Extremely heavy rainfall on 30 January caused a dam to breach, causing 100,000 m³ of water to flood a goldmine and carry with it approx. 100 tons of heavy metals and sodium cyanide into the nearby river Danube (Donau in German). The poison was carried along the river, causing havoc in several countries: drinking water became poisoned, and people fled the rivers’ surroundings to escape the deadly poison, which quickly destroyed all life in and around the river itself.
While many children were obviously affected by this disaster, the name "Donaukinder" ("Danube Children") probably refers metaphorically to the fish in the river, which are seen as the ‘children’ of the Danube. The fish obviously suffered most directly the full force of this disaster and the absence of fish in the river is the most obvious consequence of the disaster. Hence, the song rhetorically asks: "Wo sind die Kinder?" ("Where are the children?"). Furthermore, the German name for Baia Mare, where the breach occurred, is "Frauenbach" ("Woman Brook") which sustains the metaphor of comparing River/Fish to Mother/Children.
Donaukinder
Rammstein Lyrics
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Wo Trost und Leid zerfließen
Nichts Gutes liegt verborgen nass
In deinen feuchten Wiesen
Keiner weiß was hier geschah
Die Fluten rostig rot
Die Fische waren atemlos
An den Ufern in den Wiesen
Die Tiere wurden krank
Aus den Augen in den Fluss
Trieb abscheulicher Gestank
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand weißt was hier geschehen
Keiner hat etwas gesehen
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand hat etwas gesehen
Mütter standen bald am Strom
Und weinen eine Flut
Auf die Felder durch die Deiche
Stieg das Leid in alle Teiche
Schwarze Fahnen auf der Stadt
Alle Ratten fett und satt
Die Brummen giftig allerorts
Und die Menschen zogen fort
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand weißt was hier geschehen
Keiner hat etwas gesehen
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand hat etwas gesehen
Donau quell dein Aderlass
Wo Trost und Leid zerfließen
Nichts Gutes liegt verborgen nass
In deinen feuchten Wiesen
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand weißt was hier geschehen
Keiner hat etwas gesehen
Wo sind die Kinder
Niemand hat etwas gesehen
The lyrics of Rammstein's song Donaukinder are haunting and full of significance. The song is about a tragic incident that occurred in Donau, a river in Europe. The river has been personified as expressing its pain and sorrow through its "aderlass," which means bloodletting. The lyrics suggest that there is no comfort to be found in this place, only the suffering of the land and the creatures that inhabit it.
The lyrics speak about the aftermath of an unknown tragedy. The Donau has turned into an unwholesome place where life has been infected and destroyed by "rostig rot" floods that have drained the life out of the river's ecosystem, from the fish that can no longer breathe to the "atmungloser" sponges. The river had been poisoned, and the animals that drank from it had become ill. The true extent of the damage done is shown when the river is described as emanating a repugnant smell.
The second portion of the lyrics speaks about the parents of the lost children who stand by the riverbed and weep, while their sorrow-tinged tears mingle with the floods. The tragedy caused a great deal of pain and suffering, where even the fields and the ponds were affected. The song mentions that the city flags were black and the rats became plump after feeding on the dead, while the people were forced to flee the area.
Overall, the song's lyrics convey the anguish of an ecosystem in turmoil and the colossal tragedy that resulted in the loss of many innocent lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Donau quell dein Aderlass
The river Donau should release its blood that carries both comfort and sorrow
Wo Trost und Leid zerfließen
Where comfort and sorrow blend together and dissolve
Nichts Gutes liegt verborgen nass
Nothing good is hidden in the wetness
In deinen feuchten Wiesen
In your damp meadows
Keiner weiß was hier geschah
No one knows what happened here
Die Fluten rostig rot
The floods dark red with rust
Die Fische waren atemlos
The fish were breathless
Und alle Schwämme tot
And all the sponges dead
An den Ufern in den Wiesen
On the shores and in the meadows
Die Tiere wurden krank
The animals became sick
Aus den Augen in den Fluss
From the eyes into the river
Trieb abscheulicher Gestank
A nauseating stench lingered
Wo sind die Kinder
Where are the children?
Niemand weißt was hier geschehen
Nobody knows what happened here
Keiner hat etwas gesehen
No one has seen anything
Mütter standen bald am Strom
Mothers soon stood by the river
Und weinen eine Flut
And cried a flood
Auf die Felder durch die Deiche
Onto the fields, through the dams
Stieg das Leid in alle Teiche
The suffering seeped into all the ponds
Schwarze Fahnen auf der Stadt
Black flags over the city
Alle Ratten fett und satt
All the rats fat and satisfied
Die Brummen giftig allerorts
The hums were poisonous everywhere
Und die Menschen zogen fort
And the people left
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPH DOOM SCHNEIDER, DOKTOR CHRISTIAN LORENZ, OLIVER RIEDEL, PAUL LANDERS, RICHARD Z. KRUSPE, TILL LINDEMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Sonne
This song reminds me of Gru from Despicable Me, as he is so powerful, that he paralyzed a shark and was able to outrun supersonic missiles.
Ben - Moderator
on Keine Lust
Corrected the music video fact above.
Andrew
on Keine Lust
The music video has them performing in fat suits, not at a funeral.