Willy [English translation]

Well, Willy, now that I see you lying there, so far away behind that glass pane, exactly one life too far away, I think to myself, it must have been inevitable – I sometimes think, this was what you wanted, Willy!

It all started in sixtyseven, do you remember?

The both of us marched along for freedom and peace, big-eyed, and we were chanting,

„Citizens, stop gawking,

come downstairs and join us!“

And you, you always were a little bit ahead of us – always a bit wilder and a bit more honest.

We wanted to demonstrate it to them, Willy, and you told me already in those days: „Freedom, Wecker, freedom means to be not afraid, and not to fear anyone!“ But let's be honest, we had a slightly lukewarm feeling back in those days already, because of all the screwballs who simply joined us, because it was hip. Because of those Sunday-afternoon-revolutionaries: slapping their girlfriend, when she looks at another boy, but complaining about burgeois morality! These are the same ones, who today keep their mouths shut, because otherwise they might run into problems. And you told us already back then, „This will not last for long, too much of a fashion along with that. If in-people already swap their Porsches for a 2 CV, something must be rotten with the big revolution – marching along without thinking can't be good, even when it is for a good cause!“

Yesterday, Willy was slain,

and today, today, today he will be buried.

Yesterday, Willy was slain,

and today, today, today he will be buried.

Then you suddenly had started drinking, and I believe you already had begun to give up a little at that time. I can understand you, it's no surprise, considering, what has become of all the big fighters. Nowadays everyone thinks about their pensions already, when they are just seventeen, and girls sagely shake their heads, when their mothers throw the stuff at their husbands' feet and say, „Mind your own business, I wanna live!“ Nevertheless, Willy, one must keep on fighting, go on until the bitter end, even if the whole world is nuts, or just because it is!

And at some point you began to search for the genuine people – those who do not always say, „yes, teacher!“ - in the back rooms of them barrel houses at Viktualienmarkt and Railway Station Corner. They are really more authentic, Willy, but I warned you, you have to watch out, because they are the beaten ones, and if one's constantly kicked, one will kick back at some opportunity! But you were never afraid, I know you: „Nobody will harm me!“ - Well, Willy, you chump, now it's obvious to you, how nobody harms you!

Yesterday, Willy was slain,

and today, today, today he will be buried.

Yesterday, Willy was slain,

and today, today, today he will be buried.

Bloody hell, Willy! If you had only been on the moon yesterday, or on the Amazonas in a dugout boat, or all alone on a peak, three steps away from the skies – anywhere else but in this damned bar!

In the morning I had already suggested, „Let's go for a trip, the weather is so clear, the mountains are so close, let's skip a few days, like we used to do at the Herrenschule! A sleeping bag and the world in our pockets!“ But you had already been drunk so early in the morning, and in the evening you needed to show off once again, show, that you are still somebody!

It all started out cosy and pleasant. And of course we dug up the old stories, we argued about who had messed around with teacher Huber's wife at the carnival ball. We got sentimental, it was really nice, until this dimwit came over to our table, with his triangular-shaped skull – small, podgy and brown. And then he asked us, if we had been in the army – ok, we still took that for funny, and that he were very pleased, that law and order were applied to the red sauce in our state, and the young people were becoming more reasonable again, and anyway, the Bavarians knew where to go, politically. Willy, I knew for sure that you wouldn't be able to stand this very long – And then all of a sudden, he started to sing, something by Horst Wessel1. In the Background at the other tables they began to join in, humming, and your head swelled up, and suddenly you jump up and yell:

„Shut up – Fascist!“

Silence, crackling – the air was like a wall. Tangible. At that point we still could have left, Willy – but no, I do understand that, you had to stay – and then it started off at the other tables: „Go to the Soviet Union, you communist!“ It's clear to me, Willy, one has to go nuts, when these times come back again. But nevertheless: „Let's leave!“, I said, „he no longer can harm anyone, that old dimwit!“ - „No“, you replied, „all of them are harmful – the old and the young fools!“ And then the one from the next table suddenly smashed his glass, very calm, and stood up. Willy, you stupid asshole, I grabbed your jacket and tried to pull you away, although I had already lost any hope, and you broke loose: „Freedom means, to be not afraid, and not to fear anyone!“ And then you attacked him, and then he drew near...

Willy, Willy, if only we had gone for the trip in the morning, I still would have needed you – all of us need folks who are like you!

Yesterday, Willy was slain,

and today, today, today he will be buried.

1. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horst-Wessel-Lied