News
Kraftwer k Lyrics

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Here is the West German Broadcasting Station with the news
Fifty nuclear power stations will be built in the West German Republic
In the next ten years
Each one can supply a city of millions with power
The North German Broadcasting Service with the news
In the whole world 355 nuclear powerstations are operational or being built
According to plans of the nuclear lobby there will be 2000
At the turn of the century

Here is the Bayerische Broadcasting Service with the news
No other postwar technology
... even space travel, ...
Here is Radio Bremen, we bring you the news
The supplies of easily fissionable uranium
Needed as fuel for the reactors is as limited as the supplies of oil
The now known supplies of uranium is just sufficient

To operate the reactors already operational and under construction
For a period of 40 years

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kraftwerk's "News" are a commentary on the increasing use of nuclear power and the dangers it poses to our world. The song begins with an announcer from the West German Broadcasting Station, reporting that 50 nuclear power stations will be built in the country over the next ten years. Each one of these stations has the potential to supply a city with millions of people with power. The song then transitions to the North German Broadcasting Service, which reports that there are currently 355 nuclear power stations in operation or being built worldwide, with plans to have 2000 by the turn of the century.

Next, the Bayerische Broadcasting Service provides news about the limitations of postwar technology, stating that no other technology, not even space travel, compares to nuclear power in terms of danger. Finally, Radio Bremen reports that the supplies of easily fissionable uranium, which is needed fuel for the reactors, are as limited as oil supplies. The uranium currently known is just enough to power the reactors that are operational or under construction for 40 years. With this imagery, Kraftwerk highlights the extreme danger of nuclear energy and the unsustainable reliance humanity has placed upon such a limited resource.

Overall, the song hauntingly warns us that the consequences of our actions with nuclear power could prove far more dangerous than we ever thought possible. It encourages us to consider the risks and possible outcomes before we blindly embrace something that could have detrimental effects on our planet.

Line by Line Meaning

Here is the West German Broadcasting Station with the news
We are the messenger broadcasting the following information

Fifty nuclear power stations will be built in the West German Republic
In the next decade, 50 nuclear power stations will be erected in West Germany

In the next ten years
This construction will occur over the span of 10 years

Each one can supply a city of millions with power
Every power station holds the capacity to provide energy for a populace of millions

The North German Broadcasting Service with the news
We have more news to report, coming from the North German Broadcasting Service

In the whole world 355 nuclear powerstations are operational or being built
There are currently 355 functioning or in-progress nuclear power stations throughout the world

According to plans of the nuclear lobby there will be 2000
Based on the proposals put forth by advocates for nuclear power, there will be 2000 such stations in existence

At the turn of the century
This number is expected to be reached by the year 2000

Here is the Bayerische Broadcasting Service with the news
We have yet another source of information, this time from the Bayerische Broadcasting Service

No other postwar technology
Other than nuclear power, no technological development has had as much significance since World War II

... even space travel, ...
This includes even advancements made in space exploration

Here is Radio Bremen, we bring you the news
We have one final piece of information to present to you, from Radio Bremen

The supplies of easily fissionable uranium
The amount of uranium available that can be easily converted through fission for fuel

Needed as fuel for the reactors is as limited as the supplies of oil
The total supply available is restricted similarly to the limited availability of oil

The now known supplies of uranium is just sufficient
Currently, the supplies of uranium are just enough to run existing reactors and those under construction

To operate the reactors already operational and under construction
At present, there is enough uranium to support the reactors that are currently functional or in progress

For a period of 40 years
This level of resources will be able to support this nuclear power infrastructure for a duration of about 40 years

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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