Nein, meine Söhne geb ich nicht [English translation]

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!