Ich liebe dich 
So inniglich,
Ich kann [es]1 nicht beschreiben,
Und ewig soll
Mein Herz so voll
Von deinem Bilde [bleiben]2,
[O]3 könnt' ich doch
Ein Jährchen noch
In [deinem Arme]4 leben,
Dann wollt' ich [ja
Fern oder nah]5
Vor keinem Schicksal beben.

  Der Reiz verblüht, 
Das Leben flieht,
Ach, leider! Ungenossen;
Der Augenblick
[Kömmt nicht]6 zurück,
Der [ungenützt]7 verflossen.
Bedenke das,
O siehe, nass
Mein Aug' an deinem hangen,
Und liebst du mich,
So wie ich dich,
Gewährst du mein Verlangen.

  Umsonst versuch'
Der Tod, zum Bruch
Der Treu' mich zu verleiten;
Der Liebe Glut
Durchwallt mein Blut
Durch alle Ewigkeiten.
Der Hölle Schmerz
Selbst höhnt das Herz,
Genoss es diese Freuden:
Ja, es verlacht
Der Götter Macht
Trotz allen künft'gen Leiden!

J. Lang sets lines 1-7 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
J. Lang sets stanza 1 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
H. Schnaubelt sets stanza 1

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Note: the first stanza of Danzi's text (which was first published with his music) has also appeared in several anthologies published between 1858 and 1876, either alone or followed by other stanzas unrelated to the above, with no attribution.

¹ Marschner: "dir's"
² error in the Lang Duett manuscript: "leben"
³ Lang (1841 manuscript): "Ach,"
⁴ Marschner: "deinen Armen"
⁵ Lang (1841 manuscript): "fern oder nah"; Marschner: "gern, / Nah oder fern,"
⁶ Marschner: "kehrt nie"
⁷ Marschner: "ungenutzt"

Text Authorship:

• by Franz Danzi (1763 - 1826)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

• by Franz Danzi (1763 - 1826), "Ich liebe dich so inniglich", op. 15 (6 Deutsche Lieder) no. 2, P 172 no. 2, published [1815] [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
• by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Duett", c1834, lines 1-7 [ soprano, alto and piano ], unpublished, incomplete [sung text checked 1 time]
• by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Geständniß", 1841, stanza 1 [ voice and piano ], unpublished [sung text checked 1 time]
• by Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861), "Ich liebe dich", op. 5 (12 Lieder mit Begleitung der Guitarre) no. 6 [ voice and guitar ] [sung text checked 1 time]

The text above (or a part of it) is used in the following settings:

• by Heinrich Schnaubelt (1814 - 1871), "Liebesgeständnis", op. 42 no. 10, published 1871 [ men's chorus a cappella ], from Lieder-Album für Männergesang, no. 10, Regensburg, Georg Joseph Manz
  • View the full text. [sung text checked 1 time]
    

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2022, (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: 2022-11-17
Line count: 36
Word count: 132

  I love you
So fervently,
I cannot describe [it]1,
And eternally
My heart shall remain
So full of your image,
[Oh]2 if I could 
But for another year
Live in your arms;
I would [then]3
Neither [far nor near]4
Tremble before any fate.

  The allure fades,
Life flies by,
Ah, alas! unsavoured;
The moment
That passed by unused
[Does not return]5.
Think on that,
Oh see, my tear-filled
Eyes fastened on yours,
And if you love me
As I love you,
You would fulfill my yearning.

  In vain may death
Attempt to entice me
Into faithlessness;
The fervour of love
Surges through my blood
Through all eternities.
The pain of hell itself
My heart would mock,
Had it savoured these joys:
Yes, it would deride
The power of the gods
Despite all future sufferings!