Eiszeit
Peter Maffay Lyrics

The first verse of Peter Maffay's "Eiszeit" describes a chaotic and destructive scene. The imagery of lava spewing from mountains in the moonlight and ash raining down on the singer create a sense of apocalyptic doom. The mention of the earth having "milliarden volt" (billions of volts) adds to the sense of power and unstoppable force. The second half of the verse mentions Atlantis, an ancient and mythical city that is said to have sunk into the ocean. Its reappearance could imply the coming of the end of the world. However, the singer wonders where the humans who should be enjoying the spectacle are. This line implies that humanity is indifferent to the destruction around them, possibly suggesting that we are apathetic in the face of our own demise.

The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Eiszeit" (Ice Age) multiple times, emphasizes the severity of the situation. The line "Wenn die Meere untergehn und die Erde bricht" (When the seas go down and the earth breaks) adds to the sense of widespread destruction. The second verse continues with this theme, describing continents rushing towards each other and the last human begging for death. The specific image of a black hole where a once-thriving desert was creates a sense of finality and hopelessness.

The final verse makes a political statement. The line "Dann hat kein Sprengkopf mehr irgendwo ein letztes Ziel" (Then no warhead has a final target) suggests that in the face of a global catastrophe, the intentions and actions of humans become meaningless. The mention of the "Rotes Telefon" (Red Phone) brings to mind the "Hotline" between the US and USSR during the Cold War. The line "Wenn du versagst" (If you fail) implies a sense of responsibility for preventing this catastrophe, but it also suggests that such responsibility is futile.

Overall, "Eiszeit" paints a bleak picture of humanity's future in the face of natural and man-made disasters, with hints of criticism towards our indifference and lack of responsibility.