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99 Luftballons
Nena Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und, dass so was von so was kommt

Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär'
Dabei waren dort am Horizont
Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons

Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons

Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons

Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons

Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nena's "99 Luftballons" describes the story of 99 red balloons flying towards the horizon and being mistaken for something more dangerous causing panic and eventually leading to war. The song begins with the singer asking the listener if they have any time to listen to a song about 99 balloons on their way to the horizon. She then proceeds to explain how the people see them as UFOs and how the military sends fighter jets to prohibit them. Soon, a war erupts, and the singer notes how the world is left in ruins as a result of such a horrific event. The song ends with the singer finding a balloon and letting it go as a symbol of letting go of the past.


The lyrics of the song are an anti-war message disguised as a dance-pop track. The song was first released in 1983 and became an instant hit in Germany where it stayed at the top of the German charts for four weeks. It was then released worldwide with an English version called "99 Red Balloons," which became a hit in several countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.


Line by Line Meaning

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Do you have a moment for me?


Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Then I'll sing a song for you


Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
About ninety-nine balloons


Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
On their way to the horizon


Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Are you thinking of me right now?


Und, dass so was von so was kommt
And that something like this comes from something like that


Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Ninety-nine balloons


Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Were thought to be UFOs from outer space


Darum schickte ein General
So a general sent


’Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
A squadron of jet fighters after them


Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
To give an alert if it were true


Dabei waren dort am Horizont
But there at the horizon


Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Were only ninety-nine balloons


Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Ninety-nine jet fighters


Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Each one was a great warrior


Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Thought they were Captain Kirk


Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
There was a big fireworks display


Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
The neighbors didn't understand


Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
And felt immediately attacked


Dabei schoss man am Horizont
But they were shooting at


Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Ninety-nine balloons


Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Ninety-nine military leaders


Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Matches and gasoline canisters


Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Thought they were smart people


Witterten schon fette Beute
Already smelled a big profit


Riefen: „Krieg!“, und wollten Macht
Called for war and wanted power


Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Man, who would have thought


Dass es einmal soweit kommt
That it would ever come to this


Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Because of ninety-nine balloons


Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Because of ninety-nine balloons


Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ninety-nine years of war


Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Left no room for winners


Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
There are no more military leaders


Und auch keine Düsenflieger
And also no jet fighters


Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Today I go for a walk


Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
See the world lying in ruins


Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Found a balloon


Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen
Think of you and let it fly




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joern-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Peterson, Carlo Karges

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Raz.C

@@rosePetrichor
The effect of fallout on people and on soil and on crops was all depicted in The Day After (1983). The black soldier even attempts to shield himself from the Alpha and Beta radiation while walking through affected areas, by covering as much of himself as he can, with a blanket (which would actually be effective against EXTERNAL Alpha and Beta radiation).

The equipment failures in the hospital and elsewhere show how the EMP would render unshielded equipment useless. Cars are left abandoned, though it's not made clear that it's because they refuse to start.

The societal breakdown is shown with people turning against each other in a makeshift church. A man is murdered by a desperate group of monsters that look like they were a human family before the bombs dropped. I think his wife was killed first, then when he rushed to her aid, they killed him too. I can't remember if they did this so they could eat him, or just to rob him.

The loss of civil infrastructure is apparent when the ruins of neighbourhoods are shown in bleak detail, the new ramshackle huts that are hastily put together for shelter in lieu of the rubble that was once their homes and businesses. It's apparent in the journey of several characters through ruins and wastelands that was once a city and its suburbs. And it's apparent when we see scenes of the remains of the hospital and lab, where the last remnants of technological advancement crumble and decay with the rest of the failing world.


I saw Threads back in the 90s. I thought it was more sophisticated than The Day After, however, The Day After had mass market appeal. Everything was dumbed down a notch, but it was also much more relatable in many ways. The narrative was simpler, allowing the audience more time and brain-space to focus on the aftereffects of the brief nuclear exchange.

I honestly don't understand how you can say that The Day After was "not nearly accurate in depicting the post-nuclear horror that would come after the bombs dropped..."

I included examples from The Day After of all the things you listed, that you intimated were lacking in the film. I would ask you to watch it again (I rewatched it about 18 months ago) to re-familiarise yourself with not just the narrative and the details, but the intricacy with which those details are explored and fleshed out. I can FULLY sympathise that you- or anyone- might see that Steve Guttenberg has a starring role and dismiss the film as a comedy, or as a light drama with some romance elements. That's a perfectly understandable reaction, but it's also dead wrong. The film is BLEAK!

When the family splits and Steve G. takes the girl (and 1 or 2 others, I think?) on the horse-drawn carriage, to try to reach the hospital, EVERYONE assumes that they'll get her there and bring her back and they'll all be safe and everything will work out for this one, fine family. The film makers had more sense than that, thankfully. I don't want to spoil it, but I think you know that this tangent of the story does NOT have a happy ending. It doesn't have a happy middle, either. And the beginning isn't happy too, come to think of it... And then there are all the other stories of all the other people, whose lives we've been following.

It's an UGLY film that doesn't have a happy ending. I cried my eyes out when I first saw it, back in '85. My mother assumed it would be a typical Steve Guttenberg movie and that we'd all enjoy it. She never rented movies for us again, after that. No shit.


Nb: I have to admit, though, she'd rarely ever rented movies for us before that moment. After it and to this day, though, she never rented movies again.



@alexmarginean9131

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für Ufos aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär'
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont
Nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab' 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen



@BusinessPuggo

German Lyrics for those who want it

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons, auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst du vielleicht grad an mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Und, dass so was von so was kommt
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Darum schickte ein General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so wär
Dabei war'n dort am Horizont nur neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein grosser Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Das gab ein grosses Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont auf neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Jahre Krieg
Ließen keinen Platz für Sieger
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr
Und auch keine Düsenflieger
Heute zieh' ich meine Runden
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen
Hab 'n Luftballon gefunden
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen



@davidg.9932

Happy 64th Birthday Nena..
Gabriele Susanne Kerner March 24,1960.

Happy 93rd Birthday Captain Kirk..
William Shatner March 22, 1931.

99 Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk....



All comments from YouTube:

@zerinawolfnewac4393

Wer ist 2024 noch alles dabei?! 🤘😎🕊🎶🎹🎸

@lhumour59

die Franzosen sind auch da 🇨🇵

@kinugawa-ch.

i'm 17 years old from japan

@ocean_2761

i'm 16 from Portugal, but Nena is just popular everywhere❤

@eberharddirscherl4120

Jawohl!

@AlanAntonioCortes

Im 28 years from Mexico, since 2002 in love with this song thanks to gta vice city.

544 More Replies...

@lousifei

I was a young U.S. soldier stationed in Pirmasens, West Germany (at the time) when this song came out. I didn't know the words, but I knew what it was about. One day I was out on a day off with a German soldier friend of mine, and we were visiting a wooded area that had seen heavy fighting between the Germans and Allies during WWII. I remember thinking at the time how just a few decades earlier instead of being friends, we would have had to try to kill each other out there. In those days (1983), one of the things we (those in charge) were worried about was a possible soviet tank led invasion into Western Europe via Czechoslovakia. It's a shame. Now, almost 40 years later and after it seemed that all of that was over, we're back to worrying about war with Russia again. It's really a shame because those who have to do the actual fighting are just normal people who could easily be friends if given the chance.

@kennethwarburton177

Because people have short memories. War is MADNESS,

@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575

sadly, there are many things that saw progress in the 70s-00s, that have devolved in the last 6yrs or so, and we're essentially right back where we started. those that shape history seem to ignore history.

@HiroNguy

@@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575 It's people as a whole who give these malignant narcissists power. Therefore the concept of Total War is correct because people do in general get the government they deserve.

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