Good Old Bad Old Days-Daniel Kahn/the Painted Bird

[00:08.032]I followed you over the border down to the Spree [00:14.977]You were standing alone by the water waiting for me [00:21.588]We wandered along by the river [00:25.053]The towers all shrouded in haze [00:28.424]& we kissed by the wire & they all held their fire [00:32.310]In the good old bad old days [00:35.528]Just remember how lovely it couldn't have been [00:39.197]When the world was as closed as a door [00:42.781]I remember those nights down in old east Berlin [00:46.673]With the microphones listening under the floor [00:51.066]& every stamp in this passport of mine [00:54.363]Was a record of kisses you gave [00:57.666]Yes we suffered in style & it's all in the file [01:01.639]In the good old bad old days [01:19.629]All the streetlights were waltzing together [01:23.912]crimson & green [01:27.081]& your dress was as gray as the weather [01:31.129]oh what a dream [01:34.580]We built up a city of whispers & classified war dossiers [01:41.951]I gave you control of my papers & soul [01:46.117]In the good old bad old days [01:49.521]Ah yes wasn't it miserable, wasn't it grand? [01:53.529]When the world had an iron divide [01:57.247]& people could take a political stand [02:00.857]Just by singing a song for the opposite side [02:06.012]Now nobody cares who you are anymore [02:09.460]& nobody cares what you say [02:13.363]It's liberty's curse, but was it really much worse [02:17.418]In the good old bad old days? [02:51.317]Now Alyosha is gathering flowers every May [02:58.877]& the statue of Marx by the tower faces away [03:06.423]By the wall is a souvenir table [03:10.107]with hammers & sickles displayed [03:13.731]On new watches, that work [03:15.655]& they're sold by a Turk [03:17.783]In these good old bad new days [03:21.082]Now I'm working for Euros & drinking alone [03:25.028]Where we used to spend marks at the bar [03:28.766]& the w*eds have grown over the border of stone [03:32.838]That cuts through the town like a surgical scar [03:37.282]& so many streets on this faded old map [03:41.158]Are like names written over a grave [03:44.746]It all makes me so mad cause it wasn't that bad [03:48.687]In the good old bad old days [04:18.213]For capitalist prostitution comes from within [04:26.455]& Don't worry about revolution [04:30.472]we'll just keep the aesthetic clichés [04:34.621]In this market of fleas, selling klezmer CDs [04:38.970]For the good old bad old days [04:42.633]So Genossen, Товарищи, let's make a toast [04:46.822]To the time when the state knew your name [04:50.381]& we'll all say "l'chaim", "на здровие" und "Prost" [04:54.748]To that braver old world where we all are the same [04:59.277]Where nobody loses & everyone wins [05:03.254]Just as long as each comrade obeys [05:06.999]But that's all in the past so let's raise up a glass [05:11.208]To the good old bad old days [05:22.617]That's all in the past so let's raise up a glass [05:27.028]To the good old bad old days [4:08.200]So don't look for a final solution here in Berlin