His breakthrough in music came with the album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" ("With peppermint, I'm your prince") in 1978.
Müller-Westernhagen's music is shaped through his concise voice and shouting passages. His texts are very direct and provoking, e.g. "Dicke" ("Fat people"), but also social critical texts like "Freiheit" (freedom) are included in his emotional repertoire.
Epilog
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stark verschmutze Szene.
Man versucht sie abzuschaffen.
Liebe ist passe.
Ich seh grosse Leuchtbuchstaben.
Geld regiert die Welt.
Gefühle werden abgebaut.
Ich möcht nie mehr ein Lügner sein.
Ich will, dass ihr mich seht.
Ich biete euch Verzweiflung an.
Ich hoffe, ihr versteht.
The lyrics in Marius Müller-Westernhagen's song Epilog are a reflection on the harsh realities of the world we live in today. The song starts off with the mention of three idealistic concepts: freedom, peace, and humanity. However, the very next line talks about a heavily polluted scene, symbolising the degradation of these concepts in our world. The following line states that people are trying to abolish this scene, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the issue will be resolved.
The next few lines talk about the rise of capitalism and how money seems to rule the world. The singer mentions how emotions are being torn down, and how even he has been affected by this. The last two lines are a plea of sorts. The singer expresses a desire to be honest and seen for who he truly is. He offers despair to his listeners, hoping that they will understand the harsh realities of the world we live in.
The song has a sense of pessimism to it, acknowledging that there are flaws in the world that seem impossible to fix. Despite this, the plea towards the end brings a sense of hope that perhaps, with honesty and understanding, we can work towards making the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Freiheit, Frieden, Menschlichkeit.
The ideal values of freedom, peace, and humanity, that are still relevant and meaningful today.
Stark verschmutze Szene.
Despite the importance of those values, the world is marked by a heavily polluted scenery filled with corruption and injustice.
Man versucht sie abzuschaffen.
Efforts to eradicate or limit those values are being made, whether subtly or overtly.
Liebe ist passe.
The concept of love, once cherished and widely practiced, has lost its significance in contemporary society.
Ich seh grosse Leuchtbuchstaben.
Amidst all of this, the artist can see large illuminated letters, possibly symbolic of powerful forces.
Geld regiert die Welt.
The dominant power controlling the world is money, and it dictates the decisions made.
Gefühle werden abgebaut.
Emotions and feelings are being suppressed or dismantled, leading to a cold and emotionless society.
Auch ich bin infiziert.
The artist acknowledges being affected and influenced by this world, indicating a sense of helplessness.
Ich möcht nie mehr ein Lügner sein.
The artist reveals a desire to be honest and true, possibly as a way to resist the corrupt system.
Ich will, dass ihr mich seht.
The artist yearns for recognition and visibility, perhaps as a way to spread their message.
Ich biete euch Verzweiflung an.
The singer admits to expressing desperation and hopelessness in their music, but intends for it to serve as a wake-up call.
Ich hoffe, ihr versteht.
The artist hopes that their audience can comprehend and connect with their message, and perhaps find hope in it as well.
Contributed by Kaitlyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.