Song #92. Versteht?, or Whose World and Whose Hands?

Did you know that Brecht used to sing songs with a guitar in coffeee bars?

Note: This song is written entirely in German, except for the words

Hey,  let's say we play this brand new game,

One where I make up all the rules.

And on your turn you follow all these rules to learn

That I've changed them all

And that it's always your turn.

And the game's called "Watch You Dangle"

From every bone you’re thrown

Do you know that all you know

Is just so very very very wrong.

C'mon Everybody, sing along!

Swing your hammer of a head and ring the bell.

All your dreams are dead as hell

'Cause I've got your whole world in my hand.

I've got your whole world in my hand.

And what part of "Fuck you!" don't you understand?

I remember when they used hold you up

Like a diamond against the sun

And I'd watch you as you caught the light

So that anyone who dared look at you would go blind.

But they say that what goes up

Sometimes needs a little help to land,

And that what goes 'round

Sometimes swings around

Wielding something shiny sharp and heavy in it's hand.

It’s so easy to fall for love with the ones one should avoid.

Look deep into my dark blue smile

And see what’s lying tightly coiled:

Schadenfreude.

Hey I like you.

I do.

I even respect you, too.

Think of me as a faithful friend and fan.

Then watch as I wield your loyalty and trust

To turn every friend you ever had

Against you to a man.

The game‘s called “What’s the poison?”

That I've poured down in your well.

Spreading lies can satisfy

Near as much as pulling wings off writhing butterflies.

You’d never believe it if I told you

What the guy nailed up on that cross believes is true.

It's true.

And I’ve got your whole world in my hand.

I've got your whole world in my hand.

And what part of what you've heard don't you understand?

If you know "What Keeps Mankind Alive?"?

Sing it in the German if you can.

And what part of "Fuck you!" don't you understand?

Versteht?

-March 2009

“Mankind is kept alive by bestial acts!” – Brecht

"People who fight may lose. People who do not fight have already lost." - Bertolt Brecht

Notes were written on 3/12/2012.  I had the line “What part of 'fuck you' don’t you understand” for years.  Thought it be a good name for an album, too.  There is more than a little Elvis Costello in the song. There is a fair amount of vitriol as well.  Hopefully it doesn’t just spill out as whining. Who doesn’t feel that there are folks out there who gained your trust who relish fucking you over, for their own reasons.  Maybe good Buddhists don’t feel like this, but other then them, everyone. I haven’t recorded this one properly yet, although I did lay down a backing track once.

I would also strongly recommend that everyone become fully knowledgeable about Brecht’s Three Penny Opera, and especially the wonderful song “Dreigroschenfinale”.  There is a fantastic performance intranslation of this song by Tom Waits which he put on his brilliant album Orphans.

This will take you back to the complete song list.