Lyrics & Translation
Discover the inspiring message of Xavier Naidoo's "Was wir alleine nicht schaffen." This song, with its powerful themes of unity and collective achievement, offers a unique insight into German pop culture and the sentiment of togetherness. Learn how shared effort and mental strength can overcome any obstacle through its soulful melody and heartfelt lyrics.
And nothing happens
We are at the right place at the right time
And everything is arranged
I am grateful for that
I am grateful for that
Because every day with my brothers and sisters
I feel real life
What we can't do alone
We can do together
We don't need any weapons for that
Our weapon is called our mind
Oh, what we can't do alone
We can do together
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
The others can laugh
No one laughs more than us
What are they supposed to do?
We are knights with rose-tinted visors
A life without you makes little sense
No life, no sound, then I would be like blind
What we can't do alone
We can do together
We don't need any weapons for that
Our weapon is called our mind
Oh, what we can't do alone
We can do together
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
There is still something ahead of us
Life lies ahead of us
Do you feel the vanguard
Emerging cheerfulness?
And what we can't do alone
We can do together
We don't need any weapons for that
Our weapon is called our mind
What we can't do alone
We can do together
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long
We just have to be patient
Then it won't be long, yeah
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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arrangiert /aʁaɡiˈʁiːrt/ B2 |
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dankbar /ˈdaŋkbaʁ/ B1 |
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verstand /fɛʁˈʃtand/ B2 |
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schaffen /ˈʃafən/ B2 |
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geduldig /ɡəˈdʊdɪç/ B1 |
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lachen /ˈlaːxən/ A2 |
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leben /ˈleːbən/ A2 |
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schwer /ʃveːʁ/ A2 |
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lang /laŋ/ A1 |
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lang /laŋ/ A1 |
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vor /foːʁ/ A2 |
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machen /ˈmaxən/ A2 |
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“arrangiert, dankbar, verstand” – got them all figured out?
⚡ Dive into vocabulary challenges in the app and lock in your knowledge right after jamming to "Was wir alleine nicht schaffen"
Key Grammar Structures
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Während sich andere plagen Und nichts passiert
➔ Subordinating conjunction "während" + reflexive verb + present tense.
➔ "Während" introduces a subordinate clause indicating 'while' or 'whereas'. "sich plagen" means 'to struggle'. The present tense describes an ongoing action.
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Sind wir zur rechten Zeit am rechten Ort Und alles ist arrangiert
➔ Passive voice ("ist arrangiert") + Adjective Declension (rechte Zeit, rechten Ort)
➔ "ist arrangiert" is in the passive voice, meaning 'is arranged'. "rechte Zeit" and "rechten Ort" demonstrate adjective declension based on the case (dative in this instance).
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Was wir alleine nicht schaffen, Das schaffen wir dann zusammen
➔ Relative clause with "was" + separable verb "schaffen" + adverb "zusammen".
➔ "Was wir alleine nicht schaffen" is a relative clause functioning as the subject. "schaffen" (to achieve) separates, with "schaffen" in the second position and the prefix, implied by "zusammen", at the end. "zusammen" means 'together'.
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Dazu bruachen wir keinerlei Waffen
➔ Negative article "keinerlei" + dative case.
➔ "keinerlei" means 'no kind of' or 'absolutely no'. "Waffen" (weapons) is in the dative case because of the verb "brauchen" (to need) in this context, implying that 'we need no kind of weapons'.
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Unsere Waffe nennt sich unser Verstand
➔ Reflexive verb used idiomatically: "sich nennen"
➔ "sich nennen" here means 'is called' or 'is named'. It's not truly reflexive in the literal sense, but rather an idiomatic usage of the reflexive form to express the name or designation.
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Nur wir müssen geduldig sein, dann dauert es nicht mehr lang
➔ Conditional sentence (implying a condition and a result) with "dann" (then). "mehr lang" is an idiom to emphasize the shortness of time.
➔ The sentence expresses a condition (being patient) and its consequence (it won't take long anymore). "dann" connects the condition and the result. "nicht mehr lang dauern" means it won't take much longer, and using 'mehr' in conjunction with 'lang' (long) negates the implication of a long duration
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Was soll'n sie auch machen
➔ Contraction of "sollen" to "soll'n" + modal verb expressing speculation/rhetorical question.
➔ "soll'n" is a colloquial shortening of "sollen". "Was sollen sie auch machen?" translates to 'What else are they supposed to do?' It's a rhetorical question implying they have no real alternative or power.
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Spürst du die Vorhut Aufkommenden Frohmut?
➔ Accusative case after verb "spüren" + adjective ending after "aufkommenden"
➔ "spüren" (to feel) takes an accusative object, which is "die Vorhut" (the vanguard/advance guard). "aufkommenden Frohmut" (emerging joy/cheerfulness) uses the adjective ending appropriate to the accusative case, masculine gender, strong declension.
