☝️ Key Points
- The song describes the image of America from the band's distant perspective, emphasized by the repetition of 'Drüben in Amerika' (Over in America).
- The line 'Sind alle Himmel blau' (Are all the skies blue) could suggest the idea of America as a happy place, while 'Sind schon die Babys schlau' (Are the babies already smart) could indicate that Americans are considered more advanced or smarter.
- 'Da wohnt Mickey Mouse. Drüben in Amerika In einem weißen Haus' (There lives Mickey Mouse. Over in America, in a white house) could be a reference to America's commercial culture and how it illustrates power.
- 'Drüben in Amerika wird man beim Abwasch reich' (Over in America, you get rich doing the dishes) implies an understanding of the American dream, where even simple jobs can lead to prosperity.
- In 'Ist alles schwarz und weiß' (Is everything black and white) and 'Geht Schönheit auf'n Strich' (Beauty goes on the street), potential social issues are hinted at, including racial differences and the commodification of beauty.
- 'Und ich - bin immer noch hier' (And I - am still here) shows the frustration and sense of stagnation of the singer, despite longing for America.
Interpretation
The song 'Amerika' by the band
City seems to depict the perception and ideas of the band members about life in America. The repeated expression 'Drüben in Amerika' seems to emphasize a distance and longing they feel towards America.
The line 'Sind alle Himmel blau' could represent the idea of America as a place of eternal happiness and contentment, while 'Sind schon die Babys schlau' may convey the impression that Americans are smarter or more advanced from birth.
The line 'Da wohnt Mickey Mouse. Drüben in Amerika In einem weißen Haus.' could be a reference to America's commercial culture by associating the famous cartoon character with the White House, a symbol of American power and authority.
'Drüben in Amerika wird man beim Abwasch reich.' could represent the perception that even simple jobs can lead to wealth in America, alluding to the American Dream.
In the line 'Ist alles schwarz und weiß', there may be a reference to racial differences and social tensions in America.
'Drüben in Amerika weiß keiner wie ich heiß.' Here, the singer could express their anonymity and isolation, despite their fascination and longing for America.
'Geht Schönheit auf'n Strich' could be a critical statement about the superficiality and consumption of beauty in America.
Finally, the song ends with the repetition 'Und ich - bin immer noch hier.', which could express a kind of resignation, the feeling of still being stuck in the same place despite all the dreams and longings.