The bomb

Another Cold War in the making, and yet again Europe is caught in between - literally. The North-Korean atomic bomb testings have reminded me, acutely, of the 80's song "De bom" (The bomb) by the then famous Dutch band Doe Maar. So I decided to try my hand at translating the untranslatable song, and here is the result of my efforts:



The bomb

Building my career
Before the bomb’s dropped
Working on my future
Before the bomb’s dropped
I run through my agenda
Before the bomb’s dropped
Public health insurance
Before the bomb’s dropped

And when the bomb’s dropped

I’ll lie in my fancy suit
Diplomas and my cheques on me
My policy and vocabulary
Under the city’s scrapers
Next to you

Just drop it then
It’ll happen anyway
Doesn’t matter if you run
I’ve never known you
Want to know who you are
Want to know who you are

I’m insured of success
Against fires and for my life
Before the bomb’s dropped
I have a lot but not some time
Not even just a little
Before the bomb’s dropped
I have to think of my salary
And of my relations
Before the bomb’s dropped
But rather I’d know who you are
Before it is too late
Before the bomb’s dropped

And when the bomb’s dropped

I’ll lie in my fancy suit
Diplomas and my cheques on me
My policy and vocabulary
Under the city’s skyscrapers
Next to you

You must still do your homework
Before the bomb’s dropped
Getting your diploma
Before the bomb’s dropped
E is mc squared
Before the bomb’s dropped
Mit nach nebst nächst sammt bei seit
von zu zuwieder entgegen auβer aus

(For the original lyrics, click here. For a short preview of the original song, click here and select track 3.)