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.
Wir bleiben stumm
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Als alles noch für immer war
Wir waren jung ein Leben lang
Wir glaubten, dass wir unbesiegbar waren
Nie was bereuen, alles riskieren
Und einfach so drauflos marschieren
Als hätten wir dasselbe Ziel
Doch irgendwann verliert man sich
Und jeder nimmt seinen eigenen Weg
Und unser Spruch, wir bauten drauf
Irgendjemand passt schon auf uns auf
Wir waren naiv und oft zu laut
Wir haben uns selber immer zu viel geglaubt
Als hätten wir dasselbe Ziel
Doch jeder geht seinen eigenen Weg
Wir nehmen's hin, bleiben stumm dabei
Weil uns nichts anderes übrig bleibt
Und als der Spaß vorbei ist
Nach den frühen, wilden Jahren
Fährt einer Richtung Aufstieg
Und sein Ticket ist bezahlt
Ein anderer sitzt auf der Straße,
Hält nichts in seiner Hand
Und er weiß, er bleibt Schwarzfahrer
Ein verdammtes Leben lang
Und manche waren nie mehr gesehen
Und ich frage mich wo sie heute sind
Auch wenn ich uns manchmal vermiss
Es war gut wie's war
Und es ist gut wie's ist
Denn es gibt kein gemeinsames Ziel
Jeder geht seinen eigenen Weg
Wir nehmen's hin, bleiben stumm dabei
Weil uns nichts anderes übrig bleibt
Wir bleiben stumm by Die Toten Hosen is a song about growing up, moving on and accepting that sometimes friendships fade with time. The song talks about the memories of a time when everything seemed possible and the future seemed bright. The lyrics reminisce about the wild and carefree days of youth when they were naive and believed that they were invincible. They used to take risks, never regretted anything that they had done and marched on towards their goals as if they were never going to change. But everything does change, and people grow older, drift apart and start living their lives on their own terms.
The song talks about how every one of them had a dream to achieve something and how they all depended on each other to make it happen. They believed that everything would work out, even if they did not plan for it. However, as time passes, they all realize that each of them has to find their own way. The song highlights how they have to accept and embrace their own individuality, even though they grew up together, and how they all have to make their own choices and follow their own dreams, whatever that may be.
In the end, the song embraces the idea that their paths may have diverged, and they may have lost touch with some of their friends, but there are no regrets. They have all grown, matured and found their own way in life, and that is all that matters. They accept that sometimes it is better to remain silent and not dwell on the past or try to force their old friendships to work. They understand that moving on and accepting change is part of life, and they are content with their lives, just as they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Und was bleibt jetzt aus diesen Jahren
Reflecting on the past, wondering what remains from those years
Als alles noch für immer war
When everything seemed to last forever
Wir waren jung ein Leben lang
Feeling young and invincible, believing in forever
Wir glaubten, dass wir unbesiegbar waren
Thinking that nothing could stop us
Nie was bereuen, alles riskieren
Living without regrets, taking risks without fear
Und einfach so drauflos marschieren
Moving forward without hesitating
Als hätten wir dasselbe Ziel
As if we were all aiming for the same thing
Als würd' es ewig so weitergehen
As if it would last forever
Doch irgendwann verliert man sich
But eventually, we lose track of each other
Und jeder nimmt seinen eigenen Weg
And everyone goes their own way
Und unser Spruch, wir bauten drauf
And our motto, we relied on it
Irgendjemand passt schon auf uns auf
Someone will always look out for us
Wir waren naiv und oft zu laut
We were naive and too loud at times
Wir haben uns selber immer zu viel geglaubt
We always had too much faith in ourselves
Doch jeder geht seinen eigenen Weg
But everyone goes their own way
Wir nehmen's hin, bleiben stumm dabei
We accept it, staying silent about it
Weil uns nichts anderes übrig bleibt
Because we have no other choice
Und als der Spaß vorbei ist
And when the fun is over
Nach den frühen, wilden Jahren
After the early, wild years
Fährt einer Richtung Aufstieg
One person goes up, climbing the ladder of success
Und sein Ticket ist bezahlt
And their ticket is paid for
Ein anderer sitzt auf der Straße,
Another person is sitting on the street
Hält nichts in seiner Hand
Holding nothing in their hand
Und er weiß, er bleibt Schwarzfahrer
And they know they will always be a fare dodger
Ein verdammtes Leben lang
For their whole damned life
Und manche waren nie mehr gesehen
And some were never seen again
Und ich frage mich, wo sie heute sind
And I wonder where they are today
Auch wenn ich uns manchmal vermiss
Even though I sometimes miss us
Es war gut wie's war
It was good as it was
Und es ist gut wie's ist
And it's good as it is now
Denn es gibt kein gemeinsames Ziel
Because there is no common goal
Jeder geht seinen eigenen Weg
Everyone goes their own way
Wir nehmen's hin, bleiben stumm dabei
We accept it, staying silent about it
Weil uns nichts anderes übrig bleibt
Because we have no other choice
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREAS FREGE, ANDREAS HOLST VON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christian Duncker
Genauso ist es !!!! Für diese Texte liebe ich die Jungs
Roter Hugo
so unendlich viele liebe Menschen, die mir dabei einfallen!
Campina
Eines meiner Lieblingssongs von den Jungs,erinnert mich sehr an meine Schulfreundin..Simona Sturm i miss you! Danke Jungs ich liebe euch bis zum bitteren Ende.
Miriam M.
😁
Schnorpsi76
ein bewegendes Lied......ich liebe die Hosen....Danke :)
Simon Staiger
Es war gut wie's war; und es ist gut wie's ist.
luca craft
Cooles Lied
Sonja Dietz
Bei diesem Lied frage ich mich IMMER WIEDER : Wo sind all die Jahre hin ?
Miriam M.
Ich vermute, es ist höchst wahrscheinlich der Richtige ♨️
Dominic Vögeli
Gailer song jungs weiter so