Die Zeit [English translation]

His children brought him here

The caretaker made his bed for him

It's the first night in the new home

And he lies in bed and doesn't sleep

His old life runs through his mind

Where did all those many years go

No one can turn back the hands of time

And tears are his eyes

Time goes by so fast

with every full hour

The hands of time go by

second by second

How he'd like to be 16 again

But time goes by so fast

and no one catches up

As a young man he studied in Heidelberg

marched into Russia under Hitler

then imprisoned then returned

but many others didn't have his luck

Home was rebuilt

In 56 Anna became his bride

his children grew up way too fast

so that he didn't properly notice the years passing by

Time goes by so fast

with every full hour

The hands of time go by

second by second

How he'd like to be 16 again

But time goes by so fast

and no one catches up

His winter goes from window to the door

So my life ends here he thinks

And he thinks of his wife

she passed several years before

his fear begins to pair with some joy

Time goes by so fast

with every full hour

The hands of time go by

second by second

How he'd like to be 16 again

But time goes by so fast

and no one catches up

What once counted is today just old

His ideals are just mountain air and stale

How he'd like to be 16 again

But time goes by so fast

and no one catches up

Time goes by so fast

Time goes by so fast

A moment ago it was dark

Now it's becoming light again