☝️ Key Points
- The song humorously plays with prejudices against dwarfs, who are referred to and questioned as such.
- In the chorus and in the bridge, a positive image of dwarfs is portrayed: they are shown as taller than one thinks and capable of seeing more than others.
- Dwarfs have a strong community and are loved everywhere.
- The remaining verses of the song entertain mainly through humorous and absurd pairings of things with their supposed functions or characteristics.
- The main message of the song is to question prejudices and instead see the individual strengths and qualities of people. Additionally, the value of community is emphasized.
Interpretation
The song 'Steh auf wenn Du auf Zwerge stehst' by
Otto Waalkes is a humorous and playful approach to the topic of prejudices, especially regarding dwarfs. The first verse starts with a list of negative prejudices about dwarfs, such as 'Dwarfs are small and delicate', 'Dwarfs are as dumb as straw' or 'Dwarfs are good for nothing'. However, these prejudices are immediately identified as such: 'All just a prejudice'.
In the chorus and bridge, a positive view of dwarfs is presented. They are portrayed as bigger than one might think and as beings who see more than others: 'A dwarf is bigger than you think', 'A dwarf sees what you don't see'. They have a strong community ('A dwarf wants to be among dwarfs', 'A dwarf rarely comes alone') and are popular ('A dwarf is popular everywhere').
The further verses of the song consist of humorous, sometimes absurd pairings of things and their supposed function or characteristic, such as 'Water is for washing', 'Pudding is for snacking', 'Doors are for closing' or 'Feet are for stinking'. These mainly serve the entertainment value of the song and underline its humorous character.
In summary, it can be said that the song 'Steh auf wenn Du auf Zwerge stehst' conveys the message that prejudices are often wrong and that it is important not to judge people (or in this case, dwarfs) based on such prejudices, but to see their individual strengths and qualities. Furthermore, the importance of community and solidarity is emphasized.