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‘Radio’ by Rammstein
You can rest assured, this is a decent song by Rammstein. No sex or violence, just a story of what the radio meant to the members when they lived in the communist times in East Germany.
I chose this song because of how it’s set up musically. The build-up is so excellent; I just have to dance whenever I hear it. I love the lyrics, too, especially the ‘My ears become eyes’ line. I’ve heard stories like this before from other people in wartime or in the circumstances like East Germany. I think that one sentence says it all. This is what genius.com said about the song:
Communist Times
‘Rammstein grew up in East Germany during the time of the Soviet Union. Till Lindemann, the singer of the band, tells stories of himself during this time when people would use their radios to pick up stations on the western side of the border in secret.
Their one connection to the western democratic world was radio, and those who listened would do so in secret.
Far more than just being able to listen to music that wasn’t censored by the Soviets, this ability to pick up radio became their ears and eyes, learning of world events, pop culture, and democracy, in a society where none was found. This left a profound impact not only on the band, but to others living behind the iron curtain, as ideas and dreams of freedom were the only things capable of making their way into the authoritarian east.
Moreso, the song acts as a message for those living today, as ideas are the one thing that governments cannot squash through force.’
Rammstein – Radio
[Verse 1]
We were not allowed to belong
Not to see, speak or listen
But every night for an hour or two
I am gone from this world
Every night, a bit of happiness
My ear up close to the world receiver
[Chorus]
Radio, my radio
I let myself be sucked into the ether
My ears become eyes
Radio, my radio
So I hear what I don’t see
Satisfying secretly my wanderlust
[Verse 2]
We were not allowed to belong
Not to see, speak or disrupt
Those kinds of songs were forbidden
Such dangerous foreign notes
So every night, a little happiness
My ear up close to the world receiver
[Chorus]
Radio, my radio
I let myself be sucked into the ether
My ears become eyes
Radio, my radio
So I hear what I don’t see
Satisfying secretly my wanderlust
[Bridge]
Every night I secretly climbed
On the back of the music
Put the ears to the soundwaves
Quietly singing into the hands
Every night and again I simply fly
Away with the music
Floating through all rooms
No borders, no fences
[Interlude]
Radio, radio
Radio, radio
[Chorus]
Radio, my radio
I let myself be sucked into the ether
My ears become eyes
Radio, my radio
So I hear what I don’t see
Satisfying secretly my wanderlust
https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-rammstein-radio-english-translation-lyrics
Rammstein- Radio
Wir durften nicht dazugehören
Nichts sehen, reden oder hören
Doch jede Nacht für ein, zwei Stunden
Bin ich dieser Welt entschwunden
Jede Nacht ein bisschen froh
Mein Ohr ganz nah am Weltempfänger
Radio, mein Radio
Ich lass’ mich in den Äther saugen
Meine Ohren werden Augen
Radio, mein Radio
So höre ich, was ich nicht seh’
Stille heimlich fernes Weh
Wir durften nicht dazugehören
Nichts sehen, reden oder stören
Jenes Liedgut war verboten
So gefährlich fremde Noten
Doch jede Nacht ein wenig froh
Mein Ohr ganz nah am Weltempfänger
Radio, mein Radio
Ich lass’ mich in den Äther saugen
Meine Ohren werden Augen
Radio, mein Radio (mein Radio)
So höre ich, was ich nicht seh’
Stille heimlich fernes Weh
Jede Nacht ich heimlich stieg
Auf den Rücken der Musik
Legt die Ohren an die Schwingen
Leise in die Hände singen
Jede Nacht und wieder flieg’
Ich einfach fort mit der Musik
Schwebe so durch alle Räume
Keine Grenzen, keine Zäune
Radio, Radio
Radio, Radio
Radio, mein Radio (mein Radio)
Ich lass’ mich in den Äther saugen
Meine Ohren werden Augen
Radio, mein Radio (mein Radio)
So höre ich, was ich nicht seh’
Stille heimlich fernes Weh
Song Lyrics Sunday is a prompt by Jim Adams, other entries can be found here: https://jimadamsauthordotcom.wordpress.com/2021/04/10/the-singularity/
Wow Liz – this is a powerful song with a powerful message.
I am going to admit I was so exhausted I gave up just past half way (but I am not feeling great at the moment so I am just getting overwhelmed sometimes), but reading through the English lyrics you posted, it really makes you think of how much is boiling away beneath the surface in a land with a very controlling form of government.
That’s okay, I’m sorry you don’t feel great right now 😔
I like the first minute of the song best 😊
And the lyrics are very important. No matter what the government imposed on the people, ideas will always exist and prevail.
This is such a fascinating song Liz and my eyes were glued to the video. It made me laugh and it is good to know that the East Germans finally got their freedom back.
I’m so glad you liked it. I was afraid people would discard the song just because it was by Rammstein. Often their lyrics are very poetical.
Ah well you can guess that this resonates with me. A little addendum if I may 🙂 Growing up in the 1980s most people in East Germany were also able to watch Western television shows. Well except for some poor guys in the south who could not get any reception. They were called people of the “valley of the clueless”. One of the most favorite shows (I remember my parents watching it) was in fact “Dallas”.
Thank you, Paul, for this extra information. I’m afraid I’m relying on messages by artists like this and from what I learned in school.
As a kid in the 1980s, we only had three channels here in The Netherlands. I loved ‘Flying Doctors,’ though that show hasn’t really stood the test of time when I saw it again recently 😂