Drei wie Brüder

we three were like brothers
raised in the same small town
and when the great war came
it took us away
as volunteers on the eastern front
we solemnly swore
never to part in need and danger
helmut, willhelm, and I

and then came the day helmut died
somewhere deep in Russia
the wooden cross stood only a few days
his grave is unknown today
he was so tired from the long march
through the cold winter night
sat under a tree and fell asleep
ever to wake up again

helmut and willhelm, can you hear me?
I sing this song only for you
I hope you are now in a place
where there are no tears
and no hunger and no pain
no cold, no enemy machine gun
but a place at the table of heroes
in the great army

and then it was willhelm's turn
a shot tore his leg apart
even today I hear him at night
calling for his mother
in delirium, she appeared to him
stroked his hair for the last time
she never found out
how terribly long his dying was

now I sit here as an old man
after so long
and I hope you can hear me
wherever you are
if I had one more wish
I would wish
I had fallen with you back then
and not be sitting here so lonely now