trying to translate german is fun!


I'm not sure of the context of this song (I don't know the musical that well) but I'm thinking that Rudolf is desperate because the government and people are corrupt... he IS the Crown Prince, so he is next in line for the throne. In the beginning, when Death tells Rudolf "you know me" it's because when Rudolf was a boy, he sang "Mama, wo bist du?/Mama, where are you?" and Death came to him, telling him he was a friend and he would always be there for him. /rant on to the translation - note that I've only had 4 years of German and I tried to translate the lyrics *literally* not for maximum understandability/poetic-ness... German can make no sense when translated to English sometimes, lol, so people often take artistic liberties. (Which is fine, but to me it's kinda like just getting 'the gist' of the song.) Anyway, enjoy!

Die Schatten werden l�nger

Tod:

Zeit, dass wir uns endlich sprechen.
Zeit, dass Schweigen zu durchbrechen.
Du kennst mich.
Ja, du kennst mich!
Wei�t du noch, du warst ein Knabe,
als ich dir versprochen habe,
dass ich dir
immer nah bleibt.

Rudolf:

O, ich dich nie vergessen:
Meinen Freund, nach dem ich rufe,
wenn mich meine �ngste fressen...

Tod:

Ich komm, weil du mich brauchst...

Tod&Rudolf:

Die Schatten werden l�nger,
und doch bleiben alle
blind und stumm.
Zum Klang der Rattenf�nger
tanzt man wild
ums Goldne Kalb herum.
Die Schatten werden l�nger!
Es ist f�nf vor zw�lf!
Die Zeit ist beinah um.

Rudolf:

Zeit, den Riss der Welt zu sehen.
K�nnt ich nur das Steuer drehen!
Doch ich muss daneben stehen.
Man bindet
mir die H�nde.

Tod:

Nichts ist schlimmer als zu wissen,
wie das Unheil sich entwickelt,
und in Ohnmacht zusehen m�ssen.

Rudolf:

Es macht mich
v�llig Krank!

Tod&Rudolf:

Die Schatten werden l�nger,
und die Lieder werden
kalt und schrill.
Der Teufelskreis wird enger,
doch man glaubt nur,
was man glauben will.
Die Schatten werden l�nger!
Es ist f�nf vor zw�lf!
Warum h�lt jeder still?

Tod:

Was h�lt dich zur�ck?
Dies ist der Augenblick!
Greif nach der Macht!
Tu es aus Notwehr!

Rudolf:

Notwehr?

Tod&Rudolf:

Die Schatten werden l�nger
was geschehen muss,
das muss jetzt geschehen.
Der Teufelskreis wird enger!
Man muss dem Unheil
widerstehen.
Die Schatten werden l�nger!
Kaiser Rudolf wird
der Zeit entgegengehen.


Death:

It's time that we can finally speak
It's time that the silence is broken
You know me
Yes, you know me
Do you remember, you were a boy
when I told you
that I would
always stay near you

Rudolf:

Oh, I have never forgotten you
My friend, on whom I call
when my nightmares devour me

Death:

I come because you need me

Death and Rudolf:

The shadows grow longer
And all the people stay
blind and silent
To the sound of the Pied Piper
they dance wildly
round and round the golden calf
The shadows will go longer
It is five before midnight
The time is almost gone.

Rudolf:

It's time to see the rift in the world
If only I could steer the wheel
but I must stay on the side
they bind
me by the hands

Death:

Nothing is worse than to know
how disasters are created
and have to helplessly look on

Rudolf:

It makes me
sick!

Death and Rudolf:

The shadows grow longer
and the songs become
cold and shrill
The devil's circle becomes tighter
but man believes only
what man wants to believe
The shadows grow longer
it's five before midnight
why do the people stay still?

Death:

What holds you back?
This is the moment!
Take hold of the power
do it out of self-defense!

Rudolf:

Self-defense?

Death and Rudolf:

The shadows grow longer
What must happen
must happen now
the devil's circle becomes tigther
Someone must resist the destruction
The shadows grow longer
Emperor Rudolf will
be with this new time

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