99 Luftballons

Don't know if anyone's interested, but I thought I'd have a go at writing a translation of the German lyrics in a slightly less literal manner, one that could be sung to the original tune. I prefer the German lyrics to the official English version that Nena sang, and have always wondered whether they could have done the English version better. What do people think? My version: If you have a little time Please listen to this song of mine Of ninety nine hot air balloons On their way, on the horizon It won’t be long before I’m through This little song I’ll sing for you Of ninety nine hot air balloons And how they brought the world to doom. Ninety nine hot air balloons On their way, on the horizon An air force general watched them go And thought they were a UFO He gave the word to all the jets And ordered them to intercept But it was ninety nine balloons On their way, on the horizon Ninety nine jet fighter aces Scrambling from the air force bases Each one felt like Captain Kirk The sky lit up like fireworks! The leaders of the neighbouring lands Saw but didn’t understand All the bombs and all the guns For ninety nine hot air ballons Ninety nine security ministers Loved the threat of something sinister Drew their maps and made their plans Took their matches and petrol cans And called their people out to war The sparks were lit, we never saw That everything could end so soon Because of ninety nine balloons Ninety nine long years of war There are no winners any more Not even one jet fighter ace Ministers gone without a trace Today I’m going on my rounds Over the scorched and barren ground Here I’ve found one last balloon Let it go and thought of you.

Direct English translation: If you have some time for me Then I'll sing a song for you About 99 balloons On their way to the horizon Perhaps you think of me a bit Then I'll sing a song for you About 99 balloons And that something [the war] comes from such a thing [the balloons] 99 balloons On their way to the horizon Seemed like UFOs from space So a general sent A flying squad out there To raise the alarm if it were true Yet there on the horizon were Only 99 balloons 99 jet hunters Each one was a great warrior Thought that there were Captain Kirk There were great fireworks The neighbors didn't understand anything And felt immediately "pissed off"/provoked Yet there they shot on the horizon At 99 balloons 99 war ministers Matches and petrol cans Thought that they were clever people Already smelled greasy loot Shouted: War, and wanted power Man, who would have thought That one day it would come to this Because of 99 balloons 99 years of war Don't leave a place for victors There are no ministers any more No jet engines either Today I'm doing my rounds Seeing the world lying in ruins Found a balloons Think of you and let it fly Thanks to Siobhán Silke

This is my little sisters favorite song. Every time I hear it, I'm reminded of her. She lives in the States, far away from where I live. I miss her everyday, but this song helps and makes me happy when I think of all the good times we've had together, growing up. I love this song!

Anti-war

Yes, to a certain extent it is anti-war. But, specifically I think you could make an argument that it is anit-cold war. The fact that this person and her friend release 99 red balloons into the sky and a programming malfunction (bugs in the software) perceives it as a threat is a reference to the neurotic attitudes of the "superpowers" during the cold war. All throughout the song there is a crisis happening all the while these 99 red balloons innocently float above everyone. The end of the song is the result of a nuclear holocaust caused by the reactionary decisions of the leaders in the world. Supremely melancholy, bittersweet and on the right track, no matter whether some of the lyrics are a bit blown out of proportion.

Anyone have a decent translation around? Babelfish butchered it, but I'd like to read somewhat english lyrics.

Great Song - Great Bassline For me, I thank God the Cold War is over. And it's beautiful to hear a song from Germany, the poor country stuck in between those two super powers. The song sums up their frustration at being the piggy in the middle during the tumultuous 80's. The fact that it's sung in German is even more beautiful.

I thinks its against nuclear wepons and that everyone jumps to kill at the slightess things....

I love this song. ;p

Aliens ooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo theyre crazy