Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, <br />Einen bessern findst du nit. <br />Die Trommel schlug zum Streite, <br />Er ging an meiner Seite <br />In gleichem Schritt und Tritt. <br /> <br />Eine Kugel kam geflogen: <br />Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir? <br />Ihn hat es weggerissen, <br />Er liegt vor meinen Füßen <br />Als wär's ein Stück von mir <br /> <br />Will mir die Hand noch reichen, <br />Derweil ich eben lad'. <br />'Kann dir die Hand nicht geben, <br />Bleib du im ew'gen Leben <br />Mein guter Kamerad! <br /> <br /> <br />I Had a Comrade <br /> <br />In battle he was my comrade, <br />None better I have had. <br />The drum called us to fight, <br />He always on my right, <br />In step, through good and bad. <br /> <br />A bullet it flew towards us, <br />For him or meant for me? <br />His life from mine it tore, <br />At my feet a piece of gore, <br />As if a part of me. <br /> <br />His hand reached up to hold mine. <br />I must re-load my gun. <br />'My friend, I cannot ease your pain, <br />In life eternal we'll meet again, <br />And walk once more as one.' <br /> <br />Translated by Frank Petersohn <br /> <br /> <br />I Had a Comrade <br /> <br />I had one faithful comrade <br />'Ere we heard the trumpet's call, <br />And we pledged our hearts forever <br />In battle joined together <br />To beat the foe or fall. <br /> <br />A musket shot came screaming <br />To seal his fate or mine <br />Right at my feet he stumbled, <br />And friendship's shrine it crumbled <br />Around that friend of mine. <br /> <br />His hand is blindly seeking <br />The clasp I cannot give <br />For duty calls me onward <br />Farewell my dying comrade, <br />Our love shall ever live. <br /> <br />Translated by Arthur Kevess<br /><br />Johann Ludwig Uhland<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ich-hatt-einen-kameraden-i-had-a-comrade/
