Aber bitte mit Sahne

Udo Jürgens' song 'Aber bitte mit Sahne' is a satirical and humorous commentary on indulgence and the inevitability of death. The song describes a group of elderly women who meet daily at a café to indulge in a variety of rich, creamy desserts. The repeated phrase 'Aber bitte mit Sahne' (But please, with cream) underscores their insatiable appetite for sweetness and luxury, highlighting a sense of hedonism and excess.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of these women enjoying their daily ritual, relishing cakes, pastries, and other confections. The detailed descriptions of the desserts, such as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Bienenstich (Bee sting cake), add a layer of sensory richness to the narrative. However, the song takes a darkly humorous turn as it reveals that each of these women eventually succumbs to death, one by one, while still clinging to their beloved sweets. This twist adds a layer of irony, suggesting that their indulgence may have contributed to their demise.

The final verses of the song describe the funerals of these women, where even in death, their love for sweets is honored with sugar-coated cakes on their coffins. The priest's words and the sugary send-off serve as a poignant yet comical reminder of their life's pleasures. Jürgens uses this narrative to comment on the human tendency to indulge in life's pleasures, sometimes to the point of excess, and the inevitable end that awaits us all. The song's cheerful melody contrasts with its morbid theme, creating a unique blend of humor and reflection.

'Aber bitte mit Sahne' is a clever critique of consumer culture and the pursuit of pleasure, wrapped in a catchy tune that makes its message both entertaining and thought-provoking.