Tiefblau mit Wolken

"In deiner Hand" by Wolfgang Müller-Molenar

On May 6, the singer-songwriter Wolfgang Müller-Molenar, lead singer of the band Tiefblau mit Wolken (Deep Blue with Clouds) visited our class via zoom.

He played one of his new songs for us, and then listened as students presented their translations of it. The discussion that followed was eye-opening on many levels: amid lots of laughter, we learned about the pitfalls of language and politics! You can listen to the song and read the translation below:

German Text

"In deiner Hand"

1+1 = vogelwild. 2+2 fühlt sich an wie 20.

Intoleranz hat sich über Toleranz beschwert.

Wir habens nicht gut erklärt.

Statt an den Henkel fasst du in den Topf.

Schlägst mit dem Hammer auf den eigenen Kopf.

Sitzt im Hasenloch, isst Vogelschiss.

Wir haben‘s nicht gut erklärt.

Dein Herz und dein Verstand – all meine Hoffnung liegt in deiner Hand.

Dein Herz und dein Verstand liegt in deiner Hand.

Du hattest gestern den Skorpion gestreichelt,

den Rettungsring erfolgreich abgewehrt,

den Ast auf dem du sitzt angezündet,

wir habens nicht gut erklärt.

Der Ex-Minister döst in der Vorstandssitzung,

Börsianer kaufen Wasserrechte ein,

ich tanze nackt mit meinem lustigen Bauch,

bis sich die Nachbarn beschweren.

Dein Herz und dein Verstand – all meine Hoffnung liegt in deiner Hand.

Dein Herz und dein Verstand liegt in deiner Hand.

Literal Translation

“In Your Hand”

One plus one equals bird-wild/crazy; two plus two feels like twenty.

Intolerance complained about tolerance.

We didn’t explain it well.

Instead of the handle, you grab the pot.

You hit the hammer on your own head.

You sit in the rabbit hole, you eat bird shit.*

We didn’t explain it well.

Your heart and your understanding – all my hope lies in your hand.

Your heart and your understanding lie in your hand.

You had stroked the scorpion yesterday,

Successfully fended off the life preserver,

Ignited the branch on which you sit,

We didn’t explain it well.

The ex-minister dozes in the board meeting,

Stock brokers buy up water rights,

I dance naked with my funny belly

Until the neighbors complain.

Your heart and your understanding – all my hope lies in your hand.

Your heart and your understanding lie in your hand.

Contextual Notes

*A leader of the far right party (AfD), Alexander Gauland, referred to the Nazi era as a brief stain in German history. Read the story: in English, auf deutsch.

Adaptation for US in 2025

"In Your Hands"

One and one makes batshit wild

Two and two may as well be twenty

Intolerance bitched about tolerance and fought

We didn't explain it well

Instead of the handle you grabbed the pot

Now you're hitting yourself on the head

You’re down the rabbit hole eating bird shit

We didn’t explain it well

Your heart and your reason - all my hopes lie in your hands

Your heart and your reason lie in your hands

You think you tamed the scorpion,

you could have saved yourself,

But you set yourself ablaze

We didn’t explain it well

Pathetic, the last guy was in a daze

Now my oligarchs steal all the wealth

While I dance joyfully on your grave

Until our neighbors stop me

Your heart and your compassion-all my hope lies in your hands

Your heart and your future, all lie in your hands

Translation by the students of 305