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.
Zurück zum Glück
Die Toten Hosen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vorbei an dumpfen Fressen, vorbei an Motorrädern
Vorbei an einem Friedhof, vorbei an einem Rentner
Vorbei an ein paar Nazis und einem Einkaufscenter
Und voll vorbei am Glück
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Vorbei am Aufschwung Ost, vorbei an roten Zahlen
Und voll vorbei am Glück
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Vorbei am Feuilleton, vorbei an Molekülen
Vorbei am Horizont, vorbei an Hassgefühlen
Und voll vorbei am Glück
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Und das Glück freut sich und ruft
„Wie schön, ich hab euch so oft hier vorbeifahren sehen
Warum kommt ihr nicht und bleibt 'ne Zeit bei mir?“
Und die Antwort kennen wir vom letzten Mal
„Wir haben uns im Weg vertan
Aber gleich stehen wir bestimmt an deiner Tür!“
Wir sind auf dem Weg zurück
Auf dem Weg zurück zum Glück
Wir sind auf dem Weg zurück
Auf dem Weg zurück zum Glück
The lyrics of Die Toten Hosen's song Zurück zum Glück tell the story of a journey back to happiness. The song describes passing by various landmarks and experiences, both positive and negative, that are in the past. The journey goes past special needs schools, community swimming pools, dull restaurants, motorcycles, a cemetery, elderly people, a few neo-nazis and a shopping center, en route to returning to the place of happiness. The chorus repeats the line, "Voll vorbei am Glück, darum Alle Mann wieder zurück!" which means "We're completely past happiness, so everyone return!"
The verses then proceed to mention passing by middle-class bars and local elections, leaving behind the upswing in the East and red numbers (a reference to economic risk), and reminiscing about passing the horizon and the feeling of hatred. In the last verse, happiness greets them and asks why they never stop to stay awhile, to which the response is that they've lost their way, but they're sure they'll be knocking on happiness' door before long. The song ends reiterating the aim of the journey back to happiness, as they are "On the way back, on the way back to happiness".
The song talks about the everyday realities and experiences of life, and how happiness can be elusive. The song has a universal message, as the lyrics are relatable and true to life. The use of repetition in the chorus is a musical technique that makes it easier to remember and sing along to the song. The rhyming scheme of the verses and the use of metaphors make the lyrics poetic and enhance their meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Vorbei an Sonderschulen, vorbei an Hallenbädern
Passing by special schools, passing by indoor swimming pools
Vorbei an dumpfen Fressen, vorbei an Motorrädern
Passing by dull eating places, passing by motorcycles
Vorbei an einem Friedhof, vorbei an einem Rentner
Passing by a cemetery, passing by an elderly person
Vorbei an ein paar Nazis und einem Einkaufscenter
Passing by a few Nazis and a shopping center
Und voll vorbei am Glück
And completely past happiness
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Therefore 'Everyone back again!'
Vorbei an Vorstadtkneipen, vorbei an Landtagswahlen
Passing by suburban bars, passing by state elections
Vorbei am Aufschwung Ost, vorbei an roten Zahlen
Passing by the upturn in the East, passing by red numbers
Und voll vorbei am Glück
And completely past happiness
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Therefore 'Everyone back again!'
Vorbei am Feuilleton, vorbei an Molekülen
Passing by the cultural section, passing by molecules
Vorbei am Horizont, vorbei an Hassgefühlen
Passing by the horizon, passing by feelings of hate
Und voll vorbei am Glück
And completely past happiness
Darum „Alle Mann wieder zurück!“
Therefore 'Everyone back again!'
Und das Glück freut sich und ruft
And happiness is pleased and calls out
„Wie schön, ich hab euch so oft hier vorbeifahren sehen
'How lovely, I've seen you drive by here so often
Warum kommt ihr nicht und bleibt 'ne Zeit bei mir?“
Why don't you come and stay with me for a while?'
Und die Antwort kennen wir vom letzten Mal
And we know the answer from last time
„Wir haben uns im Weg getan
'We got in our own way
Aber gleich stehen wir bestimmt an deiner Tür!“
But we'll be at your door soon enough!'
Wir sind auf dem Weg zurück
We are on the way back
Auf dem Weg zurück zum Glück
On the way back to happiness
Wir sind auf dem Weg zurück
We are on the way back
Auf dem Weg zurück zum Glück
On the way back to happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Funny Van Dannen, Andreas Frege
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind