In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Aus dem Tal der Vergangenheit
Vergessen doch stets bereit
Kam sie, um sich zu feiern
Bis in alle Ewigkeit
Sie glänzt so wunderbar
Macht deine Träume wahr
Sie singt und tanzt und lacht
Denn du gibst ihr neue Macht
Die Zukunft kauft sie sich
Dafür verkauft sie dich
So stolz doch winzig klein
Sie muß was Deutsches sein
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt (Sie lebt)
Maschinen dieser Welt
Bekämpft den falschen Helden
Ob Kreml oder Weißes Haus
Zieht uns den Stecker raus
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Vergessen doch stets bereit
Kam sie, um sich zu feiern
Bis in alle Ewigkeit
Sie glänzt so wunderbar
Macht deine Träume wahr
Sie singt und tanzt und lacht
Denn du gibst ihr neue Macht
Die Zukunft kauft sie sich
Dafür verkauft sie dich
So stolz doch winzig klein
Sie muß was Deutsches sein
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
Die Deutschmaschine lebt (Sie lebt)
Maschinen dieser Welt
Bekämpft den falschen Helden
Ob Kreml oder Weißes Haus
Zieht uns den Stecker raus
Die Deutschmaschine lebt
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Awesome, awesome, awesome song! Amazing band. I love his voice! It's so deep, and really cool. I love the concept of this song...Machines taking over this world. The lyrics are greatly written. "We're not worthy, we're not worthy....."
from what I understand, this song is about Germany staying strong. My german language skills are basically non-existant, but... "Die Deutschmaschine lebt" seems to sum it up. Also references the Kremlin and the White House as antagonists,
"Maschinen dieser Welt Bekämpft den falschen Helden Ob Kreml oder Weisses Haus Zieht uns den Stecker raus "
@diesoldat. is is about a bad kind of strenght. If you translate the following phrase to english you will see:
Die Zukunft kauft sie sich Daf�r verkauft sie Dich So stolz doch winzig klein Sie muss was Deutsches sein
translated:
It buys the future therefore it sells you so proud but very small she has to be a german
"Die Deutschmaschine" is therefore a synonyme for the negative sides of germany
From the valley of the past forgotten, but ever-ready she came to party into eternity
She shines so wonderfully Makes your dreams real she sings, dances and laughs because you give her a new energy
She's buying the future that's why she's selling you so proud yet tiny she must be something German
The German Machine lives The German Machine lives The German Machine lives The German Machine lives
(she lives)
The machinery of this world fights the false hero Whether from the Kremlin or White House we unplug
The German machine lives ...
(Note: "she" can likely be replaced by "it" in this song; it just happens that the gender for the noun Maschine (and therefore Deutschmaschine) is feminine in German)
It's basically about Germany breaking free from history and rediscovering its own identity.
This song was written in '94, only a few years after the reunification of East and West Germany (1990), which was really only possible because the West German economy was so strong (due in large part to its industry; thus the German machine) it could handle reunification without collapsing.