Die Straße Der Zeit

And what I saw was humanity
And what I saw was stupidity
According to human inclination
Animal behavior

All day I waited
And saw the people just pass me by
Now it's evening and the street is empty
I am tired, where else should I go?

On the street of time
Alone for hours already
On the street of time
I have been on my way
On the street of time
My path leads me to yesterday
On the street of time
On the street of time

Here and there I saw the people
Lying flat, silent with fear
Overrun by their brothers
And ruthlessly trampled
I saw the people
Deeply ashamed
Betrayed and disappointed
And early in their lives
Swaying in the struggle for death
Defeated or as victors
Strengthened or destroyed
In the end, only hatred remains
And so they fall to the ground

I saw the columns of fame of great people
I still heard their words
And was moved and deeply touched
But before that, I saw their end
And also that of their visions
I walked through the wars
Saw the fear and the ruin
And whether war or peace
Egoism, blind hatred
Was always present here
And I kept running through the night
And saw only more and more tears
And I kept running further

And what I saw was stupidity
According to human inclination
Animal behavior

And as the morning rose
And the night gave way to the sun
I saw young and wild
The great time of the Greeks
And the hope of these people
Their courage and strength
Filled me on my way
For the first time with joy
And exhausted from all times
I lay down
In front of the walls of Athens

And as I close my eyes
I see the young people
Full of hope and pride
Multiplying in the face of the sun