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  • Völkerball

    Völkerball → English translation

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Völkerball

I delve to the bottom
'cause I need it much
Awaiting it every second
It's my desire
I search it in the depth
An echo rises to the ears
The black vein is pulsing
In it runs the blood of the Völkerball1
 
I tear it open - the Völkerball
I suck it dry - the Völkerball
I let it fade - the Völkerball
I dance on the volcano the Völkerball
 
I can hear it
In the womb of the Earth
It's dear to me
Where is it?
I drill deep
into the wound of the Earth
It thunders loud
This is my hour
 
I tear it open - the Völkerball
I suck it dry - the Völkerball
I let it fade - the Völkerball
I dance on the volcano the Völkerball
 
I tear it open - the Völkerball
I suck it dry - the Völkerball
I let it fade - the Völkerball
I dance on the volcano the Völkerball
 
Dance, dance to the Völkerball
Dance on the volcano the Völkerball
 
  • 1. 'Völkerball' is actually 'dodge ball', literally 'peoples ball'; it's also the former name of the band, therefore it was decided to leave it unstranslated
Original lyrics

Völkerball

Click to see the original lyrics (German)

Völkerball: Top 3
Comments
Nemo ThatchNemo Thatch    Tue, 15/04/2014 - 02:32

"Ball" seems to mean the same thing in English as in German, but in English, it's also been referred to as a large, typically fancy party or social gathering. I don't know if Germans do that, too, but "Dance to the People's Ball" makes slightly more sense than "Dance to the Dodgeball." But, again, I don't know if Germans use "Ball" for the same thing, so I might just be rambling.

caillean7caillean7
   Tue, 15/04/2014 - 17:02

'Ball' can mean a prom / dancing event in German, too. Do you think it's better to change the 'dodge ball' to 'peoples ball' in general? This lines about dancing seem to mean more the event, while this 'tearing it open' seems to refer more to a ball...

Nemo ThatchNemo Thatch    Fri, 18/04/2014 - 00:15

It's an ususuall song either way, regardless of how you look at it. I think it might be referencing both.

caillean7caillean7
   Fri, 18/04/2014 - 10:35

Andrew Dangerouly had the idea to leave 'Völkerball' untranslated, and I think he's right. I just explained the term in a footnote. This way people can think for themselves about how to interpret the song.

Nemo ThatchNemo Thatch    Sat, 19/04/2014 - 16:42

Yeah, that seems fair. It's definitely not an easy word to translate.

Andrew DangerouslyAndrew Dangerously    Thu, 17/04/2014 - 19:45

I believe Heldmachine was once called "Völkerball", a Rahmstein Cover band.
Either that or it is reference to the group. Völkerball is named after the Rahmstein album that is a play on words Dodgeball and "people's ball" in reference to their concerts.

I guess I wouldn't translate it if that is the case and add a notation.

caillean7caillean7
   Thu, 17/04/2014 - 20:18

I translated it literally - that's better than dodge ball... it's a weird song. Or did you mean to leave the German term in the translation?

Andrew DangerouslyAndrew Dangerously    Thu, 17/04/2014 - 20:32

I would say, keep the German term. But, anything is better than Dodgeball. =p

caillean7caillean7
   Thu, 17/04/2014 - 20:55

Alright, I guess it's best - perhaps it adds an 'exotic' touch to the translation :P If the mods don't object... anyway, thanks for the advice!