Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
[Im gleichen Schritt und Tritt]1.
Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er [liegt]2 mir vor den Füßen
Als wär's ein Stück von mir.
Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• C. Kreutzer View original text (without footnotes)
1 Kreutzer: "In gleichem Tritt und Schritt"
2 Kreutzer: "lag"
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gottfried Emil Fischer (1791 - 1841), "Der gute Kamerad", published 1842 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Al. Kern , "Der gute Kamerad", op. 3 (Drei Gedichte für Bass (oder Alt) mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1856 [ bass or alto and piano ], Wien, Haslinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849), "Der gute Kamerad", op. 70, Heft 4 (4. Folge der Frühlings- und Wanderlieder) no. 7, KWV 9109 no. 7, published 1833 [ voice, piano, and violoncello ], from 12 Lieder und Romanzen von L. Uhland, für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 7 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Der gute Kamerad", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 5, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Gottlieb Reissiger (1798 - 1859), "Der gute Kamerad", op. 61 (6 Gesänge für Mezzo-Soprano oder Bariton mit Pianofortebegleitung ) no. 3, published 1830 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Philipp) Friedrich Silcher (1789 - 1860), "Der gute Kamerad", 1825 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The good comrade", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le bon camarade", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 77
I had a comrade,
and a better one you could not find.
They beat on the drums to sound the battle,
and he went by my side
step for step at the same pace.
A bullet came flying:
was it meant for me or you?
It tore him away
and he lay at my feet
as if he were a part of me.
He wanted still to reach me his hand,
but I had to load my musket just then.
I cannot give you my hand -
may you rest in eternal peace,
my good comrade!