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Ach, ich sagt's dir so gern, Doch kein Wort sagt es je, Wie so treu ich dich lieb', Und das thut mir so weh! Und kein Blick reicht so tief, Und kein Kuß brennt so heiß, Daß er künde mein Glück; Nur der Herrgott es weiß! Du mein wonniges Lieb, Und ich finde nicht Ruh, Bis ich's dir auch gesagt, Doch wann komm' ich dazu? -- Ja, Herzliebster, wohl nie Wirst du finden das Wort, Ob du sinnest und suchst Bis in Ewigkeit fort. Und kein Blick und kein Kuß Es, o Trauter, mir sagt, Wie du ewig mich liebst, Doch was bist du verzagt? Gieb dem Winde getrost Deinen thörichten Schmerz, Denn mir sagt es, mir sagt's Mein glückseliges Herz!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 162.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ach, ich sagt's dir so gern!", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 183 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Valentin Eduard Becker (1814 - 1890), "Ach, ich sagt's dir so gern", op. 47 (Drei Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 3, published 1864 [ four-part men's chorus, unaccompanied ], Leipzig: Rob. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Ecker (1813 - 1879), op. 12 (Zwölf leichte Strophenlieder für gemischten Chor), Heft 2 no. 9, published 1865 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudolf Löw-Burckhardt (1832 - 1898), "Ach, ich sagt's dir so gern", op. 1 no. 2, published 1867 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Lieder der Liebe von Friedrich Oser für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 2, Zürich: Gebrüder Hug [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Popp (1828 - 1903) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Ah, I would so gladly tell it to you!", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 120
Ah, I would so gladly tell it to you, But no word could ever say it, How so truly I love you, And that hurts me so much! And no glance reaches so deeply, And no kiss burns so warmly That it could proclaim my happiness; Only the Lord God knows it! You, my delightful love, And I cannot find peace, Until I have told you as well, But when shall I have the opportunity? -- Yes, beloved of my heart, you will Likely never find the word, Though you ponder and search on Into all eternity. And no glance and no kiss, Oh dear one, tells it to me, How you love me forever, But why are you downcast? Confidently give to the wind Your foolish pain, For my rapturous heart Tells it to me, tells it to me!
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ach, ich sagt's dir so gern!", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 183
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 139