Since 2000, the band has played concerts around the U.S.A. and Europe, and has made numerous television appearances, including performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fox News Channel, CNN, and as the house band on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly and MTV's Say What? Karaoke series.
Richard Cheese text taken from Wikipedia.
99 Luftballons
Richard Cheese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, "Something's out there"
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine it springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As 99 red balloons go by
99 Decision Street
99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super-scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen, Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
99 Luftballoons
99 dreams I have had
In every one, a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
Here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
The song "99 Luftballons" by Nena was released in 1983 and tells the story of 99 red balloons floating in the sky that cause a panic and lead to war. The Richard Cheese version of the song, which is a lounge-style cover, was released in 2000.
The first verse describes two people buying balloons with the money they have and then setting them free until they are gone. The second verse describes bugs in software and a message flashing, signaling that something is out there. The third verse describes the panic bells ringing because of the red balloons in the sky causing a red alert. The war machine springs to life and opens one eager eye before focusing on the red balloons as they go by.
The fourth verse mentions 99 Decision Street where 99 ministers meet to worry and call out the troops. It is clear that war is imminent. This verse is followed by a chorus of "99 Luftballons", which means "99 balloons" in German. The fifth verse mentions 99 war ministers who believe they are smart people and already smell victory, calling for war and power. The final verse is from the perspective of someone standing in the dust of a city, thinking of someone they love and letting a red balloon go.
The song is a protest song about the Cold War and the fear of a potential nuclear war between East and West. The lyrics reflect the fear and paranoia of the time and how easily a war could be started by a simple misunderstanding or mistake. The song also questions the motives of those in power who would lead their countries into war for personal gain.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I in a little toy shop
You and I, together in a small toy store
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we got
Purchase a pack of balloons with the funds we have
Set them free at the break of dawn
Release the balloons in the morning hours
'Til one by one, they were gone
Until each one slowly vanished over time
Back at base, bugs in the software
Back at the command centre, there are issues with the computer systems
Flash the message, "Something's out there"
Send an alert saying that there is something present
Floating in the summer sky
Drifting in the sky during summer
99 red balloons go by
99 red balloons are slowly moving along
Panic bells, it's red alert
The alarms sound, indicating an emergency
There's something here from somewhere else
There is an outsider present in this area
The war machine it springs to life
The military forces quickly become active
Opens up one eager eye
They become alert and attentive
Focusing it on the sky
Directing attention towards the sky
As 99 red balloons go by
While the 99 red balloons pass overhead
99 Decision Street
The address location is 99 Decision Street
99 ministers meet
99 ministers are in attendance
To worry, worry, super-scurry
In a rush and in a state of panic
Call out the troops now in a hurry
Summon the forces immediately
This is what we've waited for
This is what we have been preparing for
This is it boys, this is war
This is the start of a conflict
The President is on the line
The President is communicating urgently
As 99 red balloons go by
While the 99 red balloons pass overhead
99 Kriegsminister
There are 99 armed ministers
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Matches and petrol cans
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
Considered themselves to be intelligent people
Witterten schon fette Beute
Already looking for a big kill
Riefen, Krieg und wollten Macht
Calling for a war to gain power
Mann, wer haette das gedacht
Who would have thought that this would happen
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
That it would come this far
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
Because of 99 balloons
99 Luftballoons
99 balloons
99 dreams I have had
I have had 99 dreams
In every one, a red balloon
In each one, there is a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
It is finished, and I am looking great
In the dust that was a city
In the rubble of a once-thriving city
If I could find a souvenir
If I could locate a keepsake
Just to prove the world was here
To verify that the world existed
Here it is, a red balloon
Here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
I think of you and then release it
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DreadfulOne8173
My childhood has come home to roost. Love richard cheese first heard him in dawn of the dead as a kid.
@NeilFranken
Did not know Richard was fluent in German