Das Katzentier
Morgenstern Lyrics


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Hast du ihre Angst gespürt
Als dein Herr in tiefer Nacht
Sich mit einem langen Dolch
über sie hat hergemacht

Ja das hast du wohl gewusst
Denn dir allein hat er erzählt
Das er sie einfach haben muss
Er wusste das du nichts verrätst

Du Katzentier, du schwarzer Bösewicht
Du hast ihn morden sehen
Doch du verrätst ihn nicht

Das Mädchen kam den Weg entlang
Wie ein Tier sprang er sie an




Den Dolch sieht man im Mondlicht blitzen
Ihr die Kehle aufzuschließen

Overall Meaning

In Morgenstern's song "Das Katzentier," the lyrics speak about a cat who is a witness to a violent and cruel act against a young girl. The first stanza explains that the cat has felt the fear from the young girl, as her owner came at her with a long knife in the middle of the night. The second stanza talks about the cat's knowledge of the owner's actions, as he confided in the cat that he absolutely had to have the girl. The chorus then speaks directly to the cat, calling it a "black villain" and referring to it as a "kitten," though the cat is anything but innocent. Finally, the last stanza describes the moment when the owner encounters the young girl, attacking her violently with the knife, which is seen glinting in the moonlight as he opens her throat.


The lyrics of "Das Katzentier" speak to a clear sense of helplessness in the face of violence, particularly when it is hidden behind the facade of everyday life. The cat, in many ways, becomes a stand-in for any witness of violence or wrongdoing who does not feel empowered or able to speak out against it, whether out of fear, threat, or some other unknown force. The lyrics underscore the darker side of human nature, particularly when it comes to crimes of violence and power. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that silence can be just as complicit as the act itself.


Line by Line Meaning

Hast du ihre Angst gespürt
Did you sense their fear


Als dein Herr in tiefer Nacht
When your master in the deep night


Sich mit einem langen Dolch
With a long dagger


über sie hat hergemacht
Attacked them


Ja das hast du wohl gewusst
Yes, you knew


Denn dir allein hat er erzählt
Because he only told you


Das er sie einfach haben muss
That he simply must have them


Er wusste das du nichts verrätst
He knew you wouldn't tell


Du Katzentier, du schwarzer Bösewicht
You cat, you black evildoer


Du hast ihn morden sehen
You saw him murder


Doch du verrätst ihn nicht
Yet you won't betray him


Das Mädchen kam den Weg entlang
The girl came along the way


Wie ein Tier sprang er sie an
Like an animal, he attacked her


Den Dolch sieht man im Mondlicht blitzen
The dagger gleams in the moonlight


Ihr die Kehle aufzuschließen
To slit her throat




Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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