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| Nena, the band. |
The next year, while attending a Rolling Stones concert at the Forest Theatre in West Berlin, Carlo Karges (1951-2002), saw some colored balloons released into the air. We think of this as a symbol of aspiration and personal freedom. In tinderbox West Berlin, though, it might be regarded as a threat worth investigating. In Carlo's imagination, fighters might be scrambled to investigate. Seeing the balloons, the pilots might shoot them down as a demonstration of the pinpoint accuracy of their weapons. This might worry neighboring nations, escalating to a global conflict lasting 99 years. Or 99 minutes, we might suppose. From this, he wrote the tragicomic lyrics to "99 Luftballon", the most successful German language song since "Lili Marleen" in 1944, the lyrics to which were, coincidentally, authored by another Hamburger, Hans Leip (1893–1983).
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| Gabriele "Nena" Kerner, the singer. |
Since November 8th?
Not so much.
In 1984 Nena put out an English version that enjoyed some commercial success, despite seeming more like a parody than a translation. We'll stick with the original, the lyrics to which are interesting for their sonics even, if not especially, to audiences that don't speak German.
Lyrics:
Hast Du etwas Zeit für mich
Dann singe ich ein Lied für Dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Denkst Du vielleicht g'rad an mich
Dann singe ich einen Lied für Dich
Von 99 Luftballons
Und dass so was von so was kommt
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All
Darum schickte eine General
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher
Alarm zu geben, wenn es so wär
Dabei war'n da am Horizont
Nur 99 Luftballons
99 Düsenflieger
Jeder war ein großer Krieger
Hielten sich für Captain Kirk
Es gab ein großes Feuerwerk
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht
Dabei schoss man am Horizont
Auf 99 Luftballons
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich für schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen, Krieg…
Translation into English:
Do you have some time for me?
Then I'll sing a song for you
About 99 air balloons
On their way to the horizon
Maybe you're thinking about me
Then I'll sing a song for you
About 99 air balloons
And one thing comes from another
99 air balloons
On their way to the horizon
It was believed to be UFOs from outer space
Therefore a general sent
a fighter squadron to them
To sound an alarm if this were the case
But on the horizen were only
99 air balloons
99 jet pilots
Each one was a great warrior
Thought they were Captain Kirk
then a lot of fireworks
the neighbors did not get this
and felt like they were being provoked
so they shot at the horizon
and hit the 99 hot air balloons
99 war ministers
matches and gasoline canisters
They thought that they were smart people
already smelled a nice hunt
Called for war and wanted power.
Man, who would've thought
that things would someday go so far
Because of 99 air balloons
Because of 99 air balloons
99 air balloons
99 years of war
left no room for winners
There are no more war Minister
nor any jet fighters.
Today I'm making my rounds
see the world lying in ruins.
I found a balloon,
thought of you and let it fly (away).
Rhyming English:
Stay where you are, don’t move from here:
I know a song you’ll want to hear
About ninety-nine balloons
Floating high up as the moon.
Do you think of me, far or near?
I know a song you’ll want to hear
About ninety-nine balloons,
And how they brought us to our doom.
There were ninety-nine balloons
Floating high up as the moon.
They looked a bit like alien craft;
A general sent a squadron aft(er)
Them, each man a flying ace,
To check if this could be the case,
But all there was was the full moon
And the ninety-nine balloons.
Ninety-nine ace fighter pilots,
Jumpy, prideful and misguided,
Took themselves for Captain Kirk,
And shot their heavy fireworks.
The neighbours on the ground took fright,
And soon were spoiling for a fight,
Even though the air platoon
Shot just the ninety-nine balloons.
Ninety-nine war ministers
Struck matches against petrol canisters.
They thought they were oh so clever;
Dreamed of spoils and power forever.
They called for war to be fought;
Oh, who ever would have thought
That our end would come so soon
Thanks to those ninety-nine balloons?
Just those ninety-nine balloons!
Just those ninety-nine balloons!
Ninety-nine long years of war;
There are no winners any more.
No ministers of war trade threats;
You don’t get many fighter jets.
On my daily rounds today,
Among the ruins and decay,
I found a balloon, let it go,
And then I remembered you.
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