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.

Reiß Dich los
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Die Welt bietet uns grad Frieden an
Und alles scheint leicht zu gehen
Der Wind steht still im Paradies
Nur mein Atem, der sich überschlägt
Heute wär' so ein Tag, an dem es einfach ist
Die Schönheit der Dinge zu sehen
Doch ich halt's nicht aus, ich muss hier weg
Nur du kannst mich verstehen

Komm, reiß dich los
Wir sind noch nicht angekommen
Müssen los
Einfach auf und davon

Wir stoßen diese Schwerkraft ab
An die wir gefesselt sind
Brechen aus der Warteschleife aus
Sind nicht mehr taub und blind
Wir steigen auf den höchsten Berg
Wir schwimmen durch jedes Meer
Bereuen nichts, sind frei wie nie
All die Wunden sind es wert

Komm, reiß dich los (jetzt oder nie)
Wir sind noch nicht angekommen
Müssen los (es gibt kein Zurück)
Einfach auf und davon
Lass uns gehen
Vielleicht finden wir unser Glück
Wollen sehen
Was davon noch übrig ist

Nimm nichts mit, wir brauchen nichts
Lass alles hier und schmeiß es weg

All die Souvenirs, unsere Biographien
Nur lästiges Übergewicht

Komm, reiß dich los (jetzt oder nie)
Wir sind noch nicht angekommen
Müssen los (es gibt kein Zurück)
Einfach auf und davon
Lass uns gehen
Vielleicht finden wir unser Glück
Wollen sehen
Was davon noch übrig ist

Overall Meaning

The song Reiß Dich los by Die Toten Hosen revolves around the theme of self-discovery and liberation. The first stanza presents a utopic moment when everything seems to be in perfect harmony with peace prevailing all over the world. The singer, however, yearns to break free from this idyllic setting and seeks an escape. He remarks that it is only his partner who can comprehend his desire to get away. Thus, the song lays the foundation for a journey that promises freedom and new possibilities.

In the second stanza, the narrative shifts its focus on the journey of self-discovery. The lyrics encourage the audience to discard the shackles that tie them down and be ready to embrace a life that is limitless. The song suggests that people need to break out of the loop that keeps them numb and blind. The lyrics urge the listener to climb the highest mountains, swim through every sea, and become emancipated from past traumas. The last two lines of the stanza further accentuate the point that there is no remorse in relinquishing the past.

The chorus repeats the call to break free, and the coda further emphasizes that in this journey, we need not carry anything but hope. The song speaks of the promise of new opportunity and the power to transcend our past troubles.

Line by Line Meaning

Die Welt bietet uns grad Frieden an
The world is offering us peace at this moment.

Und alles scheint leicht zu gehen
Things appear to be going smoothly without much effort.

Der Wind steht still im Paradies
In paradise, there is no movement or change.

Nur mein Atem, der sich überschlägt
Only my breathing is frantic and disordered.

Heute wär' so ein Tag, an dem es einfach ist
Today would be a day on which it would be easy

Die Schönheit der Dinge zu sehen
to see the beauty in things.

Doch ich halt's nicht aus, ich muss hier weg
But I can't stand it anymore, I have to leave.

Nur du kannst mich verstehen
Only you can understand me.

Komm, reiß dich los
Come on, break free.

Wir sind noch nicht angekommen
We haven't arrived yet.

Müssen los
We have to go.