How could I live without you? | How could I live without you?

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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich?

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

  Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich?
Ich hang' an dir zu inniglich,
Ich könnt's, ich könnt's nicht fassen!
Gott sieht es wohl vom Himmel her,
Wie elend ohne dich ich wär',
O mög' er dich mir lassen!
  Mit dir, was gilt mir alle Noth?
  Doch ohne dich -- viel lieber todt! 

  Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich?
Nichts freute mehr auf Erden mich,
Könnt' ich's mit dir nicht theilen! 
Und bis zum Grabe würde nicht,
Mein Herzenstrost, mein süßes Licht,
Die tiefste Wunde heilen!
  Ja, todt und leer würd' Alles ganz,
  Verlöschte deiner Augen Glanz! 

  Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich?
Ach, stürben Beide, du und ich,
Wir doch zur selben Stunde! 
Und lägen wir im Tod vereint,
Eh' Eins um's Andre hat geweint,
Tief in dem kühlem Grunde!
  Und theilten wir vor Gottes Thron
  Dort Hand in Hand der Liebe Lohn!

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 205-206.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich? ", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 233, Basel: Benno Schwabe, first published 1875 [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 Friedrich Wilhelm Emil Siegert (1838 - c1901), "Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich?", op. 138 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Weidt (1824 - 1901), "Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich", op. 84, published 1869 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Bremen: Praeger u. M. [sung text not yet checked]

Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2019-03-31
Line count: 24
Word count: 142

How could I live without you?

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

  How could I live without you?
I am too fervently attached to you,
I could, I could not conceive of it!
God must indeed see it from Heaven
How miserable I would be without you,
Oh, may He preserve you for me!
  With you, what do I regard all misery?
  But without you -- I would much rather be dead!

  How could I live without you?
Nothing on earth could gladden me anymore,
If I could not share it with you!
And, my heart's comfort, my sweet light, 
Unto the grave the deepest wound
Would not heal!
  Yes, everything would become dead and desolate,
  If the radiance of your eyes were extinguished!

  How could I live without you?
Ah, if only we two, you and I, 
Could die in the same hour!
And could we lie united in death
Before one has wept over the other,
Deep in the cool depths!
  And could we, there before the throne of God,
  Share the reward of love hand in hand.

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), "Wie könnt' ich leben ohne dich? ", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 233, Basel: Benno Schwabe, first published 1875
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-05-06
Line count: 24
Word count: 168