Uhland-Gedichte
Selected German Verse by Ludwig Uhland
In the original German with a
side-by-side translation in English
BACKGROUND: This Uhland poem—also known as "Der gute Kamerad"—was written in 1809 and later set to music by the German composer Friedrich Silcher in 1825 (using an old folk melody, "Ein schwarzbraunes Mädchen hat ein'n Feldjäger lieb"). Uhland's poem (or Lied) was inspired by the Tyrolian freedom fighters and their struggle against Napoleon. It was popular enough during World War I to be parodied as "Ich hatt' mal Marmelade," reflecting the soldiers' hunger and lack of rations. Although it was written much earlier, the poem/song is often quoted/performed in memory of the veterans of the two world wars and for the German veterans day observance known as Volkstrauertag (on the third Sunday in November).
| Ich hatt' einen Kameraden | I Had a Comrade |
| von Ludwig Uhland | Translation by Frank Petersohn |
| Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, | In battle he was my comrade, |
| Einen bessern findst du nit. | None better I have had. |
| Die Trommel schlug zum Streite, | The drum called us to fight, |
| Er ging an meiner Seite | He always on my right, |
| In gleichem Schritt und Tritt. | In step, through good and bad. |
| Eine Kugel kam geflogen: | A bullet it flew towards us, |
| Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir? | For him or meant for me? |
| Ihn hat es weggerissen, | His life from mine it tore, |
| Er liegt vor meinen Füßen | At my feet a piece of gore, |
| Als wär's ein Stück von mir | As if a part of me. |
| Will mir die Hand noch reichen, | His hand reached up to hold mine. |
| Derweil ich eben lad'. | I must re-load my gun. |
| "Kann dir die Hand nicht geben, | "My friend, I cannot ease your pain, |
| Bleib du im ew'gen Leben | In life eternal we'll meet again, |
| Mein guter Kamerad!" | And walk once more as one." |
WEB > Melodie - "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden" (Frank Petersohn)
Another English translation (by Arthur Kevess):
I had one faithful comrade
'Ere we heard the trumpet's call,
And we pledged our hearts forever
In battle joined together
To beat the foe or fall.
A musket shot came screaming
To seal his fate or mine
Right at my feet he stumbled,
And friendship's shrine it crumbled
Around that friend of mine.
His hand is blindly seeking
The clasp I cannot give
For duty calls me onward
Farewell my dying comrade,
Our love shall ever live.
BACK > Uhland Poetry
WEB > Soldatenlieder
Related Pages
Ludwig Uhland
The main Uhland page.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Our main Goethe page.
Authors in German Literature 1
Our main page for German-language authors on the Web. From your Guide.
Authors in German Literature 2
Our author index and link page for German-language authors on the Web. From your Guide.
Book Reviews
Reviews of books and materials for German. From your Guide.
Books: German Literature
German literary works selected by your Guide.
Das Goethe-Institut
All about this indispensible resource for just about anything to do with German and German culture.
German Newsletters
Subscribe to a free newsletter!
OUR GERMAN FORUMS
New posts to the German Language forums: |
German for Beginners
Our free online German course.