: how adept those two are [at kissing]! Most certainly then the kisses Shall no longer be sweet to you! He who wishes to kiss his beloved, Should not go too close to the window! Quiet as a mouse, the neighbour is listening Even for ghosts at this hour, And she definitely saw it, and thinks: Well, those two kiss each other sometimes! Most certainly then the kisses Shall no longer be sweet to you! It would be best to go into the little chamber, When the night has come cosily! There you need not be concerned That someone has noticed it. And though [her] cheeks may grow red, There will be no reason to worry till early in the morning! Certainly thus the kisses Shall always be sweet to you!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (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) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wer seine Liebste küssen will", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 188
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 171