Composer

:

Friedrich Silcher

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

1:44

"Ich hatt' einen Kameraden" is a German military funeral march composed by Friedrich Silcher in 1825. The song is also known as "Der gute Kamerad" or "The Good Comrade". It is a popular song in Germany and is often played at military funerals and memorials. The song has a simple structure and is composed of three verses and a chorus. The melody is slow and mournful, with a simple accompaniment of piano or guitar. The lyrics are a tribute to a fallen comrade and express the sadness and loss felt by those left behind. The first verse begins with the line "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, einen bessern findst du nit" which translates to "I had a comrade, you won't find a better one". The verse goes on to describe the comrade's bravery and loyalty, and ends with the line "Er ist mir im Kampfe gefallen, ich hab' ihn treu bewacht" which means "He fell in battle, I watched over him faithfully". The second verse is similar in structure to the first, but with different lyrics. It begins with the line "Ich bin gegangen bei Nacht und Wind" which translates to "I went in the night and wind". The verse describes the speaker's journey to bury his fallen comrade, and ends with the line "Nun ruht er hier, mein Kamerad, so still, als wie ein Kind" which means "Now he rests here, my comrade, as still as a child". The third verse is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality. It begins with the line "Wie oft im Leben, man denkt es kaum" which translates to "How often in life, one hardly thinks". The verse goes on to describe how quickly life can end, and ends with the line "So wird auch Gott dich wieder geben, dir, mein guter Freund" which means "So God will give you back to me, my good friend". The chorus is a repetition of the first two lines of the first verse, and is sung after each verse. The song ends with the line "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden, einen bessern findst du nit". "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden" premiered in 1825 and quickly became popular among German soldiers. It was often sung around campfires and on the march, and was played at military funerals and memorials. The song's popularity continued to grow throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and it remains a beloved and iconic song in Germany today.

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