Translation of the song lyrics Die Strasse der Zeit - Lacrimosa

Die Strasse der Zeit (original)

Und was ich sah war Menschlichkeit…
Und was ich sah war Dummheit
Menschlicher Neigung entsprechend
Tierisches Verhalten
Den ganzen Tag habe ich gewartet
Und sah die Menschen nur an mir voruber ziehen
Nun ist es Abend und die Strasse leer
Ich bin mude — wohin soll ich noch gehen?
Auf der Strasse der Zeit…
Alleine schon seit Stunden
Bin ich nun schon unterwegs
Mein weg fuhrt mich nach gestern
Auf der Strasse der Zeit
Hier und da sah ich die Menschen
Flach danieder — stumm vor Angst
Von ihren Brudern uberrannt
Und rucksichtslos zertreten
Ich sah die Menschen
Tief beschamt
Verraten und enttauscht
Und schon fruh in ihrem Leben
Im Todeskampf sich wiegend
Besiegt oder als Sieger
Gestarkt oder zerstort
Am Ende bleibt nur Hass
Und so gehen sie zu Boden
Ich sah die Ruhmessaulen grosser Menschen
Ich horte selbst noch ihre Worte
Und war geruhrt und tief bewegt
Doch zuvor sah ich ihr Ende
Und auch das ihrer Visionen
Ich durchwanderte die Kriege
Sah die Angst und das Verderben
Und ganz gleich ob Krieg — ob Frieden
Egoismus — blinder Hass
War doch immer hier zu gegen
Und ich lief weiter durch die Nacht
Und sah nur mehr noch mehr Tranen
Und noch weiter lief ich fort
Und was ich sah war Dummheit
Menschlicher Neigung entsprechend
Tierisches Verhalten
Und als der Morgen sich erhob
Und die Nacht der Sonne wich
Zeigte sich mir jung und wild
Die grosse Zeit der Griechen
Und die Hoffnung dieser Menschen
Ihr Mut und ihre Kraft
Erfullte mich auf meinem Weg
Zum ersten mal mit Freude
Und erschopft von allen Zeiten
Legte ich mich nieder
Vor den Mauern von Athen
Und wahrend ich die Augen schliesse
Sehe ich das junge Volk
Sich voller Hoffnung und voll Stolz
Im angesicht der Sonne mehrem
And what I saw was humanity…
And what I saw was stupidity
In line with human inclination
Bestial behaviour
I waited the whole day
And only saw people hurrying past me
Now it is evening and the roads are empty
I’m tired — where should I still go?
On the road of time…
Already alone for hours
I am now already on my way
Which leads me to yesterday
On the road of time
Here and there I saw the people
Shallow own below — mute with fear
Run over by their brothers
And thoughtlessly crushed underfoot
I saw the people
Deeply ashamed
Betrayed and disappointed
And already early in their life
Rocking themselves in the throes of death
Conquered or conqueror
Strengthened or destroyed
Only hate remains in the end
And so they fall to the ground
I saw the pillars of fame of great men
I still heard their words myself
I was touched and deeply moved
But before I saw their end
And also that of their visions
I wandered through the wars
Saw the fear and the ruin
And all the same — whether war or peace
Egoism — blind hate
Was always present here
And I walked on through the night
And saw only more and more tears still
And I carried on walking
And what I saw was stupidity
In line with human inclination
Bestial behaviour
And as the morning raised itself
And the night gave way to the sun
Young and wild
The great time of the Greeks
Showed itself to me
And the hope of these people
Their courage and strength
Filled me on my way
For the first time with joy
And exhausted from all times
I lay myself down
Before the walls of Athens
And as I close my eyes
I see the young folk
Gathering full of hope and pride
In the face of the Sun

(translation)

And what I saw was humanity...
And what I saw was stupidity
According to human inclination
animal behavior
I've been waiting all day
And just saw people pass me by
Now it is evening and the street is empty
I'm tired — where else should I go?
On the road of time...
Alone for hours
I'm on my way now
My way leads me to yesterday
On the road of time
Here and there I saw people
Flattened—dumb with fear
Overrun by her brothers
And crush ruthlessly
I saw the people
deeply ashamed
Betrayed and disappointed
And early in her life
Weighing in the agony
Defeated or victorious
Strengthened or destroyed
In the end only hate remains
And so they go down
I saw the pillars of glory of great people
I could still hear her words myself
And was touched and deeply moved
But before that I saw her end
And also that of their visions
I wandered through the wars
Saw the fear and the doom
And it doesn't matter whether it's war or peace
Selfishness — blind hatred
Was always present here
And I kept walking through the night
And only saw more tears
And I ran even further
And what I saw was stupidity
According to human inclination
animal behavior
And as the morning rose
And the night gave way to the sun
Showed me young and wild
The heyday of the Greeks
And the hope of these people
Her courage and strength
Filled me up on my way
For the first time with joy
And exhausted from all times
I lay down
Outside the Walls of Athens
And while I close my eyes
I see the young people
Full of hope and full of pride
In the face of the sun more
And what I saw was humanity...
And what I saw was stupidity
In line with human inclination
bestial behaviour
I waited the whole day
And only saw people hurrying past me
Now it is evening and the roads are empty
I'm tired — where should I still go?
On the road of time...
Already alone for hours
I am now already on my way
Which leads me to yesterday
On the road of time
Here and there I saw the people
Shallow own below — mute with fear
Run over by their brothers
And thoughtlessly crushed underfoot
I saw the people
Deeply ashamed
Betrayed and disappointed
And already early in their life
Rocking themselves in the throes of death
Conquered or conqueror
Strengthened or destroyed
Only hate remains in the end
And so they fall to the ground
I saw the pillars of fame of great men
I still heard their words myself
I was touched and deeply moved
But before I saw their end
And also that of their visions
I wandered through the wars
Saw the fear and the ruin
And all the same — whether war or peace
Egoism — blind hate
What is always present here
And I walked on through the night
And saw only more and more tears still
And I carried on walking
And what I saw was stupidity
In line with human inclination
bestial behaviour
And as the morning raised itself
And the night gave way to the sun
young and wild
The great time of the Greeks
Showed itself to me
And the hope of these people
Their courage and strength
Filled me on my way
For the first time with joy
And exhausted from all times
I lay myself down
Before the walls of Athens
And as I close my eyes
I see the young folk
Gathering full of hope and pride
In the face of the Sun