Spider Murphy Gang was one of the most successful bands of the "Neue Deutsche Welle" ("New German Wave", ie songs with German lyrics). The NDW lasted for about 2 years during the early 80s. It was a huge thing in Germany, with songs in German played on the radio outnumbering those sung in English (unthinkable these days).
Initially the Spider Murphy Gang covered mostly songs by Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley in English, but their breakthrough came with Bavarian texts. Most popular are Skandal im Sperrbezirk (1981) and Schickeria (1982), both making a subject of the different handling of drugs, alcohol or hookers in local (read: Munich) law and their circumvention in the scene.
Their band name comes from the imaginery gangster Spider Murphy from Elvis Presley's song Jailhouse Rock (which they also covered in Bavarian as Zuchthaus Rock) and is the short form of the lines "Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone // Little Joe was blowin' on the slide trombone // The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang // The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang".
Freizeit 81
Spider Murphy Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zwoa, drei Schnoin stehn am Straßnrand und friern
Der letzte Bus fahrt um hoib zwoa stadteinwärts
Und der Mond steht bleich über Pasing
Freizeit 81 – geistert durch die Stadt
Freizeit 81 – mitten in der Nacht
Freizeit 81 – geistert durch die Stadt
Jede Nacht host du an soichern Frust
Und auf Pflastersteinewerfen Lust
Steinewerfen macht dir Spaß
Mit einer Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Freizeit 81 ...
Jede Nacht fliegt ein Pflasterstein
In eine Schaufensterscheibe rein
Steinewerfen macht dir Spaß
Mit einer Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Freizeit 81 ...
Mit deiner Pflastersteinphilosophie
Stehst du auf Gewalt und Anarchie
Steinewerfen macht dir Spaß
Mit einer Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Überdosis Haß!
Freizeit 81
Freizeit 82
Freizeit 83
Freizeit 84
Freizeit
Freizeit
Freizeit
The lyrics to Spider Murphy Gang's song "Freizeit 81" paint a picture of a bleak and quiet night in Landsbergerstraß, where a few people stand at the roadside in the cold. The last bus has already passed, leaving only the neon lights illuminating the empty street. The chorus, "Freizeit 81," repeats throughout the song and suggests a sense of aimlessness and boredom that seems to pervade the city. The verses talk about the singer of the song, who finds pleasure in throwing stones at windows and reveling in violence and anarchy. The repetition of the phrase "Überdosis Haß" (an overdose of hate) emphasizes the sense of nihilism and anger that drives this character.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the desperation and disillusionment that can arise in post-industrial urban spaces. The title "Freizeit 81" (leisure time 81) hints at a sort of aimless boredom that can fill people's lives, leading them to seek out destructive and violent activity as a way to fill the void. The lyrics, while bleak, are also compelling and vivid, painting a picture of a dark and empty city street where anything could happen.
Line by Line Meaning
D’ Landsbergerstraß’ liegt ruhig im Licht der Neonlampen
The quiet Landsbergerstraße is illuminated by neon lamps
Zwoa, drei Schnoin stehn am Straßnrand und friern
Two or three junkies are standing on the side of the street freezing
Der letzte Bus fahrt um hoib zwoa stadteinwärts
The last bus rides toward the city center at half past one
Und der Mond steht bleich über Pasing
And the moon is pale over Pasing
Freizeit 81 – geistert durch die Stadt
Leisure 81 - haunts the city
Freizeit 81 – mitten in der Nacht
Leisure 81 - in the middle of the night
Jede Nacht host du an soichern Frust
Every night you have a secure frustration
Und auf Pflastersteinewerfen Lust
And delight in throwing cobblestones
Steinewerfen macht dir Spaß
Throwing stones is fun for you
Mit einer Überdosis Haß!
With an overdose of hate!
Freizeit 81 ...
Leisure 81...
Jede Nacht fliegt ein Pflasterstein
Every night a cobblestone is thrown
In eine Schaufensterscheibe rein
Right through a shop window
Mit deiner Pflastersteinphilosophie
With your cobblestone philosophy
Stehst du auf Gewalt und Anarchie
You stand for violence and anarchy
Freizeit 82
Leisure 82
Freizeit 83
Leisure 83
Freizeit 84
Leisure 84
Freizeit
Leisure
Freizeit
Leisure
Freizeit
Leisure
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Klaus Schulze
Zufällig gegoogelt.. waren damals im Größenwahn und Cafe Chaos
CAPGIGANTE
Hey NAZSLADEQUO, Where is the intro sample of this song?
Stefan B
Ja die liebe Chartpopband.....
Stefan Becker
Da fehlt die Hälfte. So ein Scheiß