Berlin [English translation]

The town closes her gates

And apart from a few traces in the snow

She is full of empty places

And farewell committees

The facades are grayer today

Than they were a few lifetimes ago

And the old people stare more wearily

Than in years previous

And where are all the girls?

Where have all the friends gone?

The ones who painted meaning

On the walled-in¹ little town?

They're looking for happiness

In Berlin

So many hours tallied up

So many days packed in the luggage

So many years of rapid standstill

Are you still after that brass ring?

Your houses are now home

To a couple of people like you

And the difference is tiny

You look there, they look here

And spare me your stories

I carry mine deep inside, here

You've just got a few more background actors

While I am often alone

I'll see you sometime

In Berlin

But there's so much to see

So if you leave, then please do so properly¹

We can't even look each other in the eye

Without understanding

All that doesn't matter anymore

But there's so much to see

So if you're really going to leave

Then please do so properly

And don't just hang around in my life

Without really seeing

All that doesn't matter anymore