Angry Salad released three albums: Bizarre Gardening Accident, The Guinea Pig EP, and a self-titled. The self-titled mostly featured newer versions of the songs found on the Bizarre Gardening Accident album.
99 Red Balloons
Angry Salad Lyrics
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Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Till one by one they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, "Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons floating in the summer sky
Panic bells it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine it springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by
99 Decision Street, 99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen, Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
99 dreams I have had
In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
The song "99 Red Balloons" by German band Nena was originally released in 1983, and was written during the Cold War. The song tells the story of how 99 red balloons floating in the sky are mistaken for UFOs and lead to a tragic war. In the first few lines of the song, a person and their companion buy a bag of balloons and release them at the break of dawn, watching as they float away one by one. However, these balloons are misinterpreted as a threat, and panic bells ring. The war machine springs to life and opens its eyes as 99 red balloons go by, leading to a war with 99 ministers gathering and calling out troops in a hurry. The final verse describes a dream where 99 red balloons are seen, and how they are now nothing but a distant memory after the dust of war has settled.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I in a little toy shop
We are together in a small, playful place
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Purchase a bag of balloons with limited funds
Set them free at the break of dawn
Release them when the sun first appears
'Till one by one they were gone
Until each balloon disappeared separately in the sky
99 red balloons floating in the summer sky
99 inflated red objects in the warm, clear air
Panic bells it's red alert
Anxiety and fear increases as danger is imminent
There's something here from somewhere else
A foreign, unidentifiable object is near us
The war machine it springs to life
Military equipment is activated
Opens up one eager eye
It is prepared and attentive
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by
Pay attention to the balloons as a potential threat
99 Decision Street, 99 ministers meet
A location and quantity of officials convene
To worry, worry, super scurry
To be anxious and move quickly
Call out the troops now in a hurry
Activate the armed forces immediately
This is what we've waited for
This is the anticipated event
This is it boys this is war
The fight has officially begun
The president is on the line
The leader is involved
As 99 red balloons go by
While the 99 red balloons are visible
99 Kriegsminister
99 military officials
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Matches and gasoline cans
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
They thought themselves clever
Witterten schon fette Beute
They already smelled a big win
Riefen, Krieg und wollten Macht
They called for a war and wanted power
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Who would have thought this would happen?
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
That it would come to this
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
Because of 99 air-filled objects
99 dreams I have had
99 mental experiences while asleep
In every one a red balloon
Each dream featured a red floating object
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
It's finished and I'm in good condition
In the dust that was a city
In the debris of what was previously an urban area
If I could find a souvenir
If only I could discover a keepsake
Just to prove the world was here
To demonstrate that life was once present
And here it is, a red balloon
And here it is, one red buoyant creation
I think of you and let it go
I remember you and release the balloon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOERN-UWE FAHRENKROG-PETERSEN, CARLO KARGES, KEVIN MC ALEA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind