Testament [English translation]

Even you were once a child, and I was once small too,

And they told us something as well.

You do it all and try to be what you're told,

And realize something is missing.

And then you forget how to feel,

And take refuge in art or consumption.

And while everyone might make their plans,

The gods are doubled over laughing.

Let your children tell you something.

Listen to them properly.

They still have their senses, they have a feeling for the world,

They're more clever than you and I.

And remember, before you answer,

You are also just hurt children.

In the end, there are completely new symptoms,

And you were the inventors.

And then tell them again how it's supposed to go:

"Grow up!" and "You're so naive!"

You preach formulas, make them write it all in their notebooks,

The gods are in stitches.

Pay attention to the calligraphy and the learning plans,

And how they sharpen their pencils.

Show them pictures of oak leaves,

while they sit at tables inside.

Then they plow and they cram and they puke it out again,

And in the afternoons RTL2.

On the weekend they buy something nice,

And now their assimilation is complete.

And anyone who doesn't adapt

Will be declared a problem child.

And anyone who is too lively

Gets a pill so they won't be a bother.

And that's where you deceive yourself,

Because no child is a problem.

And all the free thinkers, all the truants,

Just symptom carriers in the system.

But bear in mind, when you judge them so hard,

You are also just captured spirits.

The resentment will grow even louder,

And the teachers will scream themselves hoarse.

It disgusts you that Hänschen isn't who he should be,

Rather just who he is.

The gods wet themselves from laughter,

And you think that you know something.

And when Hänschen becomes Hans, and has his own children,

Whom he tells something,

Then Hans, and Kunz, and maybe even you,

Realize that once again something is missing.

You have wishes and dreams, and constantly run

Into imaginary walls.

And every wish that you fulfill

Is right then at its end.

You slave away for contrived statistics,

And wait for the burnouts to come.

You throw out your money for plastic,

To get a little bit of joy.

The best of cereal and milk,

Another carport, another loan,

And everyone thinks it's shit,

But everyone plays along.

And everyone thinks it's shit,

But everyone plays along.

You're smartasses but you buy nonetheless,

And the commercials take you for a fool.

And then you sit in front of your new flat screens

And whine about consumption.

If this is what you call the world, then I'll gladly be otherworldly.

The gods are doubled over laughing.

If this is what you call the world, then I'll gladly be otherworldly.

The gods are doubled over laughing.

You dream peddlers, symptom designers,

Don't you realize what's happening?

Who gave you the land and the water

That you now privatize?

You hypocrites, you liars, you pied pipers,

You security paper sellers.

You were given a mind and a soul,

And you're still just followers.

You big, scarred, helpless giants,

You were once small too.

And someone gave you the silent treatment,

And left you alone.

And now you hear not only that the gods aren't laughing,

You hear that the children aren't crying.

And you tell them again that it wouldn't hurt

If they didn't intend it to.

You can silently make your plans, I'll stay in the margin.

I see you, and I'm not alone.

Behind me stand more and more unworldly people,

Who don't fit in either.

And now don't wait for a peaceable end,

I won't give you the pleasure.

No wink of the eye, no soft punchline,

To break the discomfort.

One day the gods will no longer laugh,

And in case I'm no longer around,

I'll leave behind a child who belongs to himself,

And this unwieldy song.