German music and lyrics: Die Prinzen – Das alles ist Deutschland Posted by Sandra Rösner on Jul 25, 2012 in Culture, Language, Music
Last week I asked on Facebook for which German song you would like to have the lyrics and English translation. One wish was “Das alles ist Deutschland” (All this is Germany) by Die Prinzen (The Princes).
Die Prinzen are a German band from Leipzig, which is in the federal state of Saxony. Die Prinzen were very popular and successful in the 1990s. Nowadays, you hardly hear anything of them, but that still isn’t any sort of reason not to write about them.
Well, their song Das alles ist Deutschland is very sarcastic, so please don’t take it too literally. In order to understand the sarcastic tone of voice of the song I will give you some explanations below each line or verse.
Das alles ist Deutschland | All this is Germany |
Deutsch, deutsch, deutsch …Natürlichhat ein Deutscher “Wetten, dass” erfunden
Vielen Dank für die schönen Stunden |
German, German, German …Of course,a German came up with “Wetten, dass…”
Thank you very much for the beautiful hours |
(“Wetten, dass … “ is a kind of game show on German television and it is supposed to be the most successful Saturday night TV show in Germany ever. Indeed, many Germans loved to watch it but I think meanwhile it is simply outdated and quite boring., because the concept of the show has not progressed much.) | |
Wir sind die freundlichsten Kundenauf dieser Welt | We are the friendliest customersin this world |
(Germans are supposed to be bad and unfriendly customers. This may have several reasons. Germans are not used to wait in line and always expect a fast service, and you usually get a fast service in Germany. This again can sometimes be very problematic for costumers who wish for a consulting service because shop assistants are rather drilled to settle a transaction quickly than spending time on giving advices. This behavior by shop assistants annoys many Germans. Thus, Germans often denote Germany as “Servicewüste” (service desert), which means that there is nothing or no one who can ever assist you.) | |
Wir sind bescheidenWir haben Geld | We are modestWe have money |
(Germans are indeed quite modest when it comes to money. It is considered to be pretentious to show and say that you have money. But these lines are also sarcastic because there are also many Germans who live on social welfare and/or below the poverty line.) | |
Die Allerbesten in jedem SportDie Steuern hier sind WeltrekordBereisen Sie Deutschlandund bleiben Sie hier
Auf diese Art von Besuchern warten wir Es kann jeder hier wohnen, dem es gefällt Wir sind das freundlichste Volk auf dieser Welt |
We are the very best at every sportThe taxes here are world recordTravel to Germanyand stay here
We are waiting for this kind of visitors Everyone can live here, who wants to We are the friendliest people in this world |
(Some lines level criticism against politics. It is quite easy for refugees from war zone to find shelter in Germany but mostly it is rather difficult for them to get citizen rights. They are often not allowed to work and earn money. This again annoys refugees and taxpayers alike.) | |
Deutsch, deutsch…Nur eine Kleinigkeit ist hier verkehrtUnd zwar, dass Schumacher
keinen Mercedes fährt |
German, German …Just one trifle is wrongnamely that Schuhmacher
doesn’t drive a Mercedes |
(Mercedes is THE make of car that simply symbolizes Germany, but the German racing-car driver Michael Schuhmacher does not drive for Mercedes but for the Itlaian make of car Ferrari.) | |
Refrain:Das alles ist Deutschlanddas alles sind wirDas gibt es nirgendwo anders
nur hier, nur hier Das alles ist Deutschland das sind alles wir Wir leben und wir sterben hier
Deutsch, deutsch…
Es bilden sich viele was auf Deutschland ein Und mancher findet es geil ein Arschloch zu sein Es gibt manchen, der sich gern über Kanaken beschwert Und zum Ficken jedes Jahr nach Thailand fährt |
Chorus:All this is Germanythis all is usYou can’t find that anywhere else
Only here, only here All this is German All this is us We live and we die here
German, German …
Many people are smug about Germany And quite a few people like it to be an a**hole There are a few who like to complain about wogs but travel to Thailand every year to f*ck |
(The German word “Kanacke” is a disparaging term for people with a different ethnic background.) | |
Wir lieben unsere Autos mehrals unsere Frau’nDenn deutschen Autoskönnen wir vertrau’n
Gott hat die Erde nur einmal geküsst Genau an dieser Stelle, wo jetzt Deutschland ist Wir sind überall die besten natürlich auch im Bett Und zu Hunden und Katzen besonders nett
Das alles ist Deutschland…
Wir sind besonders gut im Auf-die-Fresse- hau’n auch im Feuerlegen kann man uns vertrau’n Wir steh’n auf Ordnung und Sauberkeit Wir sind jederzeit für ‘nen Krieg bereit Schönen Gruß an die Welt, seht es endlich ein Wir können stolz auf Deutschland… SCHWEIN!
Schwein, Schwein…
Das alles ist Deutschland… |
We love our cars morethan our womenBecause we can confidein German cars
God had kissed the world just once Right at the spot where Germany now is We are the very best in everything Of course, also in bed And we are very nice to dogs and cats
All this is Germany …
We are especially good at to-smash-somebody-face-in You also can confide us in setting on fire
We are into tidiness and cleanliness At any time we are prepared for the war Regards to the world Finally, buy it We can be proud of Germany PIG!
Pig, pig …
All this is Germany |
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About the Author: Sandra Rösner
Hello everybody! I studied English and American Studies, Communication Science, and Political Science at the University of Greifswald. Since I have been learning English as a second language myself for almost 20 years now I know how difficult it is to learn a language other than your native one. Thus, I am always willing to keep my explanations about German grammar comprehensible and short. Further, I am inclined to encourage you to speak German in every situation. Regards, Sandra
Comments:
Daniel Drawe:
Nice article, but the author needs to study English grammar a bit more, especially in the correct useage of articles, plurals and spelling. Of course I wish I could speak, read and write English as well as she can in English.
james levine typecasting:
I’m still learning from you, as I’m improving myself. I certainly enjoy reading everything that is posted on your blog.Keep the posts coming. I loved it!