An den kleinen Radioapparat
The song 'An den Kleinen Radioapparat' (To the Little Radio) was composed in exile in 1942 by Hanns Eisler to lyrics by Bertolt Brecht from his collection of Hollywood songs (Hollywood Liederbuch, 1942-43). The words, spoken by a German exile during the Second World War, are addressed to the radio, which continues to broadcast news from Nazi Germany. Through this little box, the speaker says, 'my enemies could still address me'.
Oh, you little box I carried as I fled
Carefully so that no valve breaks
Fleeing from house to train, from train to ship
So that my enemies might still address me.
At my bedside and to torment me
From dawn until last thing at night,
Shouting their victories and my worst fears:
Promise at least you won't go silent again!
Du kleiner Kasten, den ich flüchtend trug,
Daß meine Lampen mir auch nicht zerbrächen,
Besorgt vom Haus zum Schiff, vom Schiff zum Zug,
Daß meine Feinde weiter zu mir sprächen,
An meinem Lager und zu meiner Pein,
Der letzten nachts, der ersten in der Früh,
Von ihren Siegen und von meiner Müh:
Versprich mir, nicht auf einmal stumm zu sein!
Oh, you little box I carried as I fled
Carefully so that no valve breaks
Fleeing from house to train, from train to ship
So that my enemies might still address me.
At my bedside and to torment me
From dawn until last thing at night,
Shouting their victories and my worst fears:
Promise at least you won't go silent again!