Schrei nach Liebe

"Schrei nach Liebe" ("Cry for love") is a punk song by Die Ärzte. It is the second track and the first single from their 1993 album Die Bestie in Menschengestalt. It is one of the best known political anthems and anti-fascist songs in Germany.

Content and music style

The verses tell the story of a fictional right-wing extremist, who gets insulted. Excerpts from the songs lyrics (with English translation):

German: „Du bist wirklich saudumm […] Alles muss man dir erklären, weil du wirklich gar nichts weißt…“

English: "You are really stupid […] Everything has to be explained to you, because you really don't know anything…"

In the chorus the insults go further:

German: „Deine Gewalt ist nur ein stummer Schrei nach Liebe […] Du hast nie gelernt dich zu artikulieren. Deine Eltern hatten niemals für dich Zeit“.

English: "Your violence is just a silent cry for love […] You never learned to express yourself. Your parents never had time for you".

The chorus ends with "Arschloch", which is German for Asshole.

Music video

In the beginning three men wielding a chainsaw, an axe and something on a chain, with evil glints in their eyes, walk towards a church. Two children, one of them dark-skinned, run inside the church and hide under coffins. The weapon-wielding men find two old women and a man (Rod) sitting inside the church as Farin and Bela B. rise from the coffins and start to read the fascist morals. The three men are stunned by what they are told and their tough exterior shell breaks. In the end of the song, the two children who had run in to find sanctuary in the church clean their faces, removing the make-up which had ringed their eyes.

Track listing

1. "Wenn es Abend wird" (Farin Urlaub) - 6:30
2. "Schrei nach Liebe" (Felsenheimer, Farin Urlaub) - 4:13

Maxi

1. "Wenn es Abend wird" (Farin Urlaub) - 6:30
2. "Schrei nach Liebe" (Felsenheimer, Farin Urlaub) - 4:13
3. "Felicita" (De Stefanie, Gino, Farina, Dario/Minellono, Christiano) - 0:52
4. "Ja (Demo)" (Farin Urlaub) - 2:38

B-sides

• "Wenn es Abend wird" ("When the evening comes") is from Die Bestie in Menschengestalt.
• "Felicita" (Italian: "Joy") is sung in Italian, a parody cover of the song by Al Bano and Romina Power.
• "Ja" (Portuguese: "By now") is sung in Portuguese.

Charts