Here even experts can hardly see clear
The women are men—the men are women here
Young men are dancing with zest
In evening dress, with rubber breast
While talking in soprano—the women wear tuxedoes
And talk like Santa Claus
While lighting big Havanas
If we had won—then everyone
Would be a soldier
The entire land would be run by goon and gun
And all around, would be barbed wire
Then reason would be kept in fetters
Accused and always on the spot
And wars would come—like operettas
If we had won the last war
But we were in luck—and we did not
What good is it to have seen much such folly
And for what—are these endlessly many
And no two, the same
What good to us—is all this
And these games …
Here even experts can hardly see clear The women are men—the men are women here Young men are dancing with zest In evening dress, with rubber breast While talking in soprano—the women wear tuxedoes And talk like Santa Claus While lighting big Havanas
If we had won—then everyone Would be a soldier The entire land would be run by goon and gun And all around, would be barbed wire Then reason would be kept in fetters Accused and always on the spot And wars would come—like operettas If we had won the last war But we were in luck—and we did not
What good is it to have seen much such folly And for what—are these endlessly many And no two, the same What good to us—is all this And these games …
This life is gay! Isn’t it sweet, ding dong?
[paraphrased]