The Spider Murphy Gang is a Bavarian Rock 'n' Roll band founded 1977 in Mun… Read Full Bio ↴The Spider Murphy Gang is a Bavarian Rock 'n' Roll band founded 1977 in Munich.

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".

Skandal Im Sperrbezirk
Spider Murphy Gang Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus
Doch Freudenhäuser müssen 'raus
Damit in dieser schönen Stadt
Das Laster keine Chance hat
Doch jeder ist gut informiert
Weil Rosi täglich inseriert
Und wenn dich deine Frau nicht liebt
Wie gut, dass es die Rosi gibt

Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosi

Ja, Rosi hat ein Telefon
Auch ich hab' ihre Nummer schon
Unter 32168
Herrscht Konjunktur die ganze Nacht
Und draußen im Hotel D'Amour
Langweilen sich die Damen nur
Weil jeder, den die Sehnsucht quält
Ganz einfach Rosis Nummer wählt

Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosi

Ja, Rosi hat ein Telefon
Auch ich hab' ihre Nummer schon
Unter 32168
Herrscht Konjunktur die ganze Nacht
Und draußen im Hotel D'Amour
Langweilen sich die Damen nur
Weil jeder, den die Sehnsucht quält
Ganz einfach Rosis Nummer wählt

Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosi

Moral
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)
Skandal (Moral)

Skandal (Moral)
Skandal um Rosi

Overall Meaning

The song "Skandal im Sperrbezirk" by Spider Murphy Gang narrates the story of a prostitute called Rosi and the scandal she causes in the red-light district of Munich. The lyrics start by mentioning the famous Hofbräuhaus in Munich, which is a beer hall that has been a popular spot since the 16th century, and then points out that the brothels need to be cleared out to prevent vice in the city. However, despite the efforts to clear out the red-light district, Rosi advertises herself daily, and a phone number "32168" circulates for people to contact her. The song then describes the desperate men and prostitutes outside the city, waiting for customers, while Rosi's business booms.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Skandal im Sperrbezirk" ('Scandal in the Restricted Zone') and mentions Rosi's name. The song's lyrics do not glorify prostitution or promote sexual exploitation but instead merely presents a satirical commentary on the situation. The last part of the song repeats the word "Moral" ('Morals') to conclude the story with an ironic reversal, highlighting the scandalous immorality of the situation.

Line by Line Meaning

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus
In Munich, there is a famous beer hall.

Doch Freudenhäuser müssen 'raus
But brothels are being forced out of the city.

Damit in dieser schönen Stadt
So that in this beautiful city,

Das Laster keine Chance hat
There won't be any chance for vice and debauchery.

Doch jeder ist gut informiert
But everyone is well informed.

Weil Rosi täglich inseriert
Because Rosi advertises every day.

Und wenn dich deine Frau nicht liebt
And if your wife doesn't love you,

Wie gut, dass es die Rosi gibt
It's fortunate that Rosi is there.

Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
And outside of the big city,

Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt
Prostitutes are standing around all day, waiting for customers.

Skandal (Skandal)
Scandal (scandal)