MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH
Der Kommissar (After the Fire)
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4:06
Video page URL
https://multimedia-english.com/videos/music/der-kommissar-after-the-fire-2483
Description

A song first recorded by Falco in German in 1981, covered a year later by After The Fire and reworked in 1983 by Laura Branigan. Originally written by Robert Ponger and Falco, the Falco version reached the top of the charts in many countries.

Transcript

Zwei drei vier, one two three
It's easy to see
But it's not that I don't care so
'Cause I hear it all the time
But they never let you know
On the TV and the radio, 'cha
She was young her heart was pure
But every night night is bright she got
She said sugar is sweet
She come rappin' to the beat
Then I knew that she was hot

She was singin'
Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
You're in his eye
And you'll know why
The more you live
The faster you will die

Alles klar, herr Kommissar?

She said babe you know
I miss Jill and Joe
And all my funky friends
But my street understanding
Was just enough to know what she really meant
And I got to thinking while she was talking
That I know she told the story
Of those special places that she goes
When she rides with the others in the subway singin'

Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
And if he talks to you
And you don't know why
You say your life
Is gonna make you die

Alles klar, herr Kommissar?

'Cha, 'cha, 'cha, 'cha 'cha, 'cha
'Cha, 'cha, 'cha, 'cha 'cha, 'cha
'Cha, 'cha, 'cha, 'cha 'cha, 'cha
'Cha, 'cha, 'cha, 'cha 'cha, 'cha

Well we meet Jill and Joe
And brother him
And the whole cool gang and oh
They're rappin' here they're rappin' there
But she's climbin' on the wall
It's a clear case, herr Kommissar?
Cause all the children know
They're all slidin' down into the valley
They're all slipping on the same snow
Hear the children

Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
He's got the power
And you're so weak
And your frustration will not let you speak
La, la, la, la, la, la

Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
And if he talks to you
Then you'll know why
The more you live
The faster you will die

Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh
Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh ...

Explanations

ZWEI DREI VIER= (German) two, three, four


DER KOMMISSAR= (German) The commissioner; the police officer.


ALLES KLAR, HERR KOMMISSAR?= (German) Everything alright, officer?


 

Meaning

"Kommissar" is German for "Government Official." The song is about a couple on the run from the law. Every time they happen to be in public, "Der Kommissar" shows up. Hence the phrase, "Alles klar? Der Kommissar," which means "Everything OK, officer?