Unbekannter Soldat
Goethes Erben Lyrics


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Durch die Binde die Sicht genommen
Die Angst bleibt
Auf der Flucht vor dem Trauma
Vom Bruder gefangen
Verurteilt als feige beschimpft
Das Trauma wird zum Alptraum…

Nein!

Ich warte darauf,
Daß die Kugeln meinen Brustkorb zerfetzen
Sich in meinen Körper graben
Sie wollen die Hülle öffnen
Die Idee vom Leben ausmerzen
Ich höre das Entsichern der Gewehre
Bald den Befehl zu töten

Nein!

Ich verabschiede mich still
Ich möchte leben
Nur weiter leben
... Ich falle tief

Legt an!





Gebt Feuer!

Overall Meaning

The song "Unbekannter Soldat" by Goethes Erben is a poignant and thought-provoking piece that touches on the themes of war, trauma, and death. The lyrics depict the thoughts and feelings of a soldier who is about to face his death in a warzone. The first stanza talks about how the soldier's vision is obscured by his helmet and how fear still remains despite him being on the run from the trauma he faced in war. The soldier feels trapped and helpless, as his brother has captured him and he is being condemned as a coward. The trauma he faced has now become a nightmare that he can't escape.


However, the soldier has an epiphany and decides that he wants to live, and the second stanza transitions to him waiting for the bullets to pierce his chest and end his life. He hears the guns' safety being off, and he knows that the order to kill is imminent. He doesn't want to die, and so he silently says his goodbyes and wishes for a chance to continue living. The soldier falls into the abyss, and the final plea for his life is a chilling "Gebt Feuer!" ("Fire at will!").


The song's lyrics convey the emotional turmoil and despair that soldiers go through in war, unable to escape from the trauma they face. The soldier's plea for his life reflects the human desire to live and enjoy life's simple pleasures, which war inevitably takes away from them. Overall, "Unbekannter Soldat" is a poignant and thoughtful piece that challenges the listener to think critically about the nature of war and its consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

Durch die Binde die Sicht genommen
Blinded by a bandage covering my eyes


Die Angst bleibt
The fear remains


Auf der Flucht vor dem Trauma
Fleeing from the trauma


Vom Bruder gefangen
Captured by my brother


Verurteilt als feige beschimpft
Accused of being a coward and condemned


Das Trauma wird zum Alptraum…
The trauma turns into a nightmare


Nein!
No!


Ich warte darauf,
I am waiting for


Daß die Kugeln meinen Brustkorb zerfetzen
Bullets to rip through my chest


Sich in meinen Körper graben
To embed themselves in my body


Sie wollen die Hülle öffnen
They want to open up the shell


Die Idee vom Leben ausmerzen
Erase the concept of life


Ich höre das Entsichern der Gewehre
I hear the guns being cocked


Bald den Befehl zu töten
Soon the command to kill


Nein!
No!


Ich verabschiede mich still
Quietly saying goodbye


Ich möchte leben
I want to live


Nur weiter leben
Just keep living


... Ich falle tief
...I am falling deep


Legt an!
Ready, aim,


Gebt Feuer!
Fire!




Contributed by Kylie J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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