Ich hatt' einen Kameraden [English translation]

I once had a comrade

No better shall you ever find

The drums called us into battle

He marched there at my side

In the very same step and time (x2)

A bullet came flying

Intended for me or meant for you? 1

It surely did blow him away

He lay there at my feet

As though he were a piece of me (x2)

Still he reached out his hand

While I attempted to reload

"I am not able to give you my hand

May you rest always in eternal peace

My dear comrade!" (x2)

1. I'm not familiar with the verb used here, which is "gelten", but when used with "mir/dir" (the dative case) it seems to mean that something is "meant for" that person. In the context of the song, I primarily interpret this to mean that the narrator is wondering aloud who the bullet was initially aimed at when it was fired, himself or his comrade? However, another interpretation could be that the narrator is instead wondering who the universe "meant for" the bullet to strike down, sort of in a destiny/fate sense. What I've written I feel splits the difference.

• Artist:German Folk