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.
Sklavenhändler
Ton Steine Scherben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
Ich verkauf dir meine Hände, ich verkauf dir meinen Kopf
Für mich bist du der Engel, der uns Armen Arbeit gibt
Ohne dich wär ich verhungert, ich bin froh, dass es dich gibt
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
Sklavenhändler, geh zum Telefon
Hörst du nicht, es klingelt schon
Und wenn ich sieben fuffzich verdiene, geb ich dir drei fuffzich ab
Ich brauch nur was zu essen und vielleicht ein bisschen Schnaps
Ich brauch überhaupt nicht viel Geld, denn ich bin ein schlechter Mensch
Ich hab mein ganzes Leben nichts gelernt, außer dass man besser die Fresse hält
Sklavenhändler, geh zum Telefon
Hörst du nicht, es klingelt schon
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
Sklavenhändler (Sklavenhändler ...)
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
(Sklavenhändler ...)
The song "Sklavenhändler" by Ton Steine Scherben portrays the desperation of poverty and unemployment, as the singer pleads with a slave trader for work. The vulnerability of the singer is evident in their willingness to sell themselves for the promise of work, even if it comes at the cost of their dignity and self-respect. The repetition of the lines "Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich? / Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich" emphasizes the sense of hopelessness and dependence on the slave trader for survival.
The second verse highlights the exploitative nature of the relationship between the singer and the slave trader, as the singer offers to give away a portion of their wages in exchange for basic necessities like food and alcohol. The line "ich hab mein ganzes Leben nichts gelernt, außer dass man besser die Fresse hält" (I haven't learned anything in my whole life, except that it's better to shut up) suggests a lack of education and opportunities for social mobility, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and dependence.
Overall, "Sklavenhändler" is a powerful critique of the capitalist system that perpetuates inequality and poverty, and a call for social change and justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
A person is asking a slave trader if there is any work available for them.
Sklavenhändler, ich tu alles für dich
The person is willing to do whatever it takes to get work from the slave trader.
Ich verkauf dir meine Hände, ich verkauf dir meinen Kopf
The person is willing to sell their physical and mental labor to the slave trader.
Ich versprech dir, nicht viel zu denken, und ich schau dir nicht in deinen Topf
The person promises not to think too much or question the slave trader's methods.
Für mich bist du der Engel, der uns Armen Arbeit gibt
The person sees the slave trader as a benefactor who provides work for the poor.
Ohne dich wär ich verhungert, ich bin froh, dass es dich gibt
The person is grateful to the slave trader for providing them with work and preventing them from starving.
Sklavenhändler, geh zum Telefon
The person is urging the slave trader to answer the ringing phone.
Hörst du nicht, es klingelt schon
The person is reminding the slave trader that the phone is ringing and needs to be answered.
Und wenn ich sieben fuffzich verdiene, geb ich dir drei fuffzich ab
The person is willing to give the slave trader a portion of their earnings.
Ich brauch nur was zu essen und vielleicht ein bisschen Schnaps
The person only needs basic necessities like food and alcohol to survive.
Ich brauch überhaupt nicht viel Geld, denn ich bin ein schlechter Mensch
The person believes they are a bad person and do not require much money.
Ich hab mein ganzes Leben nichts gelernt, außer dass man besser die Fresse hält
The person feels like they have not learned much in life except to keep quiet and not speak out against the system.
Sklavenhändler (Sklavenhändler ...)
Repetition of the slave trader's name for emphasis.
Sklavenhändler, hast du Arbeit für mich?
Repetition of the question about work for emphasis.
(Sklavenhändler ...)
Repetition of the slave trader's name for emphasis.
Contributed by Isabella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.