Menschenjunges English translation
von Reinhard Mey

Human boy, this is your planet
Here is your destination, little bundle
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here

So there you are, finally ready in the cradle
You're still fresh and new, and I'm creeping along
To you and with great self-control only conquer
I'm curious to get you out of there
To take a closer look at you in the first place
So on your first day I content myself
Standing a little embarrassed in front of your cradle
And imagining what your life may bring

Human boy, this is your planet
Here is your destination, little parcel
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here


May you know all that and experience all that
What is worth experiencing and what is important in life
May there still be meadows and trees and cockchafers
When you are of cockchafer collecting age
May there always be nails, string, marbles, braid
Paste, sherbet powder, coloured pencils and flint
Screwdrivers, insulating tape, modelling clay and liquorice
Be well stocked in your trouser pockets

Human boy, this is your planet
Here is your destination, little parcel
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here

And one day′s the day comes when I sit in trepidation
Perplexed by the schoolwork you've been given
Won't be able to figure out your maths problems
For the essay I wrote for you
If you're very lucky, you won't get a detention
But to make up for it, I'll go with you
Build kites, paint pictures and fly biplanes with you
And show you how to use a blowtorch and piano

Human boy, this is your planet
Here is your destination, little bundle
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here


A few years later, after many a bloody nose
After countless plasters over bruised knees
After broken windows, smashed vases
After failed educational theories
After recognised ineffectiveness of strict index fingers
Because you and I do every mischief together
Every gross mischief, and then we'll do all the things
But which I must strictly forbid you until then

Human boy, this is your planet
Here is your destination, little parcel
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here

May you succeed in much of what you set out to do
Be satisfied when you succeed, and without arrogance
Try to advance your world a little bit
Be good to your human brothers as best you can
Well, then I wish you that I become a good father
That you find friends who love you and that you
enjoy the great adventure on earth
‘Break a leg’, there's something coming your way

Human boy, this is your planet
Here's your destination, little bundle
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here

Human cub, this is your planet
Here is your destination, small package
Friendly bundle, welcome in
May life be good to you here