Die Toten Hosen is a punk band from Düsseldorf (NRW), Germany. They are one… Read Full Bio ↴Die Toten Hosen is a punk band from Düsseldorf (NRW), Germany. They are one of very few German-language acts who have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.

The band formed out of the ashes of punk band, ZK, founded 1978. The members of Die Toten Hosen (literally "The Dead Trousers" in English; "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "lifeless", "boring", or "nothing going on") are Campino (Andreas Frege), Kuddel (Andreas von Holst), Vom (Stephen George Ritchie), Andi (Andreas Meurer) and Breiti (Michael Breitkopf). Vom replaced Wölli as the drummer in 1999 (Wölli's untimely departure from the band was due to injuries caused by a car accident), who himself had replaced Trini in 1985 and is still an honorary member of the band; Trini became the band's manager.

The band has existed for over 20 years, and their songs' focus gradually shifted from funny and nonsensical to serious; the songs from their first LP were mostly about having fun, but by the end of the 1980s they were focusing more on political and social issues such as racism.

Part of the folklore surounding the band is the story that in their early days they played for free on private birthday parties or similar events. However only under the conditions that the host provided for unlimited beer supply and paid for all damages caused by the band.

The debut single "Wir sind bereit" ("We are ready") was released in 1982, and was followed by their first album, "Opel-Gang", the next year. In 1988, Die Toten Hosen released the LP "Ein kleines bisschen Horrorschau". It refers to the movie A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. In 1993, Frank Castorf produced a German theater version of the book, in which Die Toten Hosen performed as actors and musicians.

Their 1000th concert was on 28th June 1997, in the Düsseldorfer Rheinstadium, and was attended by more than 60,000 fans. A Dutch girl died in the crowd; after various talks with security and police, the band decided to play soft songs until the end, in order not to panic the crowd. Later the band produced the song "Alles ist Eins" in memoriam for the Dutch girl.

Die Toten Hosen have collaborated with numerous other musicians (like Bad Religion, AC/DC, U2, Rolling Stones); they are also one of the few German punk bands popular outside of Germany (esp. in South America, Australia, eastern Europe) other notable bands being Die Ärzte and Rammstein.

As longtime fans of the their local soccer team Fortuna Düsseldorf they have been sponsoring the club from 2001 to 2003.

After their Unplugged concert in the end of 2005 they've taken a time-out. But they disclaimed rumors, that this is the end of the band.

In 2008 they released the Album "In aller Stille.

In 2012, Die Toten Hosen released their album Ballast der Republik. A special edition includes a bonus CD with cover versions of songs that influenced the band. On 26 April 2016, it was announced that former drummer Wolfgang Rohde had died of cancer.

Alles hat seinen Grund
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Du bist die Schönheit
Ich bin das Biest
Ich brech' dein Herz
Du mein Genick
Wir lassen los
Wir fallen tief
Du bist Verzweiflung
Ich bin der Strick

Doch alles hat seinen Grund
Wo wollen wir mit uns noch hin?
Du schreist nach Liebe, ich bleibe stumm
Wir kommen nicht raus aus diesem Spiel
Wir wollen nicht gehen und wir wollen nicht bleiben
Wir haben Angst, uns zu entscheiden
Wann und wo unser Weg zu Ende ist

Du bist die Wahrheit
Ich bin die Tat
Wir schmeißen Steine
Wir sind aus Glas
Du bist der Schall
Ich bin der Rauch
Du bist der Fehler
Ich bin es auch

Denn alles hat seinen Grund
Wo wollen wir mit uns noch hin?
Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen Grund

Wir können nicht gehen und wir können nicht bleiben
Uns fehlt die Kraft, selbst zu entscheiden

Wann und wo unser Weg zu Ende ist

Alles hat seinen Grund
Wo wollen wir mit uns noch hin?
Du schreist nach Liebe, ich bleibe stumm
Wir kommen nicht raus aus diesem Spiel

Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen Grund

Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen (Alles hat seinen)
Alles hat seinen Grund

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Alles hat seinen Grund" by Die Toten Hosen express the complexity of a relationship that is caught in a vicious cycle of love and despair, fear and indecision. The first stanza speaks to the contrasting roles that the two people play in the relationship, with one being the beauty and the other the beast, one breaking hearts and the other breaking necks. The second stanza continues with the conflicting roles, with one being the truth and the other the action, one throwing stones and the other being fragile. The chorus emphasizes that everything happens for a reason and questions where they are headed as a couple, with one screaming for love and the other remaining silent. They are stuck in a game they can't escape, unable to decide when and where their relationship will end.

The third stanza brings in a new element, with one being the sound and the other the smoke, one being the mistake and the other sharing that mistake. Everything happens for a reason, as they cannot leave or stay, lacking the strength to choose for themselves when and where their relationship will end. The final chorus reiterates the idea that everything happens for a reason, leaving the listener to ponder what that reason may be for their particular situation. The song ends on an unresolved note, reflecting the ambiguity and uncertainty that often characterize real-life relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Du bist die Schönheit
You are beautiful

Ich bin das Biest
I am the beast

Ich brech' dein Herz
I break your heart

Du mein Genick
You are my downfall

Wir lassen los
We let go

Wir fallen tief
We fall deep

Du bist Verzweiflung
You are despair

Ich bin der Strick
I am the noose

Doch alles hat seinen Grund
But everything happens for a reason

Wo wollen wir mit uns noch hin?
Where do we go from here?

Du schreist nach Liebe, ich bleibe stumm
You cry out for love, I remain silent