De/Vision is a German synthpop musical group. The band started as a quartet… Read Full Bio ↴De/Vision is a German synthpop musical group. The band started as a quartet consisting of Thomas Adam, Steffen Keth, Stefan Blender, and Markus Ganssert. They formed the band in 1988. The name De/Vision is a play on words. The majority of the band's lyrics are in English, but they have had some songs in German. Markus left the band in 2000. In the same year Steffen started a side project as the vocalists with Green Court, called 'Green Court featuring De/Vision'. The band with remaining members Thomas Adam and Steffen Keth is currently signed to Drakkar Records in Europe and Dancing Ferret Discs in North America.

Boy On The Street
De/Vision Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You see the difference
Of people on the street
You see it every day
On the TV-screen

Then take away their dreams
And take away their fears
Give them words to speak

Give them hands to shake

And you felt my pain
And you felt my pain
About the boy on the street
I want to see him on his feet
And you heard my scream
And you heard my scream
For the man on the street
He's praying for some dreams

Then take away their dreams
And take away their fears

Give them words to speak
Give them hands to shake

Overall Meaning

In De/Vision's song Boy On The Street, the lyrics evoke a deep sense of empathy towards those who are marginalized and struggling to find their place in society. The song highlights the stark contrast between the "people on the street" and those who benefit from the privileges of the societal structures in place. The opening lines suggest that this difference is a common sight, not just for those who live it, but even for those who witness it on television screens.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of taking away someone's dreams and fears, which are essential parts of our emotional and psychological makeup. This creates a hopeless and helpless feeling of being stuck in the same place without any prospects for the future. The desire to be heard and seen is a significant theme of the song, as well as the longing to uplift and empower those who are often overlooked.

The repeated phrases of "And you felt my pain" and "And you heard my scream" exaggerate the sense of desperation and urgency in the song. The lyrics suggest that the singer is pleading for change to happen, for action to be taken, to see the boy and the man on the street rise above the limitations of their circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

You see the difference
You observe the disparities

Of people on the street
Between the individuals who are wandering on the roads

You see it every day
Every day, you witness these differences

On the TV-screen
Shining on the TV display

Then take away their dreams
Subsequently, eliminate their aspirations

And take away their fears
As well as their apprehensions

Give them words to speak
Provide them with a language to converse

Give them hands to shake
Offer them palms to greet

And you felt my pain
Additionally, you understood my agony

And you felt my pain
Also, you sympathized with me

About the boy on the street
Concerning the adolescent who is a vagrant