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.

Beautiful Day
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's a morning full of innocence
As the day defeats the night
And the sun shines down like a gift from God
And the world is new and bright
The moment seems so holy
As I see you walk my way
But a prayer requires a sacrifice
And someone has to pay

For this beautiful day
Such a beautiful day

When I close my hands around your neck
Don't be upset with me
'Cause all of us are just passing through,
We stay awhile and then we leave
And if the Lord should call you early,
Does it matter anyway?
Could there be a better time to go?
Could there be a better way
Than on this beautiful day?
Such a beautiful day
This beautiful day

Such a beautiful day
This beautiful day
What a beautiful day

This beautiful day
Your final day

Overall Meaning

Die Toten Hosen's "Beautiful Day" is a melancholic but insightful song that focuses on the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of the present moment. The song begins by describing the morning as a time of innocence when the day triumphs over the night, and the sun shines down like a gift from God. The singer perceives the world as new and bright, a moment that seems almost holy as he sees someone he cares for walk towards him. However, the singer acknowledges that a prayer requires a sacrifice, and someone must bear the cost.

The second verse of the song delves deeper into the theme of mortality. The singer seems to grapple with the inevitability of death, stating that all of us are just passing through, staying awhile, and then leaving. The lyrics call attention to the fact that death is unpredictable, and sometimes the Lord may call someone early. The singer wonders if it even matters when we die, and questions whether there could be a better time or way to go. The chorus repeats the title, emphasizing the beauty of the day, but also underscoring the temporariness of our time on earth.

Line by Line Meaning

It's a morning full of innocence
The morning is pure and new.

As the day defeats the night
As the day takes over from the night.

And the sun shines down like a gift from God
The sun is a divine and wonderful blessing.

And the world is new and bright
The world is fresh and illuminated.

The moment seems so holy
This moment is sacred and special.

As I see you walk my way
As I see you approaching me.

But a prayer requires a sacrifice
A prayer often requires a sacrifice of some kind.

And someone has to pay
Someone has to bear the cost of the prayer.

For this beautiful day
For this wonderful day.

Such a beautiful day
What a beautiful day!

When I close my hands around your neck
When I hold you tight.