I don´t know if this is the right place, but since abcdmc (or so... ;)) asked once for the translation of the original German version, here it is:

NENA - 99 Luftballons (German Version)

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich / Do you have a little time for me
Dann singe ich ein Lied fur dich / Then I will sing a song for you
Von 99 Luftballons / Of 99 airballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont / On their way to the horizon
Denkst du vielleicht g'rad an mich / Are you just thinking of me
Dann singe ich ein Lied fur dich / Then I will sing a song for you
Von 99 Luftballons / Of 99 airballoons
Und dass sowas von sowas kommt / And that happens because it happens
99 Luftballons / 99 airballoons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont / On their way to the horizon
Hilet man fur Ufos aus dem All / Were mistaken for UFOs from space
Darum schickte ein General / And so a General was sending out
'Ne Fliegerstaffel hinterher / A squad of planes after it
Alarm zu geben, wenn's so war / to give alarm if they were
Dabei war' n da am Horizont / But there on the horizont
Nur 99 Luftballons / were only 99 airballoons
99 Düsenjäger / 99 jet fighters
Jeder war ein grosser Krieger / Each of them was a great warrior
Hielten sich fur Captain Kirk / Thought they were Captain Kirk
Das gab ein grosses Feuerwerk / That was some big fireworks
Die Nachbarn haben nichts gerafft / The neighbours didn´t dug it
Und fühlten sich gleich angemacht / And just felt offended
Dabei schoss man am Horizont / But there was a shooting on the horizon
Auf 99 Luftballons / On 99 airballoons
99 Kriegsminister / 99 Ministers of war
Streichholz und Benzinkanister / Matchstick and gas container
Hielten sich fur schlaue Leute / Thought they were smart
Witterten schon fette Beute / Scented some fat booty
Riefen: 'Krieg' und wollten Macht / Shouted 'War' and wanted power
Mann, wer hatte das gedacht / Boy, whoever thought of this
Dass es einmal soweit kommt / That this would happen some day
Wegen 99 Luftballons / Because of 99 airballoons
99 Jahre Krieg / 99 years of war
Liessen keine Platz fur Sieger / Doesn´t left any space for winners
Kriegsminister gibt's nicht mehr / War Ministers doesn´t exist anymore
Und auch keine Düsenflieger / And also no more jet planes
Heute zieh ich meine Runden / Today I´m making my tracks
Seh' die Welt in Trümmern liegen / See the world lying in ruins
Hab' 'nen Luftballon gefunden / Found an airballoon
Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen / Think of you and let it fly

So...that´s the direct translation of this track which had reached the #1-spot in Germany 1982 (her only No. 1 here!).

Thanks for sharing that, wave. It's nice to finally know the true translation of that song.

It doesn't say anywhere, "viewers of my video be warned, I haven't shaven my armpits"? :eek:

The German version definitely rules! I hardly understand the english version :confused:
Weird huh? :D
Maybe cause I grew up with the German version!?! Hmmmmm..... :rolleyes:

There were two versions of Nena's 99 Luftballoons--one in English; the other, in German.

Thanks for posting the true translation! I've always been curious to know. Now I do!! :thumb:

In New Zealand we got both versions. As hard as the English version was to understand I still preferred it. The German version I had no idea about what so ever! I like to be able to sing a long with a song in my own language.

It was the same with Der Kommassa. I preferred the English version for the same reasons.

Originally posted by Caligula
It doesn't say anywhere, "viewers of my video be warned, I haven't shaven my armpits"? :eek:

LOL!!:lol: :lol:

I still prefer the German version. And I think the original version of Falco's Der Kommissar is a million times better than the After The Fire version. :)

Originally posted by Recker
In New Zealand we got both versions. As hard as the English version was to understand I still preferred it. The German version I had no idea about what so ever! I like to be able to sing a long with a song in my own language.

It was the same with Der Kommassa. I preferred the English version for the same reasons.

What do I should say about singing along songs in my own language? :lol:

I guess they made up the lyrics for '99 Red Balloons' after they found out that this song was becoming a big hit in the US.
And for Falcos song...with his rapping in Austrian accent, it almost sounded like being sung in English... ;)

Wow, thanks for the translation..always wondered what she actually said..and there SHOULD have been a warning about her armpits..ugh...nasty icky...

As for Falco, I always liked him...too sad that he died...

Originally posted by wavemaster
I don´t know if this is the right place, but since abcdmc (or so... ;)) asked once for the translation of the original German version, here it is:



Uh, I don't remember asking for it, but thanks wave...I'm glad it's here anyways.;) Seeing a more direct translation brings out a lot of new meaning that isn't there in the English version. I've always liked the German version better.

I'm so glad I found this post Wave made. I was talking to someone today about the meaning of 99 luft balloons. I didnt realize how much the German version differed from the American. What have you guys heard is the story behind this song? I heard something about a General mistaking the balloons for missels or something and starting WW2??? I was wanting to get the story straight....anybody know?

That's cool, So I guess yur sayin that it was a totally different version that we heard in the US? Gotta say though I kinda like the version of that song by the band New Found Glory, even though i don't care for the band it's still pretty cool!

Originally posted by ImSoooSure
I'm so glad I found this post Wave made. I was talking to someone today about the meaning of 99 luft balloons. I didnt realize how much the German version differed from the American. What have you guys heard is the story behind this song? I heard something about a General mistaking the balloons for missels or something and starting WW2??? I was wanting to get the story straight....anybody know?

I think that Nena meant generally the possibility of starting a war due to mistakes of perception in a figurative sense...the beginnings of WWII were definetly planned when Hitler faked an attack on a German radio station by soldiers which were disguised as Polish army members, taking this event as the reason to invade Poland (the whole story is a bit longer and way more complicated ;)).

Always though I'd hear the word Captain Kirk in that song. Thought I was only confused :)

Wow! I can't believe I never saw this thread. I've always wondered what the exact translation was. I can barely understand the English version myself. One thing though, she very clearly says "red" balloons in the English version.

Just to add in your one-hit wonder list...

My Sharona by The Knack
Party All The Time by Eddie Murphy

just correct me if i'm wrong....

...and sorry, kinda off-topic now:confused:

Here in Canada, we got both songs. The radio played both versions and the 45 had both. I always preferred the German one :)

I always thought the song was about nuclear war but from the translation you provided, it looks like it's about mistaking an attack. Very scary and still holds true today.

I always recall the English version sounding like this:



You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base bugs in the software
Flash the message, something's out there
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by

99 red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky as 99 red balloons go by

99 Decision street
99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super flurry
Call the troops out in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by

99 knights of the air
Ride super high tech jet fighters
Everyone's a super hero Everyone's a Captain Kirk
With orders to identify
To clarify, and classify
Scramble in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by

99 dreams I have had In every one a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standing pretty
In this dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here is a red balloon
I think of you, and let it go

Originally posted by Iluvthe80s
Thanks for sharing that, wave. It's nice to finally know the true translation of that song.


yeah... 20 years later... we're on!!! :D It's better than never!! :p

Aahhhahaha...i never knew that those were the words...even though i heard the english version i still couldnt understand just a sloppier version of the german one to me..id prefer the german one

Thank you for providing one of the most accurate translations of the original German lyrics! Great job!