Frei deutsche Übersetzung
von Reinhard Mey

http://www.reinhard-mey.de/start/texte/alben/frei:

Frei! [Free / Unburdened / Liberated / ... ]!

The door made of golden wire stands unlocked,
Just a moment, but long enough.
The window, carelessly ajar, silently creaks
And opens itself a gap in the draft (passing wind).
There is the big, long-desired chance,
It only happens once, each seventh year:
The cage open, and so is the window,
Catch at it flying, now - take it to be true!
The head drawn deeply in the feathers,
A hesitation, than a fast wing beat,
To rise out of the dim parlor ("living" room)
High in the glistening bright forenoon.


Free, free, free!
Free at last!
Fled from captivity,
All else doesn't matter,
You are free, free, free,
Free at last!

You, the symbol of freedom, encased,
The world constricted to the span of two wings,
The own image as only fellow
In the mirror, hanging on a tiny chain.
Only one motion-sequence over and over again
Up to despair, made dull (mindless).
A drapery, thrown above the wire netting,
Determines, whether it is day or night for you.
Sometimes shadows flutter forwards your window,
There was a quarrel, clamor and roar,
The rustling and the singing of their swings -
How did you envy them for their lot!

Free, free, free!
Free at last!
Fled from captivity,
All else doesn't matter,
You are free, free, free,
Free at last!


You draw your circles at the clear sky,
The wind under the wings like in exhilaration,
An icy breeze instead of the familiar warmth,
Lost, traveled, but nevertheless a good exchange!
You will not find your Valparaiso,
Only envy and quarrel about your feathers glory,
Spat for some crumbs from the waste,
For a niche in a wall this night.
You will not be able to stay out here for long,
Etiolated from hunger and cold,
You will not find your Valparaiso,
But every beat of a wing to this was worth it!

You are free!
Free at last!
Fled from captivity,
All else doesn't matter,
You are free, free, free,
Free at last!