The Good Comrade

I had a buddy,
you could never find a better one.
The drum rolled for battle,
he walked by my side
at the same speed in step.

A bullet came flying--
for me or for you?
It tore him away,
he lay at my feet
like a piece of myself.

He stretched out his hand to me
while I was reloading.
I can't give you my hand--
stay there in eternal life,
my good buddy!

    --1809, Ludwig Uhland (1787-1862). This melancholy song has been the traditional lament for German soldiers, played at thousands of military funerals, since soon after the music was written in 1825, through World War I and the Nazi period, up to the present. It has been called the secret German national anthem.

Der gute Kamerad

Ich hatt einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
In gleichem Schritt und Tritt.

Eine Kugel kam geflogen,
Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er liegt 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 ewgen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!