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.
Schrei
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
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Du zahlst für alles einen Preis.
Du bist bequem. Ich bin bequem.
Es ist bequem sich umzudreh'n.
Nicht hinzuseh'n.
Ich will weg und du willst weg
Doch wir kommen nicht vom Fleck.
Dass sich nichts ändert wenn du schweigst.
Wenn du schweigst.
Und darum schrei, und darum schrei.
Und darum schrei, und darum schrei.
Die Welt ist rund, der Mensch ist klein.
Und wer was stiehlt, den nennt man Dieb.
Und willst du nicht alleine sein,
Dann zeige mir, dass es dich gibt.
Schrei.
Ich will weg und du willst weg.
Doch wir kommen nicht vom Fleck.
Weil du weisst und ich weiss,
Dass sich nichts ändert wenn du schweigst.
Wenn du schweigst.
Und darum schrei, und darum schrei.
Und darum schrei, und darum schrei.
Die Welt ist rund, der Mensch ist klein.
Und wer was stiehlt, den nennt man Dieb.
Und willst du nicht alleine sein.
Dann zeige mir, dass es dich gibt.
Schrei, schrei, schrei, schrei,
Schrei, schrei, schrei ...
The lyrics of Marius Müller-Westernhagen's song "Schrei" convey the theme of frustration and the need for change. The song talks about the futility of being comfortable in one's own situation while longing for a change. The opening lines "I know and you know, you pay a price for everything" is an acknowledgment of the fact that every action has consequences, and if we are not willing to pay the price, we remain stagnant. The line "You are comfortable, and I am comfortable" refers to how both parties in the situation have gotten used to their current situation, which makes it challenging to make a move.
The second verse reinforces the need for action by stating, "I want to leave, and you want to leave, but we don't move forward." The lyrics suggest that they are stuck in a bit of a rut and that the only way for anything to change is for them to take action. However, nothing changes because "you know and I know that nothing changes when you are silent." The song's chorus "And that's why I scream" is a cry for change, a call to break the monotony of life and make a move towards fulfilling one's desires.
The third verse talks about the human condition and how we often feel insignificant in the grand scheme of things. The line "The world is round, and man is small" is an acknowledgment of our place in the universe. The song emphasizes the need for a human connection, a desire to avoid being alone. The lyrics suggest that if one wants companionship, they should show that they exist by taking action and making a noise.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich weiss und du weisst, Du zahlst für alles einen Preis.
I know and you know that everything has a price.
Du bist bequem. Ich bin bequem. Es ist bequem sich umzudreh'n. Nicht hinzuseh'n.
You're comfortable. I'm comfortable. It's comfortable to look away and not face the truth.
Ich will weg und du willst weg Doch wir kommen nicht vom Fleck. Weil du weisst und ich weiss, Dass sich nichts ändert wenn du schweigst. Wenn du schweigst.
I want to leave and you want to leave but we're stuck. Because you know and I know that nothing changes if you stay silent. If you stay silent.
Und darum schrei, und darum schrei. Und darum schrei, und darum schrei.
That's why I scream, that's why I scream. That's why I scream, that's why I scream.
Die Welt ist rund, der Mensch ist klein. Und wer was stiehlt, den nennt man Dieb. Und willst du nicht alleine sein, Dann zeige mir, dass es dich gibt.
The world is round, humans are small. And whoever steals something is called a thief. And if you don't want to be alone, then show me that you exist.
Schrei.
Scream.
Schrei, schrei, schrei, schrei, Schrei, schrei, schrei ...
Scream, scream, scream, scream, scream, scream, scream...
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.