Nein, meine Söhne geb' ich nicht English translation
von Reinhard Mey

I think I"d better write you before it"s due
And tell you already today
That I cancel it for good
You don"t have to spread out long lists
To verify that I have also two sons
I love them both, that"s what I tell you
More than my life, than my eyesight
And they, they won°t wear any weapons
No, I don"t give away my sons
No, I don^t give away my sons

I taught them to honour and respect life
Of every creature as the highest value on earth-
I taught them to have mercy and to forgive
And to love, wherever possible!
Now you should not spoil them with hate
No aims and no honour, no duty
Are worth to kill or to die for
No, I don°t give away my sons
No, I don°t give away my sons


Quite sure not for you
Did her mother bring them into this world with pain
Not for you and not as cannonfodder
Not for you I stood in dispair
Many a fever night at the little bed
Cooling a liitle glowing face
Until we found peace after the exhaustion
No, I don!t give away my sons
No, I don!t give away my sons

They won"t march in rank and order
Not holding on, not fighting till their last breath
And freezing to death on a godforsaken field
While you sit down on soft cushions
Protecting my children from all danger
Is indeed my goddamn paternal duty
And that also means to keep them away from you
No, I don°t give away my sons
No I don°t give away my sons

I will teach them to be disobedient
And to reject any compromise
To protest against every command
And not to crawl to the auhorities
I will teach them to find their own path
And not to stand straight
In front of any puppet or world justice
But only be true to their own selves
No, i don°t give away my sons
No, I don°t give away my sons


And I°d rather flee with them
Than to allow you to make them your servants
I°d rather move over with them abroad
In poverty and like strangers in the night
We just have this one and short life
This I swear and tell you right into your face
They won^t sacrifice it for your insanity
No, i don°t give away my sons-
No, I don°t give away my sons!

No,.I dont give away my children-
No.I don°t give away my children!