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.
Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht
Ton Steine Scherben Lyrics
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Filme laufen, TV's laufen
Autos kaufen, Häuser kaufen
Möbel kaufen, Reisen kaufen
Wofür?
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Züge rollen, Dollars rollen
Maschinen laufen, Menschen schuften
Fabriken bauen, Maschinen bauen
Motoren bauen, Kanonen bauen
Für wen?
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Bomber fliegen, Panzer rollen
Polizisten schlagen, Soldaten fallen
Die Chefs schützen, die Aktien schützen
Das Recht schützen, den Staat schützen
Vor uns
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht (hey)
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Und weil der Mensch ein Mensch ist
Drum braucht er was zu essen, bitte sehr
Es macht ihn ein Geschwätz nicht satt
Das schafft kein Fressen her
Drum links, zwo, drei
Drum links, zwo, drei
Wo dein Platz, Genosse, ist
Reih dich ein in die Arbeitereinheitsfront
Wenn du auch ein Arbeiter bist
Und weil der Mensch ein Mensch ist
Drum hat er Stiefel im Gesicht nicht gern
Er will unter sich keine Sklaven sehen
Und über sich keine Herren
Drum links, zwo, drei
Drum links, zwo, drei
Wo dein Platz, Genosse, ist
Reih dich ein in die Arbeitereinheitsfront
Weil du auch ein Arbeiter bist
Und weil der Prolet ein Prolet ist
Drum kann er sich nur selbst befreien
Es kann die Befreiung der Arbeiterklasse
Nur die Sache der Arbeiter sein
Drum links, zwo, drei
Drum links, zwo, drei
Wo dein Platz, Genosse, ist
Reih dich ein in die Arbeitereinheitsfront
Wenn du auch ein Arbeiter bist
Drum links, zwo, drei
Drum links, zwo, drei
Wo dein Platz, Genosse, ist
Reih dich ein in die Arbeitereinheitsfront
Weil du auch ein Arbeiter bist
(Weiter, weiter, weiter, weiter)
(Weiter, weiter, weiter, weiter)
(Weiter, weiter, weiter, weiter)
The lyrics to Ton Steine Scherben's song "Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht" are an indictment of capitalism and its effects on society. The opening verses describe the consumeristic attitude of society, where people are constantly buying things that they don't really need, simply because they have been conditioned to believe that these things will bring them happiness. The repeated line "Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht" serves as a call to action, urging people to break free from this cycle of consumption and destruction and reclaim their power.
The song goes on to criticize the military-industrial complex, where weapons of war are produced at the expense of human life and dignity. The line "Die Chefs schützen, die Aktien schützen, Das Recht schützen, den Staat schützen, Vor uns" highlights the fact that those in power are primarily concerned with protecting their own interests, even if it means oppressing and exploiting the working class. The final verses of the song call for solidarity among workers, and urge them to join together in the fight against capitalist oppression.
Overall, "Macht kaputt was euch kaputt macht" is a passionate and uncompromising critique of capitalism and its impact on society. It encourages listeners to think critically about the world around them, and to work towards creating a more just and equitable society.
Line by Line Meaning
Radios laufen, Platten laufen
People are constantly consuming media through radios and records.
Filme laufen, TV's laufen
Television and movies are also consumed by people.
Autos kaufen, Häuser kaufen
People are encouraged to accumulate possessions, such as cars and houses.
Möbel kaufen, Reisen kaufen
People are encouraged to consume even more, with things like furniture and vacations.
Wofür?
But for what purpose? Why do we need all these things?
Macht kaputt, was euch kaputt macht
Destroy what destroys you. Don't let the consumerist cycle continue.
Züge rollen, Dollars rollen
Capitalism continues to flourish, with trains and money constantly moving around.
Maschinen laufen, Menschen schuften
People are working hard in factories and building machines.
Fabriken bauen, Maschinen bauen
More factories and machines are continually being constructed and produced.
Motoren bauen, Kanonen bauen
Even engines and weapons are being manufactured at an alarming rate.
Für wen?
But who is benefiting from all of this production?
Bomber fliegen, Panzer rollen
The military industrial complex is in full swing, with planes and tanks in action.
Polizisten schlagen, Soldaten fallen
Violence and conflict arise from the power structures that are supported by these systems.
Die Chefs schützen, die Aktien schützen
The wealthy and powerful are protected by the systems in place, including the stock market.
Das Recht schützen, den Staat schützen
The government and its laws are used to uphold the current systems and protect those in power.
Vor uns
But they can only do so much to hold us back.
Und weil der Mensch ein Mensch ist
And because humans are humans,
Drum braucht er was zu essen, bitte sehr
we need to eat to survive, of course.
Es macht ihn ein Geschwätz nicht satt
But words and ideas cannot fill our stomachs.
Das schafft kein Fressen her
We need actual food to sustain us.
Drum links, zwo, drei ...
Therefore, it's important to band together and take action to create change.
Wo dein Platz, Genosse, ist
Where do you belong, comrade?
Reih dich ein in die Arbeitereinheitsfront
Join the united front of workers.
Wenn du auch ein Arbeiter bist
If you too are a worker.
Und weil der Prolet ein Prolet ist
And because the proletariat is the proletariat,
Drum kann er sich nur selbst befreien
We can only free ourselves if we act together as a class.
Es kann die Befreiung der Arbeiterklasse
Only the workers can bring about their own liberation,
Nur die Sache der Arbeiter sein
because it is their issue alone to address.
(Weiter, weiter, weiter, weiter)
(Onward, onward, onward, onward)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ralph Moebius
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind