Erschlossenes Land [English translation]

Through the stormy nights, carried by the waves,

we drifted onto a deserted beach,

in the most deserted corner of the world, and everything

that we see is -

developed land, developed land

Through the efforts of the plains and the clefts of the mountains we stand

Covered in sweat and burned by the sun,

look over hills and forests, and everything that we see is -

developed land, developed land.

After many years in the laboratory at his bank

the neurobiologist takes the bacterial cultures out of the closet,

and in the microscope he sees the structures which he found

physiological and logical and long ago -

developed land, developed land

The earth is flat and up until its border ---

developed land

Before the great premiere of a young star

there are heavy debates in the feuilletons and bars,

Critics and audience wait excitedly and embarrassedly touch on -

developed land, developed land.

The earth is flat and up until its border ---

developed land

The river goes one metre over the shore and the dams are weakened

The water flows through windows onto balconies,

and it climbs on the streets to the highest place of the city. It carries away the

cars, no matter if Benz or Trabant.

I hear the water whispering, do you hear it, too?

It talks about - developed land, developed land.

The earth is flat and up until its border ---

developed land.

We marched through the institutions

and had tried out life in communes.

Since then, a lot happened but still did not

lead to peace in the world.

Now you're sitting in your office, say, it's how it is,

you become a capitalist. You are what you measure yourself with.

And you stick your head in the sand exactly where you are,

and then everything you see, is -

developed land, developed land.

The head is a prison when you believe

that you're seeing the wall.