I guess I better write you now already
and already send you my final refusal
You don't need to browse long lists
to see that I have two sons
I love them both, I'll tell you
more than my life or the light of my eyes
And they, they won't carry any weapons
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!
I taught them respect for life,
respect for every creature, as the highest value
I taught them to pity and forgive
and, wherever possible, I taught them to love
Now you won't go spoil them with hate
No goals, no honour, no duty
is worth killing and dying for
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!
Surely not for you their mother
gave life to them in pains
Not for you and not as cannon fodder
Not for you I stood vigil feverish nights
desperate at a son's bed
cooling a little burning face
until we found peace in exhaustion
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!
They won't march in rank and file
They won't persevere, won't fight to the end,
won't freeze to death on some godforsaken field
while you're sitting in cushiony armchairs
Protecting my children from any and all danger
is my darned duty as a father
and that also means to protect them from you!
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!
I will teach them disobedience,
resistance and indomitability.
To revolt against every command
and not to be subservient to authority.
I will teach them to follow their own way,
not to stand up straight* for any puppet, any pope, (* or: answer to)
not for anyone but themselves.
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!
And I'd rather flee with them
than let you turn them into your servants.
I'd rather go abroad with them
in poverty and like thieves at night.
We only have this one short life
I swear it and tell it to your face:
they won't give it for your madness.
No, I won't give you my sons!
No, I won't give you my sons!