by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Ich liebe dich
Language: German (Deutsch)
Vier adlige Rosse Voran unserm Wagen, Wir wohnen im Schlosse, In stolzem Behagen. Die Frühlichterwellen Und nächtens der Blitz, Was all' sie erhellen, Ist unser Besitz. Und irrst du verlassen, Verbannt durch die Lande: Mit dir durch die Gassen In Armut und Schande! Es bluten die Hände, Die Füße sind wund, Vier trostlose Wände, Es kennt uns kein Hund. Steht silberbeschlagen Dein Sarg am [Altare]1, Sie sollen mich tragen Zu dir auf die [Bahre]2. Und fern auf der Haide, Und stirbst du in Not: Den Dolch aus der Scheide, Dir nach in den Tod!
View original text (without footnotes)
2 Strauss: "Bahr' "
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Confirmed with Detlev von Liliencron, Ausgewählte Gedichte, Zweites Tausend, Berlin: Schuster & Loeffler, 1896, pages 159-160.
1 Strauss: "Altar"2 Strauss: "Bahr' "
Text Authorship:
- by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Ich liebe dich", appears in Adjudantenritte, in Liebeslied, no. 3 [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 Wilhelm Reinhard Berger (1861 - 1911), "Ich liebe dich", op. 77 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudolf Buck (1866 - 1952), "Ich liebe dich", op. 11 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], München, Aibl [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Kanth , "Ich liebe dich", op. 5 (Deutsche Meister-Lieder von Detlev von Liliencron für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1896 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schuster & Loeffler [sung text not yet checked]
- by Oskar C. Posa (1873 - 1951), "Ich liebe dich", op. 6 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Ich liebe dich", op. 37 (Sechs Lieder für 1 hohe Stimme -- für 1 tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], München, Aibl. Verlag [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "T'estimo", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Ik houd van jou", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "I love you", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "I love but thee"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je t'aime", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Io ti amo", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfredo García) , "Te amo", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 98
I love but thee
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Four prancing white steeds To our soft cushioned carriage; We live in a castle, Know nought to discourage; Where sunray or breezes May linger or stray, Whate'er the eye seizes All owns to our sway. Tho' homeless and friendless, An exile thou roam, love, I'd share thy misfortunes, My heart were thy home, love! Tho' footsore and fainting, E'er onward we roam, Banished and forsaken, A crumbling hut our home. Be thy corse laid in marble, Death's hand still near, I'd lie down beside thee And die on the bier. Shouldst die as a beggar, Thy grave on the heath, My sword thro' my heart, love, I'd follow thee in death!
Note for stanza 3, line 1 "corse " is an archaic word for "corpse."
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "I love but thee" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Ich liebe dich", appears in Adjudantenritte, in Liebeslied, no. 3
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2020-04-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 111