In 1952 he joins an international competition for the first time in Belfast, Ireland, where he wins the first prize.
However it takes till 1954 before he records his first songs, mainly songs about life at sea and some country music.
He soon extends his career by learning to act, and he will join several movies in Germany.
1956 sees Freddy representing Germany at the first Eurovision Song Contest together with Walter Andreas Schwarz. It is the only year that countries enter the contest with two songs. No points are given, and only the winner, Lys Assia is anounced.
Freddy's songs however become instant hits in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Belgium and several other countries.
"La Paloma","Junge, komm bald wieder" and "Die Gitarre und das Meer" bring him fame, golden records and many awards.
Freddy keeps singing all his life, and in 2002 he makes his last tour, which ends in the city where he is born : Vienna.
Oh My Darling Clementine
Freddy Quinn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh my darling, Clementine
You were lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
In a cavern, in a canyon
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty-niner
Yes I loved her, how I loved her
Though her shoes were number nine
Herring boxes, without topses
Sandals were for Clementine
Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Clementine
You were lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
Drove the horses to the water
Every morning just at nine
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine
Ruby lips above the water
Blowing bubbles soft and fine
But alas, I was no swimmer
So I lost my Clementine
Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Clementine
You were lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
Freddy Quinn's song "Oh My Darling Clementine" is a classic folk song that tells the tragic story of a woman named Clementine and her lover who tries to save her from drowning but ultimately loses her. The song begins with a mournful cry to Clementine, who is forever lost and gone, causing dreadful sorrow for the singer.
The second stanza of the song describes a miner and his daughter named Clementine. The singer, who is in love with her, acknowledges that her shoes are too big and she often wears herring boxes instead of sandals. The third stanza is where the story takes a dark turn. Clementine falls into the water and drowns, leaving her lover with the sorrowful realization that he could not save her. The final stanza repeats the chorus and emphasizes the sadness and hopelessness of the singer.
The song has become a beloved classic over the years, with many artists covering it in various styles. "Oh My Darling Clementine" has been interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of love and the inevitability of loss. The lyrics also touch on themes of grief, regret, and the fleeting nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my darling, oh my darling
The singer is addressing Clementine with affection and sorrow.
Oh my darling, Clementine
The singer is reiterating the name of the person the song is dedicated to, in a sorrowful manner.
You were lost and gone forever
Clementine has been missing for a long time and is presumed dead.
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
The singer expresses his intense sadness and pain at the loss of Clementine.
In a cavern, in a canyon
The setting of the story is introduced, where a miner and his daughter Clementine live in a cavern.
Excavating for a mine
The miner is working to extract minerals from the mine.
Dwelt a miner forty-niner
The miner is identified as a person who participates in the gold rush in California in 1849.
And his daughter, Clementine
The miner has a daughter named Clementine.
Yes I loved her, how I loved her
The singer is expressing his deep love for Clementine.
Though her shoes were number nine
Clementine had big feet, but the singer did not care.
Herring boxes, without topses
Clementine wore improvised shoes made of herring boxes without tops.
Sandals were for Clementine
Clementine did not wear sandals as it would expose her feet to dirt and rocks.
Drove the horses to the water
The miner and Clementine's daily routine involved driving horses to the water source.
Every morning just at nine
The time of the day when the miner and Clementine would drive horses to the water source.
Hit her foot against a splinter
Clementine accidentally got a splinter in her foot.
Fell into the foaming brine
Clementine fell into the river or sea and drowned, likely because of her injured foot.
Ruby lips above the water
The singer envisions Clementine's face as she was drowning, with her lips visible above the water.
Blowing bubbles soft and fine
Clementine was blowing bubbles as she was drowning.
But alas, I was no swimmer
The singer was not skilled at swimming and could not save Clementine.
So I lost my Clementine
The singer is confirming that Clementine drowned and he was not able to save her.
You are lost and gone forever
The singer repeats the tragic fact that Clementine is gone forever.
Dreadful sorrow, Clementine
The singer again expresses his deep sorrow and grief caused by the loss of Clementine.
Writer(s): Traditional, Jeffrey David Lingle
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.