English translations of Drei Männerchöre, opus 4

by Oscar Beck

1. Dein Angesicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oscar Beck , "Dein Angesicht", op. 4 no. 1, published 1895 [ men's chorus ], Dresden: Seeling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Angesicht so lieb und schön,
Das hab' ich jüngst im Traum gesehn,
Es ist so mild und engelgleich,
Und doch so bleich, so [schmerzenbleich]1.

Und nur die Lippen, die sind rot;
Bald aber küßt sie bleich der Tod.
Erlöschen wird das Himmelslicht,
Das aus den frommen Augen bricht.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 114.

1 Schumann: "schmerzenreich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Your face
Language: English 
Your face so lovable and fair:
I saw it recently in a dream.
It is so mild and angelic,
and yet so pale, so [pale with]1 pain!

And only your lips are red;
but soon Death will kiss them pale.
Out will go the heavenly light
that reflects out from your innocent eyes.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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1 Schumann: "full of"

Translations of titles
"Dein Angesicht" = "Your face"
"Dein Angesicht so lieb und schön" = "Your face so lovable and fair"
"Im Traumbild" = "In a dream image"
"Liebchens Angesicht" = "Darling's face"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 54

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Ich wand're nicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oscar Beck , "Ich wand're nicht", op. 4 no. 2, published 1895 [ men's chorus ], Dresden: Seeling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum soll ich denn wandern
Mit andern gleichen Schritt?
Ich pass' nicht zu den andern
Und Liebchen geht nicht mit.
Man singt in tausend Weisen
Von Bergen, Felsenhöhn:
Allein warum noch reisen?
Die Heimat ist so schön.

Ich will ja alles glauben,
Was draußen wächst und blüht,
Das Gold der süßen Trauben,
Wie's Sonnenfunken sprüht.
Allein, der Trank der Reben,
Er kommt ja auch hierher,
Wo mir mein holdes Leben
Ihn reicht, was will ich mehr?

Ich geh nicht ins Gewimmel
Der großen, weiten Welt;
Den klarsten, blausten Himmel
Zeigt Liebchens Augenzelt.
Und mehr als Frühlingswonne
Verspricht ihr Lächeln mir,
O zarte, meine Sonne!
Ich wandre nicht von hier.

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by Carl Christern (flourished c1840)
2.
Language: English 
Why should I go wandering
In step with others?
I do not fit in with the others,
And my beloved does not accompany us.
In thousands of songs, others tell
Of mountains and craggy heights:
But why should one travel?
Home is so beautiful.

I will gladly believe everything [they tell of]
That grows and blooms out there,
The gold of the sweet grapes
That refracts the sparks of the sun. 
But the drink of the vines
Comes here as well,
[Here] where my sweet life
Serves it to me, what more do I want?

I will not go into the turmoil
Of the great, wide world;
The clearest, bluest sky
Is found in my beloved's eyes. 
And more than the joy of spring
Is promised to me by her smile,
O gentle one, my sun!
I will not wander from here.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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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Translated titles:
"Klage" = "Lament"
"Ich wandre nicht" = "I will not go wandering"


This text was added to the website: 2008-09-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 142

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Immer, immer sing' ich's wieder  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oscar Beck , "Immer, immer sing' ich's wieder", op. 4 no. 3, published 1895 [ men's chorus ], Dresden: Seeling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer, immer sing' ich's wieder, 
Sage dir [ich's]1 fort und fort, 
Und doch sagen's alle Lieder 
Nie genug, das eine Wort: 
  Ach, wie lieb', wie lieb' ich dich, 
  Holder Schatz, herzinniglich! 

Wo ich geh' und wo ich stehe, 
Morgens früh und Abends spät, 
Jede Stund', in Wohl und Wehe, 
Klingt's als wie ein heiß Gebet: 
  Ach, wie lieb', wie lieb' ich dich, 
  Mehr und mehr, herzinniglich!  

Bin ich nah dir, bin ich ferne, 
Sing' ich's ohne Rast und Ruh, 
Und wie hörest du's so gerne, 
Lächelst du so mild dazu: 
  Ach, wie lieb', wie lieb' ich dich, 
  Bis zum Tod, herzinniglich!

Weh! und hörtest du's auch nimmer, 
Trügen's leer die Winde fort, 
Säng' ich's inniger nur immer 
Tag und Nacht das eine Wort! 
  Ach, wie lieb', wie lieb' ich dich 
  Hier und dort herzinniglich!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 203-204.

1 Müller: "es"

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
3. I sing it ever, ever again
Language: English 
I sing it ever, ever again,
I tell it to you on and on,
And yet all the songs do not
Say it enough, that one word:
  Ah, how dearly, how dearly, darling treasure,
  I love you with all my heart!

Wherever I go and wherever I tarry,
Early in the morning or late in the evening,
Every hour, in weal and woe,
It resounds like a fervent prayer:
  Ah, how dearly, how dearly I love you,
  More and more, with all my heart!

When I am near you, when I am far away,
I sing it ceaselessly,
And how gladly you hear it,
[How] you smile so gently the while:
  Ah, how dearly, how dearly I love you,
  Unto death, with all my heart!

Alas! and though you should hear it nevermore,
Should the winds carry off the hollow words,
I would only the more fervently sing
The one word day and night!
  Ah, how dearly, how dearly I love you,
  Here and yonder, with all my heart!

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: 

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Translations of titles:
"Ach, wie lieb' ich dich!" = "Ah, how I love you!"
"Immer, immer sing' ich's wieder" = "I sing it ever, ever again"
"Immer sing ich's wieder" = "I sing it ever again"



This text was added to the website: 2026-04-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 169

Translation © by Sharon Krebs