Abandon ship

Anna Depenbusch

The high has gone by,
but the rocking keeps going.
In the hallway at quarter to three,
the light comes on again.

I just cannot stand it; no, I cannot stand it--
that you love her,
that you lay down your heart at her feet,
that you bring her the stars down from heaven
because she makes you feel so alive.
I just cannot stand it; no, I cannot stand it--
that you love her.

I’m rocking back and forth, I keep rocking back and forth.
I’m rocking and rocking.
I’m rocking back and forth, as a ship goes back and forth--
I’m rocking and rocking.

One thousand times, and one too many,
one time too long,
one time too deep--
that look so enraptured,
it was much too knowing
before you let go of me,
turned yourself round and left.

I just cannot stand it; no, I cannot stand it,
that you love her,
that you lay down your heart at her feet,
that you bring the damn stars down from the heavens for her
because she makes you feel so immortal.

Hey Kapitan, we’re taking on water!
Hey Kapitan, time to abandon ship!

"Kommando Untergang" - Words and music by Anna Depenbusch; translation by Frank Beck

Many of Anna Depenbusch's songs are humorous, but this one is dark and soulful, and I love it. It comes from her 2011 album, Die Mathematik der Anna Depenbusch. The performance is from a late-night TV program in Hamburg. As usual, the show's host, Ina Muller, sings along.


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