Alte Kameraden is the title of a popular German military march

March (music)

A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...

. It is included in the Heeresmarsch

Armeemarschsammlung

Armeemarschsammlung The Army March Collection, also known as the Prussian Army March Collection refers to the basic catalog of works of German military march music....

 as HM II, 150.

The march Alte Kameraden was composed around 1889 by the composer of military music Carl Teike

Carl Teike

Carl Albert Hermann Teike was a German composer who wrote over 100 military marches and twenty concert works.-Biography:...

 in Ulm

Ulm

Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...

. Allegedly his superior told him, after Teike presented him the notes, "We have marches enough. Throw this one into the oven!"
The march was not burned, but became one of the most popular and played German military marches. It is also internationally popular, as it was even after World War II, where it was frowned on playing German marches.

Lyrics

Alte Kameraden auf dem Marsch durchs Land

Halten Freundschaft felsenfest und treu.

Ob in Not oder in Gefahr,

Stets zusammen halten sie auf’s neu.

Zur Attacke geht es Schlag auf Schlag,

Ruhm und Ehr soll bringen uns der Sieg,

Los, Kameraden, frisch wird geladen,

Das ist unsere Marschmusik.

Nach dem Kampfe geht das ganze Regiment

Ins Quartier ins nächste Dorfhaus­element

Und beim Wirte das Geflirte

Mit den Mädels und des Wirtes Töchterlein.

Lachen scherzen, lachen scherzen, heute ist ja heut'

Morgen ist das ganze Regiment wer weiß wie weit.

Das, Kameraden, ist des Kriegers bitt'res Los,

Darum nehmt das Glas zur Hand und wir sagen "Prost".

Alter Wein gibt Mut und Kraft,

In dem steckt der wahre Lebenssaft.

Und das alte Herz bleibt jung

Und gewaltig die Erinnerung.

Ob in Freude, ob in Not,

Bleiben wir getreu bis in den Tod.

Trinket aus und schenket ein

Und laßt uns alte Kameraden sein.

The English translation is as follows:

Old comrades on the march through the country

Hold firmly and loyal friendship.

Whether in need or in danger

Always keep them together again on it.

It goes on the attack in rapid succession,

Glory and honor to bring us the victory,

Come on, comrades, is freshly charged,

That's our marching band.

After the battle the regiment's

Into the district to the next village house element

And when the hosts flirting

With the girls and the landlord's daughter.

Laughing and joking joking, laughing, yes today is today '

Tomorrow is the whole regiment who knows how far.

That, comrades, is the warrior bitt'res lot

So take the glass at hand and say "cheers".

Old Wine gives courage and strength,

In which lies the true lifeblood.

And this old heart stays young

And powerful memories.

Whether in joy, whether in need,

We remain faithful unto death.

Drink from one and bestow

And let's be old comrades.

TV

• Channel 7 (Thailand) - This march is played in the opening Royal Thai news programme in 8.00pm (1980-2004).

External links

• Alte Kameraden Melody of Alte Kameraden
• :de:Carl Teike