Die alte Leier [English translation]

I see the rainbow

when it breaks through the clouds

The leaves blow by in the wind

in a young cold world

Almost unrecognized,

a shadow grazes the symphony ¹

When the mist lifts off the ground

he grinds his melody ²

I watch him

With his grind organ in hand,

he grinds his melody

Lifeless and without purpose,

always the same old song

Only the old men listen to him

Lifeless and without purpose,

he grinds his own melody³

I see strange looks

which look away in disgust

just in the excuse of time,⁴

just restlessly moving on

His empty look tells of the fall

so strong as no other

When the mist lifts off the ground

he grinds his melody

I watch him

With his grind organ in hand,

he grinds his melody

Lifeless and without purpose,

always the same old song

Only the old men listen to him

Lifeless and without purpose,

he grinds his own melody

Always the same old song

Only the old men listen to him

Lifeless and without purpose,

he grinds his own melody

I see the rainbow

when it breaks through the clouds