Over de Muur

East Berlin, under the Linden:
People stroll past flags and banners.
Where Lenin and Marx still stand on a pedestal.

And everyone works, hammers and sickles,
While the guard is changed in parade step.
40 years of socialism, much has been achieved in that time...

But what is this utopia,
When there are walls around it?
When you're afraid, must handle your opinion carefully?
Oh, what is this utopia, tell me what is it worth,
When someone who deviates is declared crazy?

Chorus:
And only the birds fly from East to West Berlin.
Not called back, not shot down.
Over the wall, over the Iron Curtain,
Because sometimes they want to be in the west, sometimes in the east.
Because sometimes they want to be in the west, sometimes in the east.

West Berlin: the Kurfurstendamm!
People walk past porn and peep shows.
Where Mercedes and Cola still stand on a pedestal.

And the neon signs, glittering and enticing:
Come dance! Come eat! Come drink! Come gamble!
That's 40 years of freedom, much has been achieved in that time...

But what is this freedom, without a home, without a job?
So many Turks in Kreuzberg who can barely survive.
Sure... you can demonstrate, but with your back against the wall
And only if you have money, then freedom is not expensive.

Chorus:
And the birds fly from West to East Berlin.
Not called back, not shot down.
Over the wall, over the Iron Curtain,
Because sometimes they want to be in the east, sometimes in the west.
Because sometimes there's bread at the Gedachtniskirche, sometimes at Alexanderplatz!