Where do they go and what do they do?
They’re walking on by, they’re looking at you
Some people stop, some people stare
But would they help you and do they care?
How did you fall? Did you fall at all?
Are you happy where you are sleeping underneath the stars?
When it's cold is it your hope that keeps you warm?
A spare bit of change is all that I give
How is that gonna help when you've got nowhere to live?
Some turn away so they don't see
I bet you'd look if that were me
How did you fall? Did you fall at all?
Are you happy where you are sleeping in between parked cars?
When it thunders where do you hide from the storm?
Could you ever forgive my self-pity?
When you've got nothing and you're living on the streets of the city
I couldn't live without my phone
But you don't even have a home
How did we fall? Can we get up at all?
Are we happy where we are on our lonely little star?
When it's cold is it your hope that keeps you warm?
Where do they go and what do they do?
They’re walking on by, they’re looking at you
They’re walking on by, they’re looking at you
Quelle: www.letssingit.com/lyrics/m/mel-c/4.html
Deutsche Übersetzung von Volker Pöhls
Melanie C
Wenn ich das wäre
Wo gehen sie hin und was tun sie?
Sie gehen vorbei, sie gucken dich an
Manche bleiben stehen, manche starren dich an
Aber würden sie dir helfen oder wäre es ihnen egal?
Wie bist du gefallen? Bist du überhaupt gefallen?
Bist du glücklich, da, wo du unter den Sternen schläfst?
Wenn es kalt ist – ist es deine Hoffnung, die dich warm hält?
Ein bißchen überflüssiges Kleingeld ist alles, was sie geben
Wie soll das helfen, wenn du nirgendwo leben kannst?
Manche drehen sich weg, damit sie nichts sehen
Ich wette du würdest hinschauen, wenn ich es wäre
Wie bist du gefallen? Bist du überhaupt gefallen?
Bist du glücklich wenn du zwischen geparkten Autos schläfst?
Wenn es donnert, wohin flüchtest du dich dann vor dem Sturm?
Könntest du mir mein Selbstmitleid einmal verzeihen?
Wenn man nichts hat und man auf den Straßen der Stadt lebt
Ich könnte nicht ohne mein Telefon leben
Du dagegen hast nicht einmal ein Zuhause
Wie sind wir gefallen? Können wir überhaupt noch aufstehen?
Sind wir glücklich auf unserem einsamen kleinen Stern?
Wenn es kalt ist, ist es deine Hoffnung, die dich warmhält?
Wo gehen sie hin und was tun sie?
Sie gehen vorbei, sie gucken dich an
Sie gehen vorbei, sie gucken dich an
Talking Points
1.) The lyrics differentiate between "I", "you" and "they". Find out: Who is who? Is it ambiguous?
2.) What do the lyrics tell you about the literary "I"? (She wonders what it would be like if she were a beggar. She hopes, has the illusion that people would help her "if that were me". She feels sorry for herself ("forgive my self-pity"), although she is well off. She seems to feel "fallen", too.
3.) How realistic is it to assume that people would help her if she were a beggar?
4.) Analyse the possible meanings of "fall"! (lose balance,lose status)
5.) What is the difference between the bum and the "I"? What do they have in common?
6.)Comment on "I couldn't live without my phone ..."
7.) How much does she identify herself with the bum? (Notice the change from "How did you fall?" and "How did we fall?")
8.) What kind of relationship is there between the beggar and the "I"?
9.) The lyrics are partly enigmatic. Is that a strength or a weakness?
10.) Look for clichees in the lyrics! ("sleeping underneath the stars", "lonely little star")
11.) Look for other lyrics dealing with beggars (Phil Collins, "Another Day in Paradise", Everlast "What it's like", Ralph McTell "Streets of London" etc.) Compare them to this song!