Freddy was born on September 27th, 1931 in Vienna, Austria. In his youth he… Read Full Bio ↴Freddy was born on September 27th, 1931 in Vienna, Austria. In his youth he loves the circus, but in 1950 he chooses for music and starts singing in the bars from Hamburg.
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 Wie schade Clementine
Freddy Quinn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, Clementine
Ich verlor mein Glück für immer - kann nie wieder bei Dir sein

In den Minen, dort im Canyon
Sucht ein Mann im Felsgestein
Goldne Träume, goldne Zeiten
Mit seiner Tochter Clementine
Sie war wie ein großer Engel

Doch die Füße viel zu klein
Und so kam sie oft ins Stolpern
Meine arme Clementine

Oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, Clementine
Ich verlor mein Glück für immer - kann nie wieder bei Dir sein

Eines Tags, beim Entenfüttern
Trat sie auf nen spitzen Stein
Und sie fiel zu ihren Enten
In das kalte Naß hinein
Ich sah noch ihr letztes Winken
Und ich sah sie traurig an
Und so musste sie ertrinken
Weil ich doch nicht schwimmen kann

Oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, Clementine

Ich verlor mein Glück für immer? kann nie wieder bei Dir sein
Ich verlor mein Glück für immer? kann nie wieder bei Dir sein

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Freddy Quinn's song "Oh Wie schade Clementine" tell the story of a man's loss of his love, Clementine. The man describes how he met Clementine in the mines of the canyon where he was looking for gold. She was his daughter and he saw her as a big angel with small feet that often stumbled. Despite her clumsiness, the man loved Clementine deeply.

One day, while feeding ducks, Clementine stepped on a sharp stone and fell into the cold water with her ducks. The man saw her last wave and sadly watched her drown because he could not swim. In the end, the man is left to lament his loss of Clementine and his forever-lost chance to be with her again.

The song carries a melancholic melody and highlights the fragility of life in a harsh and unforgiving environment. The lyrics portray a love story that ended tragically, leaving the singer with a weight of regret and heartache. The story of Clementine also portrays a symbol of innocence and vulnerability that can be lost in the harsh reality of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, oh, wie schade, Clementine
Expressing a deep sense of regret and sorrow over the loss of Clementine

Ich verlor mein Glück für immer - kann nie wieder bei Dir sein
I lost my happiness forever and can never be with you again

In den Minen, dort im Canyon
In the mines, deep in the canyon

Sucht ein Mann im Felsgestein
A man searches through the rock

Goldne Träume, goldne Zeiten
Golden dreams, golden times

Mit seiner Tochter Clementine
With his daughter, Clementine

Sie war wie ein großer Engel
She was like a great angel

Doch die Füße viel zu klein
But her feet were too small

Und so kam sie oft ins Stolpern
And so she often stumbled

Meine arme Clementine
My poor Clementine

Eines Tags, beim Entenfüttern
One day, while feeding the ducks