☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind' by Marlene Dietrich is an anti-war song that represents the destruction and pain caused by war.
- The initial lines pose questions about the disappearance of flowers, symbolic of peace, innocence, and beauty.
- It asks where the girls are, representing the impact of war on young women who have to leave their homes due to war or whose lives are changed.
- The question about the men emphasizes the reality of war, where men leave their homes and families to fight.
- The song also asks where the graves are, symbolic of the death of many soldiers due to war and the transience of life.
- The song ends with the same questions it started with, underscoring the ongoing nature of war and its repeated effects on human life.
Interpretation
The song 'Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind' by
Marlene Dietrich raises profound questions about war and its devastating effects. It is an anti-war song that depicts the destruction and pain caused by war.
In the opening lines 'Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind, wo sind sie geblieben? Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind, was ist geschehn?' the singer asks where the flowers (a symbol of peace, innocence, and beauty) have gone and what has happened.
Then the song asks where the girls are: 'Sag mir, wo die Mädchen sind? Männer nahmen sie geschwind.' This portrays the impact of war on young women who have to leave their homes or whose lives are altered by war.
The next question is where the men are: 'Sag mir, wo die Männer sind? Zogen fort, der Krieg beginnt.' This shows how men go off to war, leaving their homes and families.
The next verse 'Sag mir, wo die Soldaten sind? Über Gräbern weht der Wind.' depicts the sad reality of war - many soldiers die and become graves.
And finally, the song asks where the graves are: 'Sag mir, wo die Gräber sind? Blumen wehn im Sommerwind.' This shows the cycle of life and death - the graves are covered in flowers that sway in the summer wind, a symbol of the transience of life.
The song ends with the same question it began with: 'Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind? Mädchen pflückten sie geschwind.' This underscores the ongoing nature of war and its repeated effects on people's lives.
Overall, this song is a deep and emotional reflection on the consequences of war and a call for peace.