AnnenMayKantereit, 12

Image: Der Tagesspiegel

Last week, AnnenMayKantereit released their surprise 3rd album, “12”, a product of the first lockdown, just in time for the second. On their website they wrote that it came into being out of the shock of the situation which we all know quite well. “It has three parts: a gloomy beginning, a breath of relief afterwards and the bitter-sweet truth to finish”.

You might love a particular piece of music’s melody, the combination of notes, a particular rhythm, or maybe the lyrics. This new album seems suitable for all of us experiencing 2020 and for everyone who has gone months without seeing their loved ones. I decided to translate the songs for anyone wondering what the lyrics mean. I find them beautifully relevant and I want to be able to share that not just with my German-speaking friends, but with my English-speaking friends and family back on the island or across the pond. I’d love to hear what you think about the songs. Please listen to the album in German first, as the lyrics are incomplete without feeling the song itself. For anyone learning German, this could also be a way into the language. Find a band you love and get into them.

Here is the link to their new album (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zi0MYQK5k8) and below are the lyrics which I’ve translated from German into English.

Intro

Everything we have comes from somewhere in the past
To get everything we have takes so much time
For people to sing together
Ok

Everything we have comes from somewhere in the past
To get everything we have takes so much time
People singing together was never a given
And on the human clock, a new time strikes: twelve

So wie es war – How it was

How it was
It’ll never be like that again (x4)

It’ll never be like that again (x5)

Gegenwart – Present

I have to force myself to not read any news for a couple of hours,
Feels like everything was half as bad yesterday,
And tomorrow everything could be different,
Or am I just imagining that? (x2)

The pubs are closing, the cinemas too
and at the theatre, the last curtain’s cancelled
The news is chasing the algorithm
Nobody looks when tents burn in Moria

I have to force myself to put my phone down for a couple of hours
Feels like everything was half as bad yesterday
And tomorrow everything could be different

The pubs are closing, the cinemas too
And at the theatre, the props are being sold

Or am I just imagining it? (x2)
Money’s flowing, tears too
Nobody knows exactly where they suddenly coming from (x2)

Gegenswartsbältigung – Dealing with the present

The days are getting longer with everyday that passes
My room is getting smaller, and I don’t know how things will turn out
I think Corona is more famous than the fall of the wall and Jesus
Put together
But it’s only just begun
The days are getting longer with everyday that passes
And I ask myself when I’ll see full pubs again
When I’ll walk back home at night

I have no hope to sell (x2)

Just dealing with the present
Everyone knows what that means
Just dealing with the present
And everyone agrees

Zukunft – Future

I can’t see into the future, just the past
I even believe that I’ve already learned something about love, doubt and loneliness
But if there’s something I don’t understand, it’s time
Feels like I was 17 yesterday
How fast can you live?
I can’t see into the future, just the past
Things will never be how they used to be
Luckily enough, I’m not alone with my past
Things will never be how they used to be
Yes

Vergangenheit – Past

Not long now
Not long until it’s been ten damn years
Ten damn years
We ran so quickly after our dream
How does it feel now, the dream that we had?
I don’t feel burned out, I feel like Glutexo, I really do
I’d like the bill that I’ve waited so long for
Can I pay by card?
Then, the pain of the last ten years, please
Thanks
Driving from petrol station to petrol station and shop and shop and shop and everywhere we’ve been
Not a lot to leave behind, just a few things that you lose
‘Cause that’s what happens, it’s one of the feelings that I can’t bear
And when I ask myself, well, when I ask myself how did we get through it without breaking, I only have answers that I don’t like
But with a bit of luck, I’ll give back what I get at the end
With a bit of luck

The dream is only ever borrowed (x8)

Spätsommerregen – Late summer rain

I eat an apple in the sun. Half eight. Very early for me
I drink a coffee in the shade of my shutter
Sometimes I go for a walk from the kitchen to the hall
And I enjoy the nature in the courtyard
And I like meeting up with friends on messenger
It’s kind that you ring me
It’s kind that you ask how I am

It’s ok

Do you remember? Yeah, I thought so too.
Yesterday, I had a long dream
And you and I were on a boat
The sea so huge, we were small
The sky red in the evening sunlight
And we fell asleep under big white sails
And were kissed awake by the late summer rain

It’s ok
Late summer rain

We fell asleep under big white sails
You kissed me awake in the late summer rain

Warte auf mich (Подожди) – Wait for me

I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
The seagulls are circling
I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
But the horizon is empty

Padaschdi

The route is blocked, I can’t see the sea anywhere
The horizon is empty.
And as long as I don’t know what will happen
I can’t hoist the sail
No ship is built for the harbour 
Where’s the blue?

I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
The seagulls are circling, but where’s the sea?
I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
But the horizon is emptyPadaschdi

I’m not sure if I can trust my eyes
I can’t see any blue anywhere, when’s it coming back?
With ebb and flow and waves on the beach
What the hell’s going on? (x2)

Wait for me, I’m coming back.
I don’t know when
Wait for me

The seagulls are circling, they’re circling in the light
But the sea, I can’t see it
I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
The seagulls are circling, but where’s the sea?
I see seagulls, but where’s the sea?
But the horizon is empty

Padaschdi

Paloma – Dove

Quiero pelear (I want to fight)
Quiero amar (I want to love)
Quiero pelear
Quiero amar
Luchare (I will fight)
Yo amare (I will love)
Sere los dos (I will be both)

Cuervo y una paloma (raven and a dove)

I couldn’t tell you why, of all things, ravens have this effect on me
Maybe because of this evening so many years ago
You know, when I see that photo again
I can see how the dove flies again
Cuervo y una paloma

Ganz egal – No matter

Yeah, you are everything that I need
When I look in your eyes, then you’re everything I need
I don’t know why you make me so happy
And your laughter is so right for me
Believe me, no matter where I am, I’ll take you everywhere with me
No matter where I am, I’ll take you everywhere with me
No matter where I am, no matter where I am
I’ll take you everywhere with me, no matter where I am
I got you under my skin
You tell me you miss me, no matter where you are
You tell me you miss me
Believe me, no matter where I am, I’ll take you everywhere with me
No matter where I am, I’ll take you everywhere with me
No matter where I am
I’ll take you everywhere with me. 

Aufgeregt – Excited

Martin just put the phone down
And now he’s on his way
And he’s excited, and, well, other than that
He hasn’t seen Crissi in seventy days
And at four they both want to go for walk and have a beer.

Martin’s on his way, happy and excited
Dam, dam, dam, da-da-dam …

Karla hasn’t seen her mum, who she sees too rarely anyway, in ages
She knows that today it’s ok again
At seven they want to go for a walk with the dog around the lake.

Karla’s on her way, happy and excited
Dam, dam, dam, da-da-dam …

And Andi has never seen Mascha in person
Only her profile pictures and the films she’s made
She’s a director, unemployed just like him, and they’re both excited
and really looking forward to their first date
Better late than never

Andi’s on his way, happy and excited
Da-da-da, dam, dam, dam …

They’re all on their way
happy and excited
Da-da-da, dam, dam, dam …

So laut so leer – so loud, so empty

If I knew what I could do, would I do it?
I ask myself what I’m waiting for?
Maybe I’m not brave enough
It’s always the same ones
The words that I twist
The words that we give and get
The words that we twist again and again

Phrases, promises, slogans, so loud, so empty
Phrases, promises, slogans, I want more, I want more, I want more

When I change, it feels like I’ve defeated myself
Because I realise what I can do
Instead of lying to myself
With the words that we give and take
With the words that we twist.

Phrases, promises, slogans, so loud, so empty
Phrases, promises, slogans, I want more, I want more, I want more

Das Gefühl – The feeling

Have you seen the others?
How quick they are?
And what did you think?
That you can’t do it as well?
A completely normal worry
Are you angry sometimes?
And does the anger come in waves?
Do you hear your own lies, a minute too late?
That’s pain that goes
Is there something you can’t remember, although you know it happened?
And sometimes it propels you into the air
That’s trauma, suppressed long ago
Did you give up on yourself when you were intoxicated?
Having drunk everything and kissed everyone
Having drunk everything and kissed everyone
I also don’t know what that’s all about

Do you like to think of what it was like
On this evening so many years ago?
When that photo lies before your eyes
And, inside it, you see yesterday
That’s melancholy

Do you see the others?
Look around you
Did you miss the crowd?
Are you asking yourself why?
Do you remember what it’s like?
When a thousand voices sing
And sparks skip
You were safe and pleasantly cool
That’s an oceanic feeling

Die letzte Ballade – The last ballad

What would I sing about, if nobody cared anymore?
If the news supersedes everything, and is governed by an algorithm
What would I sing about, if nobody cared anymore?
What would I sing about, if we all lose ourselves in chaos?

About a plastic sea as big as Switzerland
Or about all the brothers freezing in their own ice
Or about what happened in Hanau which still shocks me today
Or about how such murders are so quickly no longer of interest
Because human chains always lose each other after a couple of hours

I’ll write ballads one day that don’t bother people anymore
About the last elections and a company that owns everything

What would I sing about, if nobody cared anymore?
What would I sing about, if we all lose ourselves in chaos?
What would I sing about, if nobody cared anymore?

Nobody can burn songs and they’re warm when you’re freezing
And believe me, I’ll sing even if nobody cares anymore
Maybe one day I’ll write about the end of the world
The title “The Last Ballad” sounds very good I think

Outro

It’s actually astounding that everyone thinks think they have to compete
It’s actually astounding that everyone thinks think they know better even when it comes to kissing