Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk/ Run DMC Lyrics

The song Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk is a reflection on the title train's cultural and social impact, as well as a celebration of its integration of European cultures. The song has a repetitive structure, with the chorus featuring the words "Trans-Europe Express" repeated several times. The song's lyrics describe the train's journey from Paris to Vienna, with a rendezvous on the Champs-Elysees before moving on to Vienna's late-night café scene. The chorus relates the importance of the train to connecting cities and people across Europe.

The song takes on a psychedelic sense that focuses on the "Trans-Europe Express" train symbolizing the continuity of foreign locations and cultures. The repetition of the lyrics, along with the synthesized composition and mechanically pronounced vocals, generates an atmosphere of modernity along with nostalgic reflection. The song mentions Iggy Pop and David Bowie's encounter, which is significant since they constituted important features to the European musical scene. Kraftwerk developed a techno sound that existed long before techno developed as a music genre in the 80s, which equipped the band with a unique voice in the Berlin music sphere.