Das Narrenschiff [English translation]

It's getting cold, all signs indicate a storm

There's only stupid giggling and nagging from the command tower

And a dull grinding sound from the engine.

Rolling and pounding and heavy seas

The band is playing a joyous song

And mad laughter is heard from the latrine.

The cargo is rotten, the papers are fake

The bilge pumps leak and the sheets are blocked

The hatches wide open and all alarm bells are ringing.

The waves are crashing six-foot high into the loading bay

And St Elms fires are seen on the bay deck

Yet nobody on board is able to understand the signs!

The helmsman lies, the captain is drunk

And the machinist is sunk into dull lethargy

The crew are just perjured bandits,

The radio operator is too cowardly to send an SOS

Kobolds are leading the fools' ship

Full steam ahead for the reef!

On the horizon, the signs of the times are signaling

Perfidy, greed, vanity.

On the bridge, idiots are gawking.

Sharp-toothed sharks are fishing in the murky waters

Bringing their prey to tax havens

To the sand bank, the well-known treasure island.  

The others, money launderers and pimps, are already waiting

Brothel king and gambling baron

In the bright light, nobody has to sneak around in the dark

In the banana republic, where even the president

Has lost all shame and knows no scruples,

To show himself with the tax thief in public.

The helmsman lies, the captain is drunk

And the machinist is sunk into dull lethargy

The crew are just perjured bandits,

The radio operator is too cowardly to send an SOS

Kobolds are leading the fools' ship

Full steam ahead for the reef!

People have become brown-nosers, have gotten used to it.

All our ideals have drowned

And the great rebel, who never tired of fighting

Became a servile, poisonous gnome

And tamely sings songs to the bad old man in Rome

It's true: times change!

Formerly wild young men are now submissive, devout and tame

Bought out, anesthetized and unable to fly

With little velvet paws in exchange for their once so sharp claws.

And vain old men arrogantly present themselves

With far too young women on the upper deck

They warm their flaccid limbs and pre-chew their food.

The helmsman lies, the captain is drunk

And the machinist is sunk into dull lethargy

The crew are just perjured bandits,

The radio operator is too cowardly to send an SOS

Kobolds are leading the fools' ship

Full steam ahead for the reef!

They are arming themselves against the enemy, but the enemy has long been here.

He has his hand on your throat, he is right behind you.

He shuffles marked cards, protected by law.

Everyone can see it, but all look away

And shady characters emerge from their hiding-places

And deals drugs right in front of the kindergarten.

The lookout shouts from the highest mast: it's the end of times!

But all are petrified and don't hear him.

They move like lemmings, mindless hordes.

It is as if all have lost their mind

Committed themselves to the downfall and decline

And a ghost light has become their beacon.

The helmsman lies, the captain is drunk

And the machinist is sunk into dull lethargy

The crew are just perjured bandits,

The radio operator is too cowardly to send an SOS

Kobolds are leading the fools' ship

Full steam ahead for the reef!

• Artist:Reinhard Mey