Die Ärzte were formed in 1982 by Jan Vetter (alias Farin Urlaub), Dirk Felsenheimer (alias Bela B.) and bassist Hans Runge (alias Sahnie). Bela and Farin had previously played together in the punk band Soilent Grün; after that band broke up they decided to form a band playing fun songs, in contrast to the mostly political bands of the punk scene at that time. While deriving from that punk scene, their early music was heavily influenced by pop and rock and roll, especially The Beatles, whom Farin heard a lot as a child due to his mother playing their records.
In the first two years they mostly played in clubs of their hometown of Berlin. Their first release was a contribution to the sampler "20 schäumende Stimmungshits" (roughly, "20 exuberant mood hits"), which contained a strong alcohol theme. In 1983 they won a rock contest in Berlin; with the prize money they recorded their debut EP "Uns gehts Prima" ("We're doing great"). Finally Columbia Records signed them, and they released their first LP "Debil" in 1984 and the second one ("Im Schatten der Ärzte") a year later.
After the second record they parted ways with Sahnie due to internal problems. On the third record he was replaced by producer Miccey Meuser; later Hagen Liebig, better known as The Incredible Hagen, played bass for them during live performances until their breakup.
In 1987 the German Federal Centre for Media Harmful to Young Persons put the songs Geschwisterliebe ("Sibling Love", a song about incest, from Die Ärzte), Claudia hat 'nen Schäferhund ("Claudia has a German Shepherd", about zoophilia, from "Debil") and Schlaflied ("Lullaby", about a monster coming and eating you after falling asleep, also from "Debil") on the German List of Media Harmful to Young People. This prohibited the band from performing the songs live and, more importantly, promoting the two albums, and shops from openly displaying the records in their shelves. After several trials against shops that still openly sold the records a lot of shops removed Die Ärzte completely from their stock. The result was a drop in record sales and big financial problems for the band. In response they released the compilation "Ab 18" ("Adults Only") with all their songs on the index and some other old and new tasteless songs, and the greatest hits album "Ist das alles?"("Is this everything?" but also can be translated as "Is this the end?"). The album and the new singles were fairly successful, partly because of growing media interest due to the previous censorship.
The following album "Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit" ("That is not the whole truth") was even more successful, climbing into the top 10 in the German album charts. They decided to go out on a high note in 1988, breaking up after doing one last tour and recording a live double album that became their first number one in the album charts.
Neither Farin's new band King Køng nor Bela's Depp Jones were really successful, so in 1993 they decided to do a reunion. As bass player they invited Rodrigo Gonzales, who was guitarist in Depp Jones and a friend of Bela. Their comeback single was Schrei nach Liebe ("Cry for Love"), their first ever political song, that they published as a statement against what was perceived as growing racism and right wing extremist violence in Germany at that time.
The album was more diverse than ever, with ballads, punk, rock and traditional German sounds. Both album and single became big hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The follow-up "Planet Punk" was also very successful.
In 1996 they wanted to make an EP just about hair, but they wrote too many songs for an EP and made the Album "Le Frisur" ("The Hairdo") instead. It was slightly less successful than its predecessors. Apart from their own tours they also supported Kiss in that year, a dream come true for Bela and Rod.
1998 was perhaps the most successful year of their career, the single "Männer sind Schweine" ("Men are Pigs") being their first Number 1 single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the album 13 also being Number 1 in Germany and Switzerland. After a lot of promotion and touring in that year they decided to take a break, deciding also to never play again "Männer sind Schweine" at a concert due to the too great success this song had. They did not like the upcoming unwanted and rather unoriginal remakes by other bands as e.g. "Frauen sind Schweine" ("Women are pigs") and also did not like to see their song played at mass tourist beach parties at places like Mallorca/Spain.
In 2000 they came back with another very successful album, "Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!", and two top 10 singles. As the third single from the album they released the 30-second-song "Yoko Ono", which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the shortest single ever released - another example of their sense of humour. On their tour in 2001 they sold the limited Album "5, 6, 7, 8 Bullenstaat" consisting of short punk songs that were written and recorded while recording the full length album published a year before, and some cover songs published in 1994 on a tour only EP.
After that they again took a break: Bela did some acting, Farin recorded his first solo album (Endlich Urlaub!). In late 2002 they did an MTV Unplugged in a school auditorium together with the school band. After that they made a new double album Geräusch that was released in 2003. On the next tour a Live DVD was recorded and published one year later.
On 2 November 2007, Die Ärzte released their latest album, Jazz ist anders ("Jazz is nothing like this", literally "Jazz is different").
In August 2011 the band announced that they are working on a new album which is set to be released in 2012 with a tour called "Das Ende ist noch nicht vorbei" ("The end is not over yet") following in the summer 2012.
The official homepage for Die Ärzte is www.bademeister.com
Tu das nicht
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
(Burn Baby burn)
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Oder willst du, dass mein Herz zerbricht?
Das willst du nicht, das willst du nicht
Also bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Du raubkopierst und saugst dir die Musik
Dass du dich nicht genierst, da draußen, da herrscht Krieg
Du nimmst dir die Songs für umsonst und für lau
Die Polizei jagt dich und die steckt dich in den Bau
Zu Mördern, Terroristen und du merkst schnell
Hier kommst du nicht mehr raus, das ist deine Klientel
Für dich, du Schwein, ist jetzt alles zu spät
Das kommt davon, wenn man illegal Musik runterlädt
Wird Zeit, dass dir endlich einer deine Grenzen zeigt
Im Hochsicherheitstrakt, versuch's doch mal mit Hungerstreik
Du wärst nicht der Erste, der hier den Verstand verliert
In deinem Abschiedsbrief steht "Mama, Ich hab doch nur raubkopiert
Warum muss ich das erleiden? Ich bin doch noch so jung!"
Und es läuft keine Musik auf deiner Beerdigung
(So)
Also bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
Du glaubst, wir leben von dem vielen Geld,
Das uns die Musikindustrie in die Taschen steckt
Von Taschengeld quasi, aber dieses Taschengeld existiert nicht
Wir leben vom Inhalt deiner Brieftasche
Oder, salopp gesagt, deines Portemonnaies
Bitte gib reichlich, denn wir Musiker, wir sind bedürftig
Wir leben ein Leben für euch alle mit
Ein faules Schlampenleben
Wir sehen nie Tageslicht, nein, warum auch
Unsere Kunst, die erblüht und gedeiht in der Nacht
Aber die Nacht ist teuer, mein Freund
Die Nacht ist teuer, mein Freund
Also bitte gib reichlich
Ick brauch sie und wir brauchen sie alle
Wir, die Musiker, wir sind ein lustiges
Aber verschwenderisches Völkchen
Also bitte gib uns dein Geld
Ich sach schon mal danke im Voraus
The lyrics of Tu das nicht by Die Ärzte caution against piracy, urging people not to engage in illegal downloading of music. The song warns of the consequences of such an act and how it can lead to not just legal trouble, but also cause harm to the music industry and the artists themselves. The use of repetition in the lyrics ("Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht") serves as a warning and emphasizes the importance of not engaging in piracy.
The song also highlights the misconception that musicians make a lot of money from the music industry, and that piracy does not harm them. It calls for people to support artists by buying their music and attending their concerts. The sarcastic tone in the lyrics, however, makes it clear that the band is aware of the difficulty in making a living in the music industry.
Overall, the lyrics of Tu das nicht are a cautionary tale that urges people to take responsibility for their actions and support their favorite artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
The singer is pleading with someone not to do something, repeating the request multiple times.
(Burn Baby burn)
An interjection, possibly implying that the request is urgent or that the situation is intense.
Oh bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
The urgency of the request increases.
Oder willst du, dass mein Herz zerbricht?
The singer is asking if the action the other person is considering will hurt them emotionally.
Das willst du nicht, das willst du nicht
The singer believes that the other person does not actually want to cause them emotional pain.
Also bitte tu das nicht, tu das nicht, tu das nicht
The singer reiterates their request, possibly emphasizing that it will truly hurt them.
Du raubkopierst und saugst dir die Musik
The singer accuses the other person of pirating and downloading music illegally.
Dass du dich nicht genierst, da draußen, da herrscht Krieg
The singer believes that the other person should feel ashamed for what they are doing, as there are more important issues to worry about in the world.
Du nimmst dir die Songs für umsonst und für lau
The singer is annoyed that the other person is getting free access to music.
Die Polizei jagt dich und die steckt dich in den Bau
The singer warns that the other person could get in trouble with the law.
Zu Mördern, Terroristen und du merkst schnell
The singer implies that the other person would be thrown in jail with serious criminals.
Hier kommst du nicht mehr raus, das ist deine Klientel
The singer suggests that the other person has associated themselves with a dangerous crowd.
Für dich, du Schwein, ist jetzt alles zu spät
The singer uses derogatory language to express that it is too late for the other person to stop.
Das kommt davon, wenn man illegal Musik runterlädt
The singer lays the blame for the other person's situation squarely on their own illegal actions.
Wird Zeit, dass dir endlich einer deine Grenzen zeigt
The singer thinks that it is time for the other person to be taught a lesson.
Im Hochsicherheitstrakt, versuch's doch mal mit Hungerstreik
The singer sarcastically suggests that the other person could protest their incarceration with a hunger strike.
Du wärst nicht der Erste, der hier den Verstand verliert
The singer believes that the other person would not be the first to lose their mind in jail.
In deinem Abschiedsbrief steht "Mama, Ich hab doch nur raubkopiert
The singer imagines a scenario in which the other person takes their own life while in jail, leaving a note explaining that they only pirated music.
Warum muss ich das erleiden? Ich bin doch noch so jung!"
The imagined note explains that the person feels they have been unfairly punished.
Und es läuft keine Musik auf deiner Beerdigung
A final dig at the other person's piracy, suggesting that even their funeral will not be accompanied by any music they downloaded illegally.
Du glaubst, wir leben von dem vielen Geld,
The singer addresses the popular notion that musicians make a lot of money.
Das uns die Musikindustrie in die Taschen steckt
The singer implies that this is not actually the case, and that the industry is not as lucrative as people think.
Von Taschengeld quasi, aber dieses Taschengeld existiert nicht
The singer sarcastically suggests that, instead of making a lot of money, musicians only earn pocket change.
Wir leben vom Inhalt deiner Brieftasche
The singer points out that, actually, the majority of a musician's income comes from their fans.
Oder, salopp gesagt, deines Portemonnaies
The singer uses an informal tone to emphasize that they are being straightforward and honest.
Bitte gib reichlich, denn wir Musiker, wir sind bedürftig
The singer asks listeners to support musicians generously, since they need the income.
Wir leben ein Leben für euch alle mit
The singer emphasizes that they devote their lives to creating music for others to enjoy.
Ein faules Schlampenleben
The singer describes their lifestyle as lazy and hedonistic.
Wir sehen nie Tageslicht, nein, warum auch
The singer suggests that their hours spent making music are long and often nocturnal.
Unsere Kunst, die erblüht und gedeiht in der Nacht
The singer romanticizes the creative process, describing music as something that flourishes in the darkness.
Aber die Nacht ist teuer, mein Freund
Acknowledging the cost of living an artistic life.
Also bitte gib reichlich
Saying again that listeners should be generous with their support.
Ick brauch sie und wir brauchen sie alle
The singer uses regional slang to say that they personally need the money, and that all musicians do.
Wir, die Musiker, wir sind ein lustiges
The singer makes a lighthearted observation about the personality traits of musicians.
Aber verschwenderisches Völkchen
The singer also acknowledges that musicians can be wasteful with their resources.
Also bitte gib uns dein Geld
A final plea for support, asking once more for listeners to be generous.
Ich sach schon mal danke im Voraus
Ending the song with a polite expression of gratitude.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bela B. Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind