This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Zwei, drei, vier, one, two, three, it's easy to see
But it's not that I don't care, so
'Cause I hear it all the time, but they never let you know
On the TV and the radio (cha!)
She was young, her heart was pure, but every night is bright she got
She said, "sugar is sweet", she come a-rappin' to the beat
Then I knew that she was hot
She was singin'
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja, ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
You're in his eye and you'll know why
The more you live, the faster you will die
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
She said, "Babe, you know I miss Jill and Joe
And all my funky friends"
But my street understanding was just enough to know what she really meant
And I got to thinking while she was talking
That I know she told the story
Of those special places that she goes
When she rides with the others in the subway singin'
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
And if he talks to you and you don't know why
You say your life is gonna make you die
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
Well, we meet Jill and Joe and brother Herr with the whole cool gang and, oh
They're rappin' here, they're rappin' there, but she's climbin' on the wall
It's a clear case, Herr Kommissar
'Cause all the children know
They're all slidin' down into the valley
They're all slipping on the same snow
Hear the children
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
He's got the power and you're so weak
And your frustration will not let you speak
La, la, la, la, la, la
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
And if he talks to you, then you'll know why
The more you live, the faster you will die
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
(Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?)
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
But it's not that I don't care, so
'Cause I hear it all the time, but they never let you know
On the TV and the radio (cha!)
She was young, her heart was pure, but every night is bright she got
She said, "sugar is sweet", she come a-rappin' to the beat
Then I knew that she was hot
She was singin'
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja, ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
You're in his eye and you'll know why
The more you live, the faster you will die
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
She said, "Babe, you know I miss Jill and Joe
And all my funky friends"
But my street understanding was just enough to know what she really meant
And I got to thinking while she was talking
That I know she told the story
Of those special places that she goes
When she rides with the others in the subway singin'
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
And if he talks to you and you don't know why
You say your life is gonna make you die
Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
(Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, cha)
Well, we meet Jill and Joe and brother Herr with the whole cool gang and, oh
They're rappin' here, they're rappin' there, but she's climbin' on the wall
It's a clear case, Herr Kommissar
'Cause all the children know
They're all slidin' down into the valley
They're all slipping on the same snow
Hear the children
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
He's got the power and you're so weak
And your frustration will not let you speak
La, la, la, la, la, la
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
And if he talks to you, then you'll know why
The more you live, the faster you will die
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
(Alles klar, Herr Kommissar?)
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh oh
(Ja ja) Der Kommissar's in town, whoa oh oh
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by itsyourete
Der Kommissar Lyrics as written by Robert Ponger Andrew Piercy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Volksfrei: I believe it's a reference to "Slippery Slope" theory:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_slope
Basically, one event will set in motion a chain of events which will inevitably lead to a catastrophic result. Given that "Der Kommissar" was a popular 'cop' show in Germany in the '70s, and the female character in question is acting rather strange, I think the theme is that of drug use... the 'slippery slope' being that once one starts doing risky things like abusing drugs ('the more you live...') the greater the chance that you'll end up spiralling downwards ('...the faster you will die').
I like the Falco version better as well, but this is a pretty faithful translation, I think.