Ballast der Republik (English)

a whole country sinks to its knees
and says "we are sorry"
we admit we lost the war and that those days are over.
It's clear to us. We have to repent so that you forgive us
The country was cut into pieces and then divided into two.
one side binges on coca cola
and the other dines on mauerstein.
Here we celebrate the economic miracle
and there, the first of may.
But the same parasite visits us each and every day
on our minds and on our shoulders, the burden of the republic.
The old tanks have rusted away
we're all united again
But today new worries plague us
The coal is running out
We don't have any time for Politics or Religion anymore
and if people do believe in gods, then they wear football shirts
But the same parasite visits us each and every day
on our minds and on our shoulders
the burden of the republic.
It's a black cloud that follows us around
The burden of the republic
in the nightclubs and on the streets,
the people have it all so good
they dance until the morning light
but the worries don't fade away
All the shades of hate, it's the same old parasite
that's in our minds and on our shoulders
the burden of the republik.