Sei wachsam English translation
von Reinhard Mey

BE ALERT
An election poster lying torn on the wet lawn
They’re grinning at me, macerated old phrases
The faces of doters made look to be youthful
Who advertise medieval times as development
And I think that every step toward the promised bliss
Is a step to the eternal yesterday, a step back
As they call the people to be prudent and to sacrifice
They call them the people, but mean their subjects
Unbearable, the steady slimy lying
Once you learn how to translate what they’re really saying
The minister takes the bishop by his arm and whispers:
“You keep them stupid, I keep them poor!”


Be alert
Remember the words!
Be alert
And don’t fall victim!
Make sure you use your freedom
Freedom wears off if you don’t use it!
Be alert
Remember well those faces!
Be alert
And keep your spirits up
Be alert
Be on your watch!

You turn on your TV, they lament good, old values
Their good old values almost never are the right ones
And the loudest in the talk show
Use all values as a doormat
Moguls of the media and the papers
The gardener who disrespects nature
They call for the cross, for tradition and for morals
But their messages are about asses and tits
Brutalization, stultification, violence are the commandments
And their gods are ratings and editions
They bend the truth and twist what’s right
So many good old values, the truth is I get sick!


Be alert
Remember the words!
Be alert
And don’t fall victim!
Make sure you use your freedom
Freedom wears off if you don’t use it!
Be alert
Remember well those faces!
Be alert
And keep your spirits up
Be alert
Be on your watch!

Rabble rousers, they are booming
So are free riders and payees of bribes
It’s time for self service and business making
For hypocrisy, for canting and for chaffering of jobs
And all are well respected, highly honored
Airports and squares are named after the worst
You catch the chicken thief and let go of the arms trader
No little joint, but you can buy a factory of poison
Pollution in the air, radiation on the land, no punishment for larger damage
But don’t get caught as part of a peaceful blockade!
The peaceful green adherers are arrested, but environment destroyers they enjoy trust
And the police must always beat the wrong ones.

Be alert
Remember the words!
Be alert
And don’t fall victim!
Make sure you use your freedom
Freedom wears off if you don’t use it!
Be alert
Remember well those faces!
Be alert
And keep your spirits up
Be alert
Be on your watch!

We have a constitution that should guarantee the rule of law
But they manipulate it as they please
Those instigators jabbering about peace missions
While rattling sabers under their table?
The last great post that makes their old eyes shine
Division turn, march in lockstep, a song and back home to the Reich!
“Never again a war shall start from this land!”
“We have to show character, can’t stand apart!”
“For humanitarian purposes, of course, without spilling blood!”
“Combat can no longer be excluded”
They keep dragging us deeper and deeper
And since this morning, five o’clock, we have been shooting back.

Be alert
Remember the words!
Be alert
And don’t fall victim!
Make sure you use your freedom
Freedom wears off if you don’t use it!
Be alert
Remember well those faces!
Be alert
And keep your spirits up
Be alert
Be on your watch!
I’m missing people who don’t cheat me
Who don’t lie to me at their ceremonial speech
Leave me alone with all false honest men
False honest men, the truly dangerous ones!
I’m longing for a piece of truthfulness
For a strong backbone in this crooked time
You tell the truth and soon you won’t be laughing
As they will ruin you, execute you and muzzle you
Blackmail and bribe you, try to buy you
And when you tell the truth, leave your engine running
Then say it aloud, because the proverb teaches:
When you tell the truth you need a damn fast horse!

Be alert
Remember the words!
Be alert
And don’t fall victim!
Make sure you use your freedom
Freedom wears off if you don’t use it!
Be alert
Remember well those faces!
Be alert
And keep your spirits up
Be alert
Be on your watch!