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"Der rote Husar" is a German folk song and the 1781 version of "Der treue Husar." This is the oldest-known written text to "Der treue Husar." In 1781, Caspar Josef Carl von Mylius (1749–1831) wrote the lyrics based on what he heard. He brought this handwritten version from Austria to Cologne. Unfortunately, there was no accompanying music sheet from that year. Instead, I used the oldest music sheet (1816) as the melody for reconstruction. The lyricist and composers are unknown, but this version uses what Carl Hohnbaum heard in Franconia.
In some versions, the girlfriend gets better and survives. In this original version, she passes away.
Citation:
Büsching, Johann Gustav. Wöchentliche Nachrichten für Freunde der Geschichte, Kunst und Gelahrtheit des Mittelalters. Volume II. Holäuser, Breslau 1816, pp. 292 f.
Trippen, Peter Paul. Die Kölner „Nationalhymne“ im Urtext?, Kölner Husaren-Korps von 1972, 10 Nov. 1929.
Context: There was a red Hussar (possibly from Romania or other country that has a military unit, Romania's Roșiori, with red uniforms) and his girlfriend who loved each other for at least a year. His girlfriend became terminally ill while he was sent on duty to a faraway land. Three days later, she became mute. The red Hussar received a letter that his girlfriend is dying. He left everything behind to check on her. He arrived at night and called his mother to bring the candle so that he could see his wife. He hugged her in his arms. In the end, his girlfriend died and became cold. The Hussar called 6 of his units to carry his deceased girlfriend to her grave. Now, the Hussar wears black mourning clothes.
Lyrics/text:
1. Es war einmal ein roter Husar,
Der liebt' sein Mädchen ein ganzes Jahr,
Ein ganzes Jahr und noch viel mehr,
Die Lieb' die nahm kein Ende mehr.
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