Willenlos – Bilingual Lyrics German/English

• By: Westernhagen

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the raw and energetic world of German rock with Marius Müller-Westernhagen's "Willenlos." This song, a quintessential example of Deutschrock, delves into themes of desire and loss of control, offering a powerful narrative that resonates with listeners. By engaging with its straightforward lyrics and catchy melody, you can gain insight into a significant era of German music.

[English]

Her name was Carmelita

She was the most beautiful in town

She made the lame walk

In her 50s Ford

She had class

No question about it

I fell into her cleavage

And I really

Wasn't able

To get out of her way

To get out of her way

...

Her name was Miss Meyer

Meyer with a y

She managed ten clients a day

What a condition

She had breed

No question about it

I sucked on her toes

And I really

Wasn't able

To get out of her way

Hey Momma

What's wrong with me

When it comes to women

Am I spineless

Completely spineless

...

Even in the office

In the ladies' room

I loved them

The Erika, the Barbara

Especially Marie

Her name was Natascha

She came from Novosibirsk

We drank vodka from bottles

She almost strangled me

She had pride

No question about it

I sent her orchids

Man, I really

Wasn't able

To get out of her way

...

Hey Momma

What's wrong with me

When it comes to women

Am I spineless

Completely spineless

...

[German]

Ihr Name war Carmelita

Sie war die Schönste im Ort

Sie brachte Lahme zum Gehen

In ihrem 50er Ford

Sie hatte Klasse

Gar keine Frage

Ich fiel in ihr Dekolleté

Und ich war wirklich

Nicht in der Lage

Ihr aus dem Wege zu geh'n

Ihr aus dem Wege zu geh'n

Ihr Name war Fräulein Meyer

Meyer mit y

Sie schaffte täglich zehn Freier

Was für 'ne Kondition

Sie hatte Rasse

Gar keine Frage

Ich lutschte an ihren Zehen

Und ich war wirklich

Nicht in der Lage

Ihr aus dem Wege zu geh'n

Hey Mamma

Was ist mit mir los

Frauen gegenüber

Bin ich willenlos

Völlig willenlos

Selbst im Büro

Im Damenklo

Hab ich sie geliebt

Die Erika, die Barbara

Erst recht die Marie

Ihr Name war Natascha

Sie kam aus Nowosibirsk

Wir tranken Wodka aus Flaschen

Sie hätt' mich beinah' erwürgt

Sie hatte Stolz

Gar keine Frage

Ich schickte ihr Orchideen

Mann, ich war wirklich

Nicht in der Lage

Ihr aus dem Wege zu geh'n

Hey Mamma

Was ist mit mir los

Frauen gegenüber

Bin ich willenlos

Völlig willenlos

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word by which a person or thing is known
Schönste /ˈʃøːnstə/ B1	adjective - most beautiful
Lage /ˈlaːɡə/ B2	noun - situation or position
Kondition /kɔnˈdɪt͡si̯oːn/ B2	noun - condition or state
Stolz /ʃtɔlts/ B2	noun - pride
Frauen /ˈfʁaʊ̯ən/ A2	noun - women
Wodka /ˈvɔt.kə/ A2	noun - vodka (a type of alcoholic drink)
Orchideen /ɔʁ.kiˈdeːn/ B2	noun - orchids (a type of flower)
geliebt /ɡəˈliːpt/ B1	verb - loved
gehen /ˈɡeːən/ A1	verb - to go
Mamma /ˈmama/ A1	noun - mom
willenlos /ˈvɪlənloːs/ B2	adjective - without will or desire

Key Grammar Structures

• Ihr Name war Carmelita

  ➔ Past Tense (war)

  ➔ Uses the past tense form of the verb 'sein' (to be), indicating a past state or fact: Her name "was" Carmelita.

• Sie brachte Lahme zum Gehen

  ➔ Verb + 'zum' + infinitive (zum Gehen)

  ➔ The structure 'zum + infinitive' expresses a purpose or result. Here, 'zum Gehen' means 'to walk' or 'for walking'. 'Sie brachte Lahme "zum Gehen"' means 'She made lame people walk'.

• Ich fiel in ihr Dekolleté

  ➔ Preposition 'in' with accusative case.

  ➔ The preposition "in" can take either the accusative or dative case, depending on whether there is movement ('accusative') or location ('dative'). Here, 'fiel' (fell) implies movement into something, therefore it takes the accusative: I fell "into" her cleavage.

• Was für 'ne Kondition

  ➔ 'Was für' + indefinite article + noun

  ➔ 'Was für' expresses surprise or admiration about the quality of something. 'Was für "ne" Kondition!' can be translated as 'What a condition!' or 'What stamina!'. The 'ne' is a colloquial shortening of 'eine' (a, an - feminine or neuter).

• Frauen gegenüber bin ich willenlos

  ➔ Preposition 'gegenüber' with dative case, inverted sentence structure.

  ➔ 'gegenüber' takes the dative case and usually means 'opposite' or 'towards'. It's placed before the noun it modifies. In this inverted sentence, 'Frauen gegenüber bin ich willenlos', the standard order would be 'Ich bin Frauen gegenüber willenlos'. 'Frauen gegenüber' (towards women) comes first for emphasis. 'I am without will "towards women"'.

• Sie hätt' mich beinah' erwürgt

  ➔ Konjunktiv II (hätt') with Modalverb-Ersatz (almost)

  ➔ 'hätt'' is the Konjunktiv II form of 'haben' and indicates a hypothetical or unreal situation. 'beinahe' (almost) acts as a substitute for a modal verb, conveying the near possibility of strangulation. 'She "almost" strangled me'.