Ich hatt' einen Kameraden

war memorial fountain in Speyer

"Der gute Kamerad" ("The good Comrade"), also known as "I had a comrade", is a traditional lament of the German Armed Forces. The text was written by the German poet Ludwig Uhland in 1809. In 1825, the composer Friedrich Silcher set it to music.

"The Good Comrade" plays an important ceremonial role in the German Armed Forces and is an integral part of a military funeral. The song has also become traditional in obsequies of the Military of Austria, the Austrian firebrigades and the highly prussianized Chilean Army. It is also used to some degree in the French Army, particularly in the Foreign Legion. When the song is played, soldiers are to salute, an honour otherwise reserved for national anthems only.

Occasionally the song is played at civil ceremonies, most often when the deceased had been affiliated with the military. It is also commonly sung at the funerals of members of a Studentenverbindung. Finally, the song is often played on Volkstrauertag, the German Remembrance Day, at memorials for the fallen.

German playwright Carl Zuckmayer in 1966 used the song's line "Als wär's ein Stück von mir" as the title for his hugely successful autobiography (English title: "A Part of Myself").

Original German Text	English Translation	Italian Translation	Spanish Translation	French Translation
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 sie mir oder gilt sie dir? Sie hat ihn weggerissen, Er liegt zu meinen 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!"	I once had a comrade, you won't find a better one. The drum was rolling for battle, he was marching by my side in the same pace and stride. A bullet flew towards us meant for you or for me? It did tear him away, he lies at my feet like he was a part of me. He wants to reach his hand to me, while I'm just reloading my gun. "Can't give you my hand for now, you rest in eternal life My good comrade!"	Avevo un camerata, che miglior non puoi trovar. In marcia e in battaglia, di pari passo andava vicino sempre a me, vicino sempre a me, Fischiò una palla a un tratto: è per me oppur per te? Colpito ti ha in fronte, tu giaci ai miei piedi: sei parte di me che muor: sei parte di me che muor. Mi tendi ancor la mano, mentre debbo caricar. La man non posso darti, anche in ciel per me rimani, Mio buon Camerata, Mio buon Camerata "	Yo tenía un camarada, no encontrarás uno mejor. El tambor llamaba a la batalla, él caminaba a mi lado siguiendo mi mismo paso. Una bala vino volando: ¿es para mí o es para ti? Se lo llevó por delante. Yace a mis pies como si fuese un pedacito de mí. Quiere alcanzarme su mano mientras estoy recargando. "No te puedo dar la mano, ¡descansa en la vida eterna mi buen camarada!"	J'avais un camarade, De meilleur il n'en est pas ; Dans la paix et dans la guerre Nous allions comme des frères Marchant d'un même pas. Mais une balle siffle. Qui de nous sera frappé ? Le voilà qui tombe à terre, Il est là dans la poussière ; Mon cœur est déchiré. Ma main, il veut me prendre Mais je charge mon fusil; Adieu donc, adieu mon frère Dans le ciel et sur la terre Soyons toujours unis.

The tune is also used for the eponymous Spanish Civil War song about the death of Hans Beimler.

External links

• Ich hat' einen Kameraden , old recording by the French Foreign Legion (MP3 format)
• Ich hatt' einen Kameraden: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
• Translation into several languages, including English