Der Arbeitsmann

Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a vivid picture of a working family with life's essentials: a bed, a child, a partner, and steady work. They possess the sun, rain, and wind, suggesting a connection to the natural world. Yet, despite having so much, a profound lack persists, articulated by the simple, repeated phrase: "Nur Zeit" (Only Time). The central tension here is the stark contrast between their material sufficiency and their spiritual yearning. The family observes the "blue swallow-folk" flashing across the fields on Sundays, and it's clear these birds represent an ideal. The lyrics suggest they lack only "a trifle" to be as free and beautiful "wie die Vögel sind" (like the birds are), highlighting how precious and elusive this "time" truly is for them. The craft truly shines in the final stanza, where the perspective shifts from the personal "Wir" (We) to the collective "Wir Volk" (We, the people). The most striking line, "Uns fehlt ja nichts... Als all das, was durch uns gedeiht" (We lack nothing... Except all that which thrives through us), is a gut punch. It's a powerful, almost ironic statement that reveals the true cost of their labor – they produce everything, yet retain nothing of its fruit for themselves, especially not the time it consumes. Through this insistent repetition of "Nur Zeit," the direct, unadorned language, and the poignant bird imagery, the lyrics resonate deeply. They transform a simple lament for personal freedom into a potent, understated commentary on the human cost of labor, making the reader feel the weight of this universal longing.