Different Germany
Ian Anderson Lyrics


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The lights are down in Germany
and Germany is closed to me
different somehow this time.

The airport's still, cold corridors
ring empty beats through hollow feet
that I find to be mine.
Different Germany.
History repeats somehow.
Different Germany.

Afraid to know you now.
And past my eyes with leathered gaze
stare clean-cut boys all dressed as men
in sharpened uniform.

Who turned the clock? (Moved on or back)
and what dark chill is gathering still
before the storm.

Out in the street a tableau double-glazed




with laughing girls whose fastened smiles
are clearly not meant for me.

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Ian Anderson's song Different Germany express a sense of exclusion and alienation experienced by the singer upon his arrival in Germany. The shutting down of the country, as well as the stillness and emptiness of the airport, create a haunting mood that suggests the historical weight of the place. The contrast between the "clean-cut boys" in "sharpened uniform" and the singer's own sense of dislocation serves to underscore the idea that something has changed. He feels as though he is seeing the country with new eyes that do not quite know how to make sense of what he sees.


The second verse continues this theme, with the singer's attention drawn to the tableau of young women outside. With their "fastened smiles" and superficial cheer, they represent a facade that is both tantalizing and disorienting. The lines "who turned the clock?" and "what dark chill is gathering still before the storm?" suggest an impending sense of danger, as though the weight of history is about to catch up and swallow the present. Overall, the song conveys a sense of ambivalence, as the singer struggles to come to terms with his emotional response to a country with a complex and troubling past.


Line by Line Meaning

The lights are down in Germany
The atmosphere in Germany is dull and uninviting


and Germany is closed to me
The singer is unable to connect with Germany on this occasion


different somehow this time.
This visit feels different compared to previous trips


The airport's still, cold corridors
The airport is quiet and cold in terms of reception


ring empty beats through hollow feet
The echoes of footsteps in the airport seem lonely and hollow


that I find to be mine.
The singer is the only one there, and the silence is comforting


Different Germany.
Germany feels unique from what the singer had experienced before


History repeats somehow.
The past seems to be repeating itself in some way


Different Germany.
The altered behaviour of Germany is emphasised again


Afraid to know you now.
The singer is hesitant to be open with Germany this time


And past my eyes with leathered gaze
The people around have a weary, aged look in their eyes


stare clean-cut boys all dressed as men
Young men dressed in uniform resemble older, more experienced men


in sharpened uniform.
The uniform looks new and well-maintained


Who turned the clock? (Moved on or back)
The singer is questioning a sudden change in the environment


and what dark chill is gathering still
The singer senses a sinister energy lurking around


before the storm.
The singer anticipates a buildup of tension leading to a crisis


Out in the street a tableau double-glazed
The scene outside is picturesque but is experienced through glass


with laughing girls whose fastened smiles
Girls appear happy and content but their smiles seem forced


are clearly not meant for me.
The girls are indifferent towards the singer's presence




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IAN ANDERSON, PETER-JOHN VETTESE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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