Ton Steine Scherben (Literal English translation: "Clay Stones Shards" or "… Read Full Bio ↴Ton Steine Scherben (Literal English translation: "Clay Stones Shards" or "Sound Stones Shards") were a German Anarchist rock band formed in 1970 in West Berlin, Germany when the members were all around 20 years of age. Singer Rio Reiser usually told journalists the name was taken from a description by pioneer archeologist Heinrich Schliemann of what he saw when he first came to the site of ancient Troy. Other members of the band claim it is a play on the name of German labor union Bau Steine Erden (Construction Stones Earths). It is also believed that the name is a tribute to The Rolling Stones.

They are considered to have been the first genuine German-language rock band, together with Udo Lindenberg. Their first big-stage appearance was at an Open-Air on 6 September 1970 on the Fehmarn stage where Jimi Hendrix had had his last appearance directly before. The stage went up in flames while they were still playing; probably it had been set on fire by people around Hendrix who had just received news that the event's organizers had disappeared with all the cash, but many people believed that Ton Steine Scherben had set the stage on fire, which gave them tremendous credibility in the radical scene.

Their style can be described as somewhere between the Rolling Stones and yet-to-be-invented Punk rock. All their Albums were self-published; they published few singles and are still very rarely played on most German radio stations. Their lyrics were at the beginning quite anti-capitalist and pro-socialist. They didn't think the socialism of the Soviet Union was anywhere near real socialism, but they had connections to the squatter scene and the German Red Army Faction terrorists during the time before the latter turned to violent crime and murder. Later Ton Steine Scherben toned down on socialism and added themes like freedom, love, drugs, and sadness. Most of their songs can be described as slightly mad, sometimes in a funny way, sometimes in a rather scary way. Ton Steine Scherben disbanded in 1985.

Allein machen sie dich ein
Ton Steine Scherben Lyrics

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Allein machen sie dich ein
Schmeißen sie dich raus, lachen sie dich aus
Und wenn du was dagegen machst
Sperren sie dich in den nächsten Knast

Und alles, was du da noch sagen kannst
Ist: „Das ist aber 'n ganz schöner Hammer, ey Mann“

Zu zweit, zu dritt, zu vieren
Wird auch nix and'res passieren
Sie werden ihre Knüppel holen
Und uns ganz schön das Kreuz versohlen

Und alles, was du da noch sagen kannst
Ist: „Das ist aber 'n ganz schöner Hammer, ey Mann“

Zu hundert oder tausend kriegen sie langsam Ohrensausen
Sie werden zwar sagen: „Das ist nicht viel“
Aber tausend sind auch kein Pappenstiel
Und was nicht ist, das kann noch werden
Wir können uns ganz schnell vermehren
In dem Land, in dem wir wohnen
Sind aber 'n paar Millionen
Wenn wir uns erstmal einig sind
Weht, glaub' ich, 'n ganz anderer Wind
Dann werden se nicht mehr lachen
Sondern sich auf die Socken machen
Auf die Bahamas oder ins Tessin
Der Teufel weiß am besten, wohin

Und du weißt, das wird passieren
Wenn wir uns organisieren
Und du weißt, das wird passieren
Wenn wir uns organisieren
Und du weißt, das wird passieren (ja, nee)
Wenn wir uns organisieren
Und du weißt, das wird passieren (das wird passieren)
Wenn wir uns organisieren
Und du weißt, das wird passieren
Wenn wir uns organisieren
Und du weißt, das wird passieren
Wenn wir uns organisieren

Und du weißt, das wird passieren (das wird passieren)
Wenn wir uns organisieren

Overall Meaning

The song "Allein machen sie dich ein" by Ton Steine Scherben talks about the oppression faced by individuals who are alone and unable to defend themselves when facing a powerful force. The lyrics describe how these individuals are expelled, ridiculed, and thrown into prison if they try to oppose the powerful oppressor. The song advocates for unity and strength in numbers, as the lyrics suggest that if people organize themselves and fight together, they can overcome their oppressors. The lyrics imply that the oppressors will try to divide and conquer, but if the oppressed stand together, they will win.

The lyrics of the song also touch on themes of social and economic inequality. The song suggests that there is a large gap between the rich and the poor, and that the rich have the power to oppress the poor. The song implies that the rich can escape the consequences of their actions by fleeing to a place where they cannot be touched, such as the Bahamas or the Tessin, while the poor are left to suffer the consequences of their oppression.

Overall, the song is a call to action for people to unite and stand up against oppression.

Line by Line Meaning

Allein machen sie dich ein
Being alone makes you vulnerable to others' influence and control

Schmeißen sie dich raus, lachen sie dich aus
If you don't conform to their norms, they will cast you out and ridicule you

Und wenn du was dagegen machst
And if you stand up to them

Sperren sie dich in den nächsten Knast
They will imprison you

Und alles, was du da noch sagen kannst
And all you can say in response

Ist: „Das ist aber 'n ganz schöner Hammer, ey Mann“
Is: 'That's quite a blow, man'

Zu zweit, zu dritt, zu vieren
Whether in pairs, threes, or fours

Wird auch nix and'res passieren
Nothing else will happen

Sie werden ihre Knüppel holen
They will resort to violence

Und uns ganz schön das Kreuz versohlen
And beat us severely

Zu hundert oder tausend kriegen sie langsam Ohrensausen
At a hundred or a thousand, they will start to get overwhelmed

Sie werden zwar sagen: „Das ist nicht viel“
They will say, 'That's not a lot'

Aber tausend sind auch kein Pappenstiel
But a thousand is not insignificant

Und was nicht ist, das kann noch werden
And what is not yet, can still come to be

Wir können uns ganz schnell vermehren
We can reproduce very quickly

In dem Land, in dem wir wohnen
In the country where we live

Sind aber 'n paar Millionen
There are several million of us

Wenn wir uns erstmal einig sind
If we become united

Weht, glaub' ich, 'n ganz anderer Wind
A completely different atmosphere will set in

Dann werden se nicht mehr lachen
Then they will no longer be laughing

Sondern sich auf die Socken machen
But will take off running

Auf die Bahamas oder ins Tessin
To the Bahamas or to Ticino

Der Teufel weiß am besten, wohin
The devil knows best where to go

Und du weißt, das wird passieren
And you know that this will happen