Interpretation
The song 'Zeit zu leben' by
Reinhard Mey is about the transience of life and the importance of seizing the moment and truly living, instead of being held back by fear and uncertainty.
In the first part of the song, various symbols of security and stability are mentioned, such as 'A house and security, A ring for eternity, A person who always remains, Reason for all time'. These things, which are often seen as signs of stability and control, are questioned: 'What are we so afraid of?'
In the next part of the song, it addresses the dissatisfaction and despair that can result from this fear: 'A smile that is not genuine, A glance that starts nothing, The hand that only takes, And time that quickly slips away'.
The chorus 'And the wind sweeps away all the leaves, And death is more than just a word. Because nothing remains, nothing remains, nothing remains. No ring, no gold, no sorrow. Nothing remains, nothing remains, nothing remains.' is a reminder of the transience of all things, including the things we often consider enduring.
The third part of the song encourages the listener to focus on the here and now and let go of their fears: 'My passport tells me 'I am', The account tells me 'I have', The photos and the child show I was always there. Everything I have belongs to me.' and 'Nothing but pain' says fear, 'Nothing but fear' says pain, 'Hold on to it' says the head, 'Let it go' says the heart, And love whispers softly 'now and here'.
The song ends with the call to seize life: 'It's time to live, finally time. Time to live, finally time. It's time to live, finally time. Time to live, finally time. Time to live.' This is an encouragement to enjoy life to the fullest and make use of the time given to us, instead of wasting it with unnecessary fears and worries.