Abgrund [English translation]

Dull and empty,

you proceed,

along the narrow ridge.

You keep pace,

you're still keeping up.

The herd presses on too hard.

Do you still believe in what

They make you believe?

You've learned to submit.

(What for? Tell me!)

Do you really not know

What you need to know?

You've learned to march.

You gladly let yourself be controlled.

We're on the edge of the precipice;

still, we go on.

There's no going forward and no turning back.

We're on the edge of the precipice;¹

still, we go on.

We lead the way and you come along.

You stolidly follow

just one path.

You obediently join the ranks.

You don't know

who walks behind you.

You drift alone in crowd.

Do you still believe in what

They make you believe?

You've learned to submit.

(What for? Tell me!)

Do you still remember how often

you've given up?

Without even trying.

There's nothing left for you to do but lose.

Jump!

We're on the edge of the precipice.

But we must go on.

Get out of the way,

let us by!

We'll jump into freedom.²