Schwarz zu Blau

Peter Fox's song "Schwarz zu Blau" paints a vivid and raw picture of Berlin's nightlife and early morning hours. The lyrics take us on a journey through the city's streets as the night transitions into dawn, capturing the stark contrasts and gritty realities of urban life. The song begins with the narrator leaving a club, exhausted and reeking of alcohol, stepping over the remnants of the night's revelry. The imagery of rats feasting in the shadows of kebab shops and junkies stumbling around highlights the darker, more unglamorous side of the city.

As the narrator navigates through the chaos, he encounters various characters, from hysterical women to street brawls, painting a picture of a city that is both alive and decaying. The chorus, "Guten Morgen Berlin, Du kannst so hässlich sein, so dreckig und grau," reflects a love-hate relationship with the city. Berlin is depicted as ugly, dirty, and gray, yet there is a strange beauty in its rawness and authenticity. The city's nights are described as consuming, leaving the narrator feeling drained and in need of rest.

Despite the harshness, there are moments of warmth and humanity. The narrator finds solace in a bakery, dreaming of the sweet vendor Fatima, and observes a hooligan crying in a woman's arms, suggesting that beneath the city's tough exterior, there is still tenderness and vulnerability. The song concludes with the narrator acknowledging that, despite its flaws, Berlin is an essential part of his life. The transition from "schwarz zu blau" symbolizes the inevitable return to reality and the acceptance of the city's dual nature.