Der Maulwurf

Sent down as a miner underground
I thought, here I'm safe from grenades all around
The 321st miner company
Fifty meters above us, chaos at the front, you see
We dig for twelve hours, twelve hours to rest
But with the thumping, I can't get any sleep, it's a test
I just wait for the tunnel to get hit by a shell
And if the enemy doesn't do it, then I'll do it myself!

Digging
And keep on digging
With my shovel
The mole sees no light

Digging
And keep on digging
Always underground
Until the tunnel finally collapses

Four men in the shaft form a crew
One's taking the sound with the shovel, it's true
One's holding the sandbag tight
The other two are hauling dirt up to the light
A carbide lamp gives us some glow
Plus black smoke that stings in the chest, you know
With oxygen running low, I'm feeling so weak
I swear, it won't be long till I blow my own peak!

Digging
And keep on digging
With my shovel
The mole sees no light

Digging
And keep on digging
Always underground
Until the tunnel finally collapses

Shovel strike
After shovel strike
Just water and dirt, for us there's no daylight

Shovel strike
After shovel strike
Open hands and knees, they’re causing me strife

Shovel strike
After shovel strike
For two years, every day, twelve hours of grind

Shovel strike
After shovel strike
Just another day and I'm losing my mind

I breathe in the soot and spit out black in the morn
As if in this war I don't have enough to mourn

The constant lack of air brings sickness to the mind
In the dark, sometimes thoughts get unkind

It rumbles and shakes
A mine blast
Just seconds later, the tunnel wall cracks

I break the digging rhythm for the last time
And apathetically press the 08 to my mind

Digging
And keep on digging
With my shovel
The mole sees no light

Digging
And keep on digging
Always underground
Until the tunnel finally collapses