DAF's most famous song is the grimly sarcastic "Der Mussolini" from the album "Alles Ist Gut", a pulsing dance song featuring the lyrics "Dance the Mussolini, move your behind, clap your hands, and now the Adolf Hitler, and now the Jesus Christ, and now the communism ...". The song caused a scandal amongst the more humourless elements of German liberal society.
In interviews they claimed to not target anything or anyone specific while creating lyrics to be taken as a parody of words and phrases floating around in the public media. "Sato-Sato" and "Der Mussolini" are both examples of songs written around Delgado-Lopez's fascination with the sound of a particular word.
The album "Alles Ist Gut" (All Is Well) received the German "Schallplattenpreis" award by the "Deutsche Phono-Akademie", an association of the German recording industry.
Following that they released two more similar albums called "Gold und Liebe" and "Für Immer", all produced by legendary Conny Plank.
After experimenting with more mainstream attempts of their particular style of contemporary dance music on the 1986 album "1st Step to Heaven" but with limited success DAF split up (1986).
A few months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq DAF released "Der Sheriff (anti-amerikanisches lied)" (An Anti-American Song) criticizing perceived American imperialism.
In the hiatus of DAF 1985-2002 both Robert and Gabi had their own careers. DAF was more or less resurrected by Gabi alone when he toured in 1994-5 as DAF OPD (On Public Demand) touring with classic and remixed DAF material. Following the success of that partial comeback he started Daf.Dos with Wotan Wilke. They released two more techno oriented albums and toured much until Gabi and Robert reunited for the album "Fünfzehn Neue DAF lieder" in 2003.
Notable is also Robert Görls contribution to Eurythmics first album In the Garden where he unmistakably plays the drums on the tracks Belinda and Caveman Head.
Gabi Delgado continued releasing music under his own name, creating the following albums: 1 (2013), X (2014), and 2 (2015).
Gabi Delgado died in March 2020, thus ending his career, but forever immortal in the music and style he created, which would inspire and spawn whole music genres in decades to come.
Nacht Arbeit
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sex ist verkrüppelt. Normales leben in der neuen zeit.
Lebensstandardssteigerung.
Schnelle produktion fuer die schnelle republik.
Wer täeglich stirbt lebt fuer den augenblick.
Das leben ist langweilig. Es macht keinen spass.
Das leben ist flach. Nachtarbeit ist arbeit in der nacht.
Nachtarbeit ist arbeit in der nacht.
Das leben ist gut doch die menschen sind schwach.
The lyrics to Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft's song Nacht Arbeit criticize the monotony and boredom of modern life. The song argues that sex and eroticism have lost their appeal and that machines have taken their place as a source of pleasure. The lyrics describe the new normal of living in a fast-paced, highly productive society where the only time for leisure and enjoyment is at night.
The song suggests that people are living for the moment, uncertain of the future and resigned to a life of constant work. The focus on "Nachtarbeit" or "night work" emphasizes the idea of the never-ending cycle of labor, day and night, and the lack of fulfillment that accompanies it. The repetition of "das Leben ist gut doch die Menschen sind schwach" highlights the idea that despite external factors such as technological advancement and wealth, the human condition remains weak and unfulfilled.
Overall, the lyrics of Nacht Arbeit suggest a dissatisfaction with the monotony of modern life, the loss of intimacy and the reduction of human experience to a mechanized and controlled existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Erotik ist vorbei. Maschinen machen spaß.
The thrill of eroticism has ended. The enjoyment of machines has taken its place.
Sex ist verkrüppelt. Normales leben in der neuen zeit.
Sexual intercourse has become twisted, and a normal life is expected in this new era.
Lebensstandardssteigerung.
An increase in the standards of living is sought after.
Schnelle produktion fuer die schnelle republik.
Fast production for the fast-paced republic is required.
Wer täeglich stirbt lebt fuer den augenblick.
Those who die daily, live for the moment.
Das leben ist langweilig. Es macht keinen spass.
Life is boring and provides no enjoyment.
Das leben ist flach. Nachtarbeit ist arbeit in der nacht.
Life is shallow and working at night is commonplace.
Nachtarbeit ist arbeit in der nacht.
Night work is work during the night.
Das leben ist gut doch die menschen sind schwach.
Life is good, but people are weak.
Das leben ist gut doch die menschen sind schwach.
Life is good, but people are weak.
Contributed by Christian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.