I have already published several post about German song lyrics and their English translations but those were rather new songs. This time I would like go back in time and suggest a song from the 1980s by a band from the former German Democratic Republic.<\/p>\n
Karussell<\/em><\/strong> (carousel) is a German band from Leipzig and they were one of the most considerable and popular bands in the former GDR. Since Karussell<\/em><\/strong> was a rock band, their style of music is often referred to as Ostrock<\/em><\/strong> (East-Rock). Ostrock<\/em> distinguishes from \u201cWest-Rock\u201d that the lyrics were exclusively in German. English lyrics and English music in general was a taboo in those time in the GDR because the government wanted to make sure that its citizens do not get in contact with other languages or cultures.<\/p>\n The song \u201cAls ich fortging\u201d (When I departed), released in 1989, is still played on the radio nowadays. It is about losing a beloved person and it is one of the most beautiful and saddest songs I know. The following version is a new one, sung by Dirk Michaelis (a former singer of Karussell) and Matthias Reim, a German Schlagers\u00e4nger<\/em><\/strong> (pop singer; crooner).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=utbZRMNd0Iw<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n kehr wieder um.<\/p>\n Nimm an ihrem Kummer teil,<\/p>\n mach sie heil.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Als ich fortging,<\/p>\n war der Asphalt hei\u00df,<\/p>\n kehr wieder um.<\/p>\n Red ihr aus um jeden Preis,<\/p>\n was sie wei\u00df.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nichts ist unendlich,<\/p>\n so sieh das doch ein.<\/p>\n Ich wei\u00df,<\/p>\n du willst unendlich sein,<\/p>\n schwach und klein.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Feuer brennt nieder,<\/p>\n wenn’s keiner mehr n\u00e4hrt.<\/p>\n Kenn\u00b4 ja selber,<\/p>\n was dir heut widerf\u00e4hrt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Als ich fortging,<\/p>\n war\u00b4n die Arme leer,<\/p>\n kehr wieder um.<\/p>\n Machs ihr leichter,<\/p>\n einmal mehr,<\/p>\n nicht so schwer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Als ich fortging<\/p>\n kam ein Wind<\/p>\n so schwach,<\/p>\n warf mich nicht um.<\/p>\n Unter ihrem Tr\u00e4nendach<\/p>\n war ich schwach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nichts ist unendlich,<\/p>\n so sieh das doch ein.<\/p>\n Ich wei\u00df, du willst unendlich sein,<\/p>\n schwach und klein.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nichts ist von Dauer,<\/p>\n was keiner recht will.<\/p>\n Auch die Trauer wird dann sein,<\/p>\n schwach und klein .<\/td>\n I turn around.<\/p>\n Attend her woe,<\/p>\n to heal her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I departed,<\/p>\n the path was hot,<\/p>\n I turn around.<\/p>\n At all cost, I dissuade her from<\/p>\n what she knows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nothing is infinite,<\/p>\n so please realize that.<\/p>\n I know<\/p>\n you want to be infinite,<\/p>\n weak and small.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fire expires<\/p>\n when no one fuels it.<\/p>\n I know myself<\/p>\n what befalls you today.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I departed,<\/p>\n my arms were empty,<\/p>\n I turn around.<\/p>\n Make it easier for her,<\/p>\n once more,<\/p>\n not such a hard time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When I departed<\/p>\n a wind was getting up<\/p>\n which was so faint,<\/p>\n it didn\u2019t knock me down.<\/p>\n I was weak<\/p>\n under her roof of tears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nothing is infinite,<\/p>\n so please realize that.<\/p>\n I know you want to be infinite,<\/p>\n weak and small.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nothing is here to stay,<\/p>\n and no one wants that.<\/p>\n Also grief will be then,<\/p>\n weak and small.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I have already published several post about German song lyrics and their English translations but those were rather new songs. This time I would like go back in time and suggest a song from the 1980s by a band from the former German Democratic Republic. Karussell (carousel) is a German band from Leipzig and they…<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Als ich fortging<\/strong><\/td>\n When I departed<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Als ich fortging,war die Stra\u00dfe steil,<\/p>\n When I departedthe path was steep,<\/p>\n