I noticed that all the German stuff I’ve posted recently have all been about players associated with Bayern Munich. It wasn’t intentional and all happen quite by accident.

I want to change direction and post some songs done by or about other Bundesliga clubs, but before I do here’s one that will put a cap on the Bayern ones…

Die Toten Hosen (Wikipedia: The band’s name literally means “The Dead Trousers” in English, although the phrase “tote Hose” is a German expression meaning “impotent”, “lifeless”, “boring”, or “nothing going on”. A more idiomatic translation of the band’s name might therefore be The Deadbeats. have been going since 1982 and they have an Englishman playing the drums.

Die Toten Hosen

The band (apart from the drummer “Von”) are from Dusseldorf and they did a song which wasn’t exactly in praise of the Bavarian club…

A quick history/background: Quite a few years ago now I found myself living and working in Munich.
I was a (German) friend in a sports store and was looking at some footie shirts. I asked him which should I get (Bayern or 1860 Munich). He told me that the Munich thing was a bit like the Manchester or Madrid thing – People who are from Munich support 1860 and everybody outside of, support Bayern. So I bought and still own that TSV 1860 München shirt. I went to see them on a few occasions too.

I also think that there is some jealously/annoyance there with the fact that Bayern, like Man Utd keep winning things all the time which was probably the reason why Die Toten Hosen (who sponsored Fortuna Dusseldorf) did this track:

Die Toten Hosen - Bayern » Die Toten Hosen – Bayern

German Lyrics here (will open in new window)

There is not much in this world,
what you can hold.
Some say love,
perhaps because what is on it.
And yes there is still God
if nobody else has.
Others believe in nothing,
life has made it hard.

It can happen so much,
it can happen so much.
Only one thing I know one hundred percent:
never in life I would go to Bavaria.

I mean, if I wär 20
and supertalentiert,
and Real Madrid have already angeklopft,
and the boys from Manchester.
And I’d already played for Germany
wär and mentally fit
and Uli Hoeneß would be with me
stand on the mat.

I would not open my door,
for me because it’s not in question,
so when people like the Bavaria
his character to foul.

The only times I want to make it clear
so we understand:
I have nothing against Munich,
I would just never go to Bavaria.

Must be really denn sowas?
Life is not much to be beautiful?
Themselves so through away
and FC Bayern to go.

It can happen so much,
it can happen so much.
No matter how hard my fate would be
I would never to FC Bayern Munich go.

What parents must have
so as to be spoiled,
a contract to sign
Scheiss this club?

We would never to FC Bayern Munich go!
– Never go to Bayern!
We would never to FC Bayern Munich go!
– Never go to Bayern!

Wikipedia info:

It is an anti-FC Bayern Munich song, which is the most successful German football club. A slogan from this song has become synonymous with DTH among the fans, which can be shortened: “Es kann soviel passieren. Es kann soviel geschehen/Nur eins weiß ich hundertprozentig. Nie im Leben würde ich zu Bayern gehen.” (Many things can happen. [the same with another word]/One thing I know for sure. Never in my life will I go to Bayern. [where the football club is meant]).

Also Real Madrid and Manchester United are mentioned along with Uli Hoeneß, the manager of FC Bayern.

The Tipp-Kick version is more anthem-like, as it features the line “Wir würden nie zum FC Bayern München gehen” (We would never go to FC Bayern Munich) throughout the song, not only in the end and the emphasis is taken off the I-character (the narrator).

The three other tracks on the CD single were cover versions including this track (sung in English) which is very familiar to us. Especially to Liverpool fans…

» Die Toten Hosen – You’ll Never Walk Alone

As you can see they are big footie fans and this isn’t the only time they’ve gone on record (*ak !*) with their praise of the beautiful game (ak ! ak!….*bang*)

I’m adding them all here for now and might repost some of these if the subject ever comes up or demands it.

» Die Toten Hosen – Auswärtsspiel [Trans: Away Game]

– This is from the 2006 World Cup, which Teena from Y I, Mum? (the supplier of most of these) tells me that it is a nice pisstake. I’ll update this post when I have the full story, but from looking at the Google Translated page of the lyrics I get the gist of what they are saying.
» Die Toten Hosen – Weltmeister (Unplugged) [Trans: World’s Champion]

Finishing off now with one that was included on the official soundtrack to the 2002 World Cup (Held in Japan & South Korea – you can find more stuff here) which was done in English:

» Die Toten Hosen – We Will Be Heroes

The sun comes up
On a brand new day
A curtain call for the beautiful game
That we’re gonna play
Here in the land
Of the rising sun
There’ll be the best of the rest
But there’s only one number one
We will be heroes
And we’re gonna win
No matter what you do
We’re never ever giving in
And if the end
Justifies the means
For every winner there’s a broken loser
On the field of dreams
‘Cause the sweet, sweet smell of victory
Is a long, long way from the bitter taste of defeat
We will be heroes
And we’re gonna win
No matter what you do
We’re never ever giving in
We will be heroes
Stop us if you can
Win or lose it’s a blow
For the course of the common fan
And in the end
There’s little choice in what we do
We all follow our hearts
It’s the same for me and you (me and you, me and you)
‘Cause the sweet, sweet smell of victory
Is a long, long way
From the bitter taste of defeat
We will be heroes
And we gonna win
No matter what you do
We’re never ever giving in
We will be heroes
Stop us if you can
Win or lose it’s a blow
For the course of the common fan
We will be heroes
And we’re gonna win
You can do what you like
But we’re never ever giving in

2 Replies to “The Dead Trousers Footie Collection”

  1. Hosen & football – one of the best combinations possible 🙂
    Frontman Campino is actually one of the most fanatical Liverpool fans (a love he shared with John Peel who helped the Hosen to international, or at least European, fame..) and a massive England fan (his mother being English), and good friends with Didi Hamann. Last year he broke his foot when Liverpool got kicked out of the Champions League and he kicked a trash can in frustration 🙂 (not sure if that’s dedication or stupidity.. but they often go hand in hand 🙂
    Their version of YNWA is one of my all time favourites.. the live version at their concerts almost makes you want to convert .. naaah.

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