Per aspera ad aspera [English translation]

Not only the ideals weigh heavier with the years

I struggle against the farewell

not only the mentioned paths are rough, my shell is as well

a thick skin has lacked for so long.

Honesty that didn't last longest, but rather short

and at some point you realise:

at the end only kindred spirits stay as companions,

but most of the time you were utterly alone.

You wanted to give your heart's blood, but not to vampires,

no begging, no wooden stake helped.

We were simplehearted children, they were savage beasts,

we were outnumbered.

Close to self-deception

and always too tenacious

I ask myself: was it wise?

I am nowhere near cunning enough.

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

Didn't living the dream lead to nothing but drudgery?

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

And still, I wouldn't have turned around, if I had known it.

The journey is never the destination, but it's all I have achieved

per aspera ad aspera and nothing is ever easy.

You ask yourself whether you ever were ready for it,

and what, if anything, there is to win.

But all questioning is in vain, it was inevitable,

in the end we are who we are.

Close to self-deception

and always too tenacious

I ask myself: was it wise?

I am nowhere near cunning enough.

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

Didn't living the dream lead to nothing but drudgery?

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

And still, I wouldn't have turned around, if I had known it.

The journey is never the destination, but it's all I have achieved

per aspera ad aspera and nothing is ever easy.

Close to self-deception

and always too tenacious

I ask myself: was it wise?

I am nowhere near cunning enough.

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

Didn't living the dream lead to nothing but drudgery?

per aspera ad aspera, per aspera ad aspera

And still, I wouldn't have turned around, if I had known it.

The journey is never the destination, but it's all I have achieved

per aspera ad aspera and nothing is ever easy.

Gaze fixed on the stars, even if every step was pure agony

per aspera ad aspera, we never had a choice.

• Artist:ASP
• Album:Maskenhaft (Fremder-Zyklus 2)