CABARET SONGS INTERPRETATION

By Inge Spiegel

Night Ghost (Nachtgespenst)

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

When the housewife chains the hallway door at night, I’m standing right outside.

Without hurry, I file the chain away, and there I am.

As the daughter is putting on her nightgown, I enter her room.

I feel sorry for her.

I’m the night ghost, your sweet night ghost,

I wake you up each time you call me your darling.

Don’t be so scared, It's only me waking you.

And after you have been uncovered,

you will get tucked in again.

When I climb through the window,

I have no interest in taking your jewels,

Only your ivory skin appeals to me.

As a night ghost I don’t take any shiny jewels;

only enough for the return fare.

GERMAN TRANSLATION

Nachtgespenst

Legt die Hausfrau nachts die Kette hoch, im Korridor, steh ich davor.

Mit der Feile ohne Eile, keck, feil ich se weg. Da liegt der Dreck.

Waehrend sich die Tochter gerade kleid, tret ich bei ihr ein, sie tut mir leid.

Ich bin das Nachtgespenst, dein suesses Nachtgespenst.

Ich weck dich, wenn du pennst, sooft wie’s du mich Liebling nennst.

Sei bloss nicht so erschreckt, du wirst nur aufgeweckt.

Und wenn du aufgedeckt, dann wirst du wieder zugedeckt.

Steig ich durchs Fenster ein, reizt micht kein Edelstein.

Nein, nur dein Elfenbein reizt mich allein.

Ich nehm als Nachtgespenst kein Steuckchen mit, was glaenzt.

Ich brauch wirklich nur das Fahrtgeld retour.

This lyric explains how a mother takes care of her family its showing the love of women over her household. In the song where it says “after you have been uncovered you get tucked in again”. It shows how mothers spend time day and night to make sure everything is going on well in their home. The chains in the song that the housewife has in her hands are not meant to harm anybody but a sign to show protection. Nobody comes in and no one goes out at night. This way she is sure she has everything covered.

I chose this piece because it explains and shows the extent of unconditional love that women have for their husbands and children. After listening to this song I remembered a literature book I read in school entitled “Edufa” back home, it talks more on how women sacrifice for the good of the people they love especially their men. As a ghost at night she is always there to protect her loved once no matter what the situation is and are always ready to give up their lives even if the need be.

“Throw out the Men” By Friedrich Hollaender

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

The battle for emancipation's been raging since history began
Yes, feminists of every nation want to chuck off the chains made by man
Hula girls and housemaids and wives in Maribou
hear all our voices thunder in protest
Anything that men do women can do too
and more that that we women do it best

 GERMAN TRANSILATION

Raus mit den Männern!
(für Claire Waldoff)
Es geht durch die ganze Historie
ein Ruf nach Emanzipation
vom Menschen bis zur Infusorie
überall will das Weib auf den Thron.
Vin Hawai-Neger bis zur Berliner Range
braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall daher:
Was die Männer können, können wir schon lange
und vielleicht ’ne ganze Ecke mehr.

In the lyrics women are trying to fight for their right and they fell that there is too many discrimination where men believe to be more superior to women in everything they do. But today women believe that anything a man can do women can do it better and of course even better. Women need to be freed from all disrespect and the misconception of superiority.

I chose this song because it brings out the truth of how people think of women most especially men all over. It helps to bring the awareness and making changes to correct that misconception. Women are always left behind in every aspect of life. In Africa it is worse women suffer to something find the meal to put on the table for their family, after going to the market to sell they still have to come back home to meet their lazy husbands and still cook for them to eat.

For a long time now women have been treated with less respect by men, even when it comes to positions women are not elected for any because they have a strong believe that they can’t function effectively. Most jobs pay females lesser than me why they do that? I do not understand. Most African countries they believed that a woman’s office is in the kitchen. I believe it is time so many thing that is related to women change. Women are the nation we can never do without them