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.
GOLD
Ton Steine Scherben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Liegst du wach und zitterst die ganze Nacht
Da ist keine Seele, die noch zu dir hält
Und ich hab Legionen in der ganzen Welt
Der Wisch, den du unterschrieben hast
Erinnerst du dich nicht mehr?
Liegt er nicht in einem Safe
In Casamia am Mittelmeer?
Mein Name ist Gold
Mein Name ist Geld
Mein Name ist Ruhm und Macht
Und jeden Morgen bevor du aufstehst
Hab ich dich umgebracht
Du scheinst zu leben
Du scheinst zu scheinen
Aber du leuchtest nicht
Du bist am Ende
Auch wenn die ganze Welt
Heute noch von dir spricht
In meinem schwarzen Bentley rast du die Küsten entlang
Und sehnst dich nach Rettung vor dem Untergang
Niemand kommt und hält deine blutige Hand
Ich hab meine Armeen in jedem Land
Ich kauf dir Sex und Headlines
Bring mir Dichter und Denker
Kauf Intelligence Agencies
Bring mir Richter und Henker
Mein Name ist Gold
Mein Name ist Geld
Mein Name ist Ruhm und Macht
Und jeden Morgen bevor du aufstehst
Hab ich dich umgebracht
Du scheinst zu leben
Du scheinst zu scheinen
Aber du leuchtest nicht
Du bist am Ende
Auch wenn die ganze Welt
Heute noch von dir spricht
Du bist immer noch derselbe nach soviel tausend Jahren
Vielleicht solltest du endlich nach Hause fahren
Pack deine Koffer, nimm all das Gift
Nimm die Millionen, ab in den Lift
(Abwärts)
Mein Herz ist aus Marmor
Eiskalt und glatt
Ich geb dir, was du brauchst
Aber du wirst nicht satt
Mein Name ist Gold
Mein Name ist Geld
Mein Name ist Ruhm und Macht
Und jeden Morgen bevor du aufstehst
Hab ich dich umgebracht
Du scheinst zu leben
Du scheinst zu scheinen
Aber du leuchtest nicht
Du bist am Ende
Auch wenn die ganze Welt
Heute noch von dir spricht
The lyrics to Ton Steine Scherben's song "Gold" paint a vivid picture of the corrupting influence of wealth, power, and fame, and the toll it takes on individuals who are trapped by its allure. The song centers around the character of "Gold," who represents the forces of greed, ambition, and ruthless exploitation that dominate the modern world. The opening verses describe Gold's victim, lying awake in fear and trembling on a luxury yacht, isolated and alone. Gold taunts them with reminders of the contract they signed, now locked away in a safe in Casamia, and with the armies of loyal soldiers and spies he commands throughout the world.
As the song progresses, Gold's grip on his victim tightens, even as they attempt to flee him in a sleek black Bentley. No matter where they go, Gold finds them, corrupting everything in his path with his vast resources and utter ruthlessness. He offers sex, headlines, and an endless supply of intellectual and legal muscle, but in the end, all of it is a hollow shell, a substitute for the authentic human connections that Gold can never provide. The final verses offer a glimmer of hope, as Gold urges his victim to leave behind all their worldly possessions and return to their true home. But even in this apparent moment of redemption, Gold's heart remains cold and unyielding, offering only a never-ending cycle of want and dissatisfaction.
Overall, "Gold" is a powerful condemnation of the worship of wealth and power that characterizes our modern society, and the way it can warp and destroy the human soul. Through its vivid imagery and powerful lyrics, the song offers a haunting reminder of the true cost of our obsession with material success.
Line by Line Meaning
Und auf dem Lotterbett meiner Luxusyacht
You lay awake trembling all night on the makeshift bed of my luxurious yacht
Liegst du wach und zitterst die ganze Nacht
You lie awake and tremble all night long
Da ist keine Seele, die noch zu dir hält
No one stays by your side anymore
Und ich hab Legionen in der ganzen Welt
And I have legions all over the world
Der Wisch, den du unterschrieben hast
Do you remember the contract you signed?
Erinnerst du dich nicht mehr?
Don't you remember it anymore?
Liegt er nicht in einem Safe
Isn't it stored in a safe?
In Casamia am Mittelmeer?
In Casamia by the Mediterranean?
Mein Name ist Gold
My name is Gold
Mein Name ist Geld
My name is Money
Mein Name ist Ruhm und Macht
My name is Fame and Power
Und jeden Morgen bevor du aufstehst
And every morning before you wake up
Hab ich dich umgebracht
I've killed you
Du scheinst zu leben
You seem to be alive
Du scheinst zu scheinen
You seem to shine
Aber du leuchtest nicht
But you don't really shine
Du bist am Ende
You are at the end
Auch wenn die ganze Welt
Even if the whole world
Heute noch von dir spricht
Still talks about you today
In meinem schwarzen Bentley rast du die Küsten entlang
You speed along the coasts in my black Bentley
Und sehnst dich nach Rettung vor dem Untergang
Longing for salvation from the downfall
Niemand kommt und hält deine blutige Hand
No one comes to hold your bloody hand
Ich hab meine Armeen in jedem Land
I have my armies in every land
Ich kauf dir Sex und Headlines
I buy you sex and headlines
Bring mir Dichter und Denker
Bring me poets and thinkers
Kauf Intelligence Agencies
Buy intelligence agencies
Bring mir Richter und Henker
Bring me judges and executioners
Du bist immer noch derselbe nach soviel tausend Jahren
You are still the same after so many thousand years
Vielleicht solltest du endlich nach Hause fahren
Maybe you should finally go home
Pack deine Koffer, nimm all das Gift
Pack your suitcases, take all that poison
Nimm die Millionen, ab in den Lift
Take the millions, down the elevator
(Abwärts)
(Down)
Mein Herz ist aus Marmor
My heart is made of marble
Eiskalt und glatt
Ice-cold and smooth
Ich geb dir, was du brauchst
I give you what you need
Aber du wirst nicht satt
But you are never satisfied
Contributed by Julian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.