[Marxism] The Politics of Mourning

["Jurriaan Bendien" <andromeda246@xxxxxxxxx>]

A Dutch ostalgic popsong written by Harry Jekkers called "Over the wall"
[Over de muur] and performed in 1984 by Klein Orkest goes as follows
(translation):

East Berlin, unter den Linden:
People walk by past flags and banners
Where Lenin and Marx still stand on a pedestal
And everybody works, hammers and sickles
While a change of guard occurs in goosesteps
40 years socialism, a lot was achieved in that time....
But what is this workers' paradise
If there are walls around it?
If you are afraid, have to take care about expressing your opinion?
Wat is this this workers' paradise, tell me what is it worth
When somebody who deviates, is declared insane?

And only the birds fly from East to West Berlin
They are not whistled back, or shot down
Over the wall over the iron curtain
Because those who are in the West sometimes want to be in the East
Because those who are in the West sometimes want to be in the East

West-Berlin: the Kurfurstendamm!
People walk by, past porno and peepshows
Where Mercedes and Cola still stand on their pedestal
The neon lights, which seductively beckon
Come dance! Come eat! Come drink! Come gamble!
That is now 40 years freedom, a lot was achieved in that time...
But where now is that freedom, without a home, without a job?
So many Turks in Kreuzberg who can barely survive
Okay, you can demonstrate, but with your back against the wall
And only if you have money, then freedom is not too expensive.

And only the birds fly from East to West Berlin
They are not whistled backor shot down
Over the wall over the iron curtain
Because those who are in the West sometimes want to be in the East
Because those who are in the West sometimes want to be in the East
Because there is bread sometimes at Gedachtniskirche, sometimes at Alexander
square!

http://members.ams.chello.nl/hharreve/_private/9_overdemuur.htm


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