Las Vegas
Nina Hagen Lyrics

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Bright lights city's gonna set my soul
Gonna set my soul on fire
Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn
So get those stakes up higher
There's a thousand pretty women waitin out there
And they're all livin, the devil may care
And I m just a devil with love to spare
VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS

how I wish than there were more
Than twenty four hours in a day
Even if there were fourty more
I wouldn't sleep a minut away
There's black-jack, poker and the roulette wheel
A fortune won and lost, on every deal
All you need is money (strong heart ?) and nerves of steel
VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS

Viva Las Vegas with the neon flashing
And your one armbandit crashing (And the walls crashing ?)
All your hopes down the drain
Viva Las Vegas turnin day into night-time
Turnin night into day-time
If you see it once, you'll never be the same again

I'm gonna keep on the run
I'm gonna have me some fun and if it cost me my very last dime
If I wind up broke, well I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
I'm gonna give it everything I got
Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
Let me shoot a seven on every shot
VIVA LAS VEGAS
VIVA LAS VEGAS

VIVA VIVA
LAS VEGAS!!!!

Overall Meaning

Nina Hagen's song "Las Vegas" is a tribute to one of the most well-known and provocative cities in the world, Las Vegas. The song is about the thrill of gambling, the women that are waiting for the gambler outside, the hope of winning and the adrenaline rush of the city. The opening lines "Bright lights city's gonna set my soul, gonna set my soul on fire, Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn, so get those stakes up higher" convey the excitement and risk of the gamble.

The reference to the fast pace of Las Vegas is illustrated in the lyrics "how I wish than there were more, Than twenty-four hours in a day, Even if there were forty more, I wouldn't sleep a minute away". The song goes on to describe the different games that can be played, "There's black-jack, poker, and the roulette wheel, A fortune won and lost, on every deal, All you need is money (strong heart?) and nerves of steel". The main character of the song is portrayed as a devil with love to spare, who is looking for some fun, adventure and excitement in the city, "And I'm just a devil with love to spare, VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS".

The chorus repeats the phrase "Viva Las Vegas" three times, indicating the strong association of the city with glamour, excitement and fun. The last lines of the song "I'm gonna give it everything I got, Lady luck please let the dice stay hot, Let me shoot a seven on every shot, VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA VIVA LAS VEGAS" suggest that no matter what happens, the excitement and memories of Las Vegas will remain with them forever.

Line by Line Meaning

Bright lights city's gonna set my soul
The bright lights of the city will excite and invigorate me

Gonna set my soul on fire
Will make me feel alive and passionate

Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn
I have a lot of money to spend and waste

So get those stakes up higher
I want to gamble more money and take bigger risks

There's a thousand pretty women waitin out there
There are many beautiful women in Las Vegas

And they're all livin, the devil may care
These women live recklessly and don't care about the consequences

And I m just a devil with love to spare
I too am a reckless person looking to have some fun

VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS
Long live Las Vegas!

how I wish than there were more
I wish there were more hours in a day

Than twenty four hours in a day
So that I could spend more time in Las Vegas

Even if there were fourty more
Even if there were many more hours, I still wouldn't want to waste time sleeping

I wouldn't sleep a minut away
Because I want to soak up every moment in Las Vegas

There's black-jack, poker and the roulette wheel
I can play many different casino games in Las Vegas

A fortune won and lost, on every deal
There is the potential to win or lose a lot of money with every bet

All you need is money (strong heart ?) and nerves of steel
To gamble successfully, you need money, courage, and a strong will

VIVA LAS VEGAS, VIVA LAS VEGAS
Long live Las Vegas!

Viva Las Vegas with the neon flashing
Las Vegas, with all its bright lights and flashing signs

And your one armbandit crashing (And the walls crashing ?)
The slot machines make loud crashing sounds when someone wins

All your hopes down the drain
The excitement of winning can quickly turn to disappointment if you lose everything

Viva Las Vegas turnin day into night-time
Las Vegas is a city where day and night are indistinguishable

Turnin night into day-time
People stay up late and party all night in Las Vegas

If you see it once, you'll never be the same again
Experiencing Las Vegas will have a lasting impact on you

I'm gonna keep on the run
I plan to keep moving and stay active

I'm gonna have me some fun and if it cost me my very last dime
Even if I lose all my money, I still want to have a good time

If I wind up broke, well I'll always remember that I had a swingin' time
Even if I lose everything, I will look back on this experience as a fun adventure

I'm gonna give it everything I got
I am going to try my hardest to win and have fun

Lady luck please let the dice stay hot
I am hoping to get lucky and win big

Let me shoot a seven on every shot
I hope to roll a lucky number (seven) every time

VIVA LAS VEGAS
Long live Las Vegas!

VIVA VIVA
Long live, long live!

LAS VEGAS!!!!
Las Vegas!!!

Contributed by Adam V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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