Gras

Gerhard Gundermann's song 'Gras' delves into the inevitable cycles of life, growth, and healing. The lyrics begin with a poignant moment of transition from childhood to adulthood, symbolized by the act of putting on shoes and leaving behind the painted door of the children's room. The father’s mantle and blue hat, along with the mother’s tears and a piece of sugar bread, represent the blend of protection, sorrow, and sweetness that parents bestow upon their children as they step into the world.

The recurring refrain, 'immer wieder wächst das gras' (the grass always grows again), serves as a powerful metaphor for resilience and renewal. Grass, growing wild and green, symbolizes the natural process of healing and moving forward, even after being cut down by scythes. This imagery suggests that despite life's hardships and the wounds we endure, there is an inherent strength and ability to recover, much like the grass that grows back, sometimes strong and sometimes pale, reflecting the varying states of human resilience.

As the song progresses, it touches on the disillusionment and weariness that come with age. The 'allzuoft geflickten flügel' (too often patched wings) stored away in the closet signify dreams and aspirations that have been repeatedly mended but ultimately set aside. The city closing its hatches at night and the restless heads that cannot find peace highlight the struggles of modern life and the difficulty of finding tranquility. Gundermann's lyrics encapsulate the bittersweet nature of growing up, the enduring hope for renewal, and the constant search for peace in a tumultuous world.