☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a dysfunctional family deeply involved in drug addiction, from the adults to the children.
- The constantly repeated phrase 'Cocaine, all around my brain' illustrates the ubiquitous and overwhelming effect of cocaine on the life and thoughts of the family.
- Each family member suffers in their own way from the effects of drug addiction - the mother, the son, the daughter, the aunt, the uncle, and the grandparents.
- Other drugs mentioned alongside cocaine are alcohol and 'Flash', indicating the widespread and multi-layered nature of drug abuse in the family.
- The singer himself reveals at the end of the song that he is a drug addict, illustrating his own involvement in drug addiction.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Kokain' by
Hannes Wader tell a dark story about the widespread and destructive effects of drugs in a family. It illustrates the image of a dysfunctional family caught in the vicious cycle of drug addiction. Each member, from the father to the child, is affected in their own way.
The singer travels from Frankfurt to Berlin with suitcases full of cocaine and his family 'screams' for it, indicating their dependency and craving for the drug. The line 'Cocaine, all around my brain' is repeated constantly, conveying the ubiquitous and overwhelming influence of cocaine on their lives and thoughts.
The singer's wife, Evelyn, is described as someone who may love cocaine more than her husband. Their son is constantly 'high' and their daughter is on a 'trip', indicating the abuse and effects of drugs on young people.
Other family members are also affected, such as the aunt who has turned to drug trafficking and the uncle who tries to combat his cocaine addiction with alcohol. The grandfather is sick and waiting for death, while the grandmother spits blood after a 'flash', indicating an overdose or severe physical reaction to drugs.
At the end of the song, the singer himself is portrayed as a drug addict craving different types of drugs, indicating his own addiction and hopelessness. Overall, the song is a bleak portrayal of the destructive power of drug addiction.