The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German clo… Read Full Bio ↴The Comedian Harmonists were an internationally famous, all-male German close harmony ensemble (5 singers and a pianist) that performed between 1927 and 1934 as one of the most successful musical groups in Europe before World War II. The group consisted of Harry Frommermann (tenor buffo), Ari Leschnikoff (first tenor), Erich Collin (second tenor), Roman Cycowski (baritone), Robert Biberti (bass), and Erwin Bootz (pianist).

The hallmark of the Comedian Harmonists was its members' ability to blend their voices together so that the individual singers could appear and disappear back into the vocal texture and were noted for using their voices to imitate musical instruments. Their repertoire was wide, ranging from the folk and classical songs arranged by Frommermann to the more appealing and witty popular songs of the day by writers such as Peter Igelhoff, Werner Heymann and Paul Abraham.

In 1927, actor Harry Frommermann was inspired by The Revelers, a United States jazz-influenced popular vocal group, to create a German group of the same format. After some initial failures, the Harmonists soon found success, becoming popular throughout Europe, touring the United States, and appearing in 21 movies.

The group's success continued into the early 1930s, but eventually ran into trouble with the Nazi regime: three of the group members - Frommermann, Collin, and Cycowski - were either Jewish or of Jewish descent, and Bootz had married a Jewish woman. The Nazis progressively made the group's professional life more difficult, initially banning pieces by Jewish composers, and finally prohibiting them from performing in public. The group's last concert was in Munich on March 25, 1934.

Der Alte Cowboy
Comedian Harmonists Lyrics

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Dideldum, alter Junge, dideldum dideldum,
Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich. Glaub ja nur, schöne Mädels gibt's ja auch übern Teich
Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich.

Verklungen sind die alten Lieder,
Schöne Zeit, du bist für immer entschwunden.
Wo seid ihr, Freunde, die ich einst gefunden?
Ich glaub, ich seh euch niemals wieder.

Ein letztes Glas mit alten Freunden,
Jedem noch einmal tief ins Aug geblickt
Und noch einmal die Freundeshand gedrückt.
Ein letzte Glas mit alten Freunden.

Dideldum, alter Junge, dideldum dideldum,
Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich. Glaub ja nur, schöne Mädels gibt's ja auch übern Teich
Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich.

Am Abend saß ich bei dem Weibe,
Zum Abschied hielt ich lang ihre Hand.

Ich sah die Sonne, die langsam im Glute verschwand,
Das war das allerschwerste Scheiden

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Comedian Harmonists' song Der Alte Cowboy are a nostalgic portrayal of a man looking back on the good old days that have now passed. The first verses urge the old man to toughen up and not get sentimental, as there are still beautiful women on the other side of the ocean. The following verses highlight the man's reminiscing about his old friends, the good times they shared and the bittersweet farewell that he had to give to a woman he cared about. The sense of loss and longing is palpable, as the man reflects on the fading memory of his friends, the fleeting nature of time and the harsh realities of life.

Overall, the song is a commentary on the human experience of change, aging, and the inevitability of loss. It reflects on the difficulties of letting go and moving on while acknowledging that life carries on, with its own joys and disappointments.

Line by Line Meaning

Dideldum, alter Junge, dideldum dideldum,
Hey there, old boy, don't lose your cool!

Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich. Glaub ja nur, schöne Mädels gibt's ja auch übern Teich
Don't go soft, old boy. Keep your chin up and remember, there are pretty girls over the pond too.

Werd nicht weich, alter Junge, werd nicht weich.
Don't let your emotions get the best of you, old boy. Stay strong.

Verklungen sind die alten Lieder,
The old songs have faded away,

Schöne Zeit, du bist für immer entschwunden.
Beautiful times, you have disappeared forever.

Wo seid ihr, Freunde, die ich einst gefunden?
Where are you, my friends, that I once found?

Ich glaub, ich seh euch niemals wieder.
I don't think I'll ever see you again.

Ein letztes Glas mit alten Freunden,
One last drink with old friends,

Jedem noch einmal tief ins Aug geblickt
Looked deep into each other's eyes once more,

Und noch einmal die Freundeshand gedrückt.
And shook each other's hand once more.

Ein letzte Glas mit alten Freunden.
One last drink with old friends.

Am Abend saß ich bei dem Weibe,
In the evening, I sat with my woman,

Zum Abschied hielt ich lang ihre Hand.
Held her hand for a long goodbye.

Ich sah die Sonne, die langsam im Glute verschwand,
I watched the sun slowly disappear into the horizon,