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.
Ballast Der Republik
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und sagt „Es tut uns Leid!“
Wir geben zu, wir haben den Krieg verloren
Doch dass ist jetzt vorbei
Uns ist klar, wir müssen büßen
Damit Ihr uns verzeiht
Die Nation wird ausgewürfelt
Und dann durch zwei geteiltDie einen Saufen Coca Cola
Die anderen fressen Mauerstein
Hier feiert man Wirtschaftswunder
Und da den ersten Mai
Doch jeden Tag besucht uns
Derselbe Parasit
Alle tragen auf ihren Schultern
Den Ballast der Republik
Die alten Panzer sind verrostet
Wir sind wieder vereint
Heute quälen uns noch mehr Sorgen
Die Kohle wird verheizt
Wir haben keine Zeit mehr
Für Politik und Religion
Wenn wir an Götter glauben
Dann tragen sie Trikots
Und jeden Tag besucht uns
Derselbe Parasit
Im Kopf und auf den Schultern
Der Ballast der Republik
Es ist wie Pech, das an uns klebt
Der Ballast der Republik
In Clubs und auf den Straßen
Alle haben es so satt
Man tanzt bis in den Morgen
Doch die Sorgen fallen nicht ab
Und alle schieben Hass
Es ist der alter Parasit
Im Kopf und auf den Schultern
Der Ballast der Republik
Es ist wie Pech, das an uns klebt
Der Ballast der Republik
Ballast der Republik
Wie Pech das an uns klebt
Der Ballast der Republik
The opening lines of Die Toten Hosen's “Ballast Der Republik” speak of a repentant nation on its knees, apologizing and begging forgiveness for having lost the war. The song talks about the division of the country into two halves, one half drinking Coca Cola and enjoying the benefits of the economic boom, while the other half is struggling, eating bricks to survive. The lyrics paint a picture of a society trying to heal from the wounds of the past and overcome the challenges of the present.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the “parasite” haunting the nation is not a physical entity, but rather a metaphorical one. The “Ballast der Republik” refers to the heavy burden of the past that keeps weighing down on the people's shoulders. Even though the country is reunited, and the old war machines are rusted, there's still so much to be done. The people carry on their shoulders the weight of the past, and it's dragging them down, despite all the progress made.
The song ultimately speaks to the resilience of the people as they continue to dance through the pain, trying to shake off the burden that's holding them back. It's a reflection on the struggles of the present and the painful memories of the past that shape our present.
Line by Line Meaning
Ein ganzes Land kniet nieder
The nation as a whole is admitting to its wrongs and apologizing.
Und sagt „Es tut uns Leid!“
They're saying sorry.
Wir geben zu, wir haben den Krieg verloren
We acknowledge that we lost the war.
Doch dass ist jetzt vorbei
But that's in the past.
Uns ist klar, wir müssen büßen
We know we have to pay the price.
Damit Ihr uns verzeiht
So that you will forgive us.
Die Nation wird ausgewürfelt
The nation is being divided up.
Und dann durch zwei geteilt
And split into two.
Die einen Saufen Coca Cola
Some drink Coca Cola.
Die anderen fressen Mauerstein
Others are struggling to survive.
Hier feiert man Wirtschaftswunder
Here we celebrate economic success.
Und da den ersten Mai
And there we celebrate the workers' struggle.
Doch jeden Tag besucht uns
But every day, we are visited by
Derselbe Parasit
The same parasite
Alle tragen auf ihren Schultern
We all bear
Den Ballast der Republik
The burden of the Republic.
Die alten Panzer sind verrostet
The old tanks are rusting away.
Wir sind wieder vereint
We are united again.
Heute quälen uns noch mehr Sorgen
Today we have even more troubles.
Die Kohle wird verheizt
We're burning through our resources.
Wir haben keine Zeit mehr
We don't have time anymore
Für Politik und Religion
For politics and religion.
Wenn wir an Götter glauben
If we believe in gods,
Dann tragen sie Trikots
They wear jerseys.
Im Kopf und auf den Schultern
In our minds and on our shoulders
Der Ballast der Republik
Is the burden of the Republic.
Es ist wie Pech, das an uns klebt
It's like pitch that sticks to us.
In Clubs und auf den Straßen
In clubs and on the streets,
Alle haben es so satt
We're all fed up.
Man tanzt bis in den Morgen
We dance until morning,
Doch die Sorgen fallen nicht ab
But our worries don't go away.
Und alle schieben Hass
And everyone is pushing hatred.
Wie Pech das an uns klebt
It's like pitch that sticks to us.
Der Ballast der Republik
The burden of the Republic.
Ballast der Republik
The burden of the Republic.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andreas Frege, Marten Laciny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Daddy-ot4ei
Danke fürs hochladen top.
@rinderknorpelmuhle1790
So ein guter Song!
@LSMW10
Ein sehr guter und sehr cooler Song!
@ClaudiaFülle
Super Song
@lauraheyden6181
♡♡♡