Tanz durch die Welt (Dance Through the World)

[lily_handmaiden]

This was part of the first wet of Wicked icons I ever made, because this line, for whatever reason, has always struck me as hilarious.

It's time for the German-English re-translation of "Dancing Through Life!" One of the only ones I don't have memorized in German, because it is so long! There will be lots of footnotes! Boq's name changes to "Moq" in the German version, because "Bock" means things like "ram," "billy goat," "boob," "vaulting horse," "stubbornness," and "bagpipe." How can one word mean all of these? I have no idea. But "Moq" means none of them.

 

 

Tanz durch die Welt

(Dance Through the World) 
 
 

(This one has to be split into two segments because, well, it's a long sequence. I'm amazed I found the whole thing at all. Fiyero: Mark Siebert, Elphaba: Willemijn Verkaik, Moq: Stefan Stara, Nessa: Nicole Radesching, Galinda: Lucy Scherer, who cracks me up.)

 
FIYERO:

Ich halt nichts von Schulen.

I think nothing of schools.
Was du da lernst, das kannst du vergessen

What you learn there, you can forget it.
Ich weiß das.

I know this.
Schließlich flog ich aus genügend Schulen raus

After all, I’ve been thrown out of enough schools
Vielleicht wird man von Lernen weiser

Maybe one will become wiser from learning
Und leiser.

And quieter. (1)
Doch soll man sich deshalb stressen?

But should one stress oneself because of it?
Studieren lohnt kaum

It’s hardly worth studying
Für den, der weiß: "Das Leben ist ein Traum."

For he who knows: “Life is a dream.”

(1) In the English version, Fiyero looks pointedly at Galinda here on "less shallow." Here, to complete the joke, on "quieter," Galinda giggles or makes some other Galinda-noise. It is pretty funny.

Tanz durch die Welt,

Dance through the world,
Knapp über'm Boden.

Just over the ground
Auch wenn's verboten scheint.

Even if it seems forbidden.
Sich ins Denken

In thought yourself
Zu versenken,

To sink
Macht depressiv.

Makes you depressive.
Doch Keiner weint beim

But no one cries in the

Tanz durch die Welt,

Dance through the world,
Werd nicht gescheiter.

Don’t become brighter.
Man kommt viel weiter

One goes much farther
Mit Ignoranz.

With ignorance.
Was ist wichtig?

What’s important?
Zu leben, und zwar richtig.

To live, true indeed.
Darum leb',

Therefore live
So als wär's ein Tanz ...

As if it were a dance…

Tanz durch die Welt.

Dance through the world.
Will man dich fassen,

If someone wants to seize you,
Weich ganz gelassen aus.

Sidestep, entirely cool.
Denn ein seichter

Because a shallower
Kopf ist leichter,

Head is easier,
Schöner ist, wer

He is handsomer, who
Nicht die Stirn kraus zieht.

Doesn’t furrow his brow. (2)

(2) Life lessons/ beauty tips from Fiyero Tiggular.

Tanz durch die Welt ...

Dance through the world…
Sorglos und ziellos.

Sorrowless and aimless.
Spiel, aber spiel bloß,

Play, but only play
Was dir gefällt.

What pleases you.
Was dir Spaß macht,

What you find fun,
Das zieh ganz durch

See it entirely through,
Lach und tanz durch

Laugh and dance through
Die Welt.

The world.

Was ist denn der angehippteste Schuppen hier in der Gegend?

What is the most hipified joint nearby here, then? (3)

(3) Oz-words, ahoy!

GALINDA:
Eindeutig die alte Ozkothek.

Definitely the old Ozcotheque. (4)

(4) Yes, like "Discotheque." Those Germans love their discotheques. The Ozdust Ballroom just got a lot more groovy.

FIYERO:

Klingt cool!

Sounds cool! (5)
Lass uns heut in die Ozkothek gehn,

Let’s go to the Ozcotheque today
Denn dort gehört uns die Nacht

Because there the night belongs to us
Bis der Morgen erwacht

Until the morning awakes
Weil uns keiner dort stört

Because nobody will disturb us there
Bei einem Flirt.

When we are flirting. (6)
Wenn wir heut in die Ozkothek gehn,

When we go to the Ozcotheque today,
Vergiss den Verstand,

Forget reason
Sei mal richtig entspannt und ...

For once be really relaxed and…

(5) Doesn't it, though?

(6) As it turns out, Fiyero is wrong about this one. Madame Morrible/Akaber can disturb them there when they are flirting.

STUDENTS:
Tanz durch die Welt

Dance through the world
Im Ozkotheklicht.

In the Ozcotheque light.

FIYERO:
Verpass deinen Weg nicht

Don’t miss your way
Zum Ozkothekglanz.

To the Ozcotheque gleam! (7)

(7) "Glanz" can mean many, many things. Its other definitions include "splendor," "lustre," "glamor," "shine," and "sparkle."

ALL:
Was ist wichtig?

What’s important?
Zu leben, und zwar richtig

To live, true indeed
Darum leb' ...

Therefore live…

FIYERO:

So als wär's ein Tanz ...

As if it were a dance…

MOQ:
Galinda - ich hoffe, dass du mir mindestens einen Tanz gewährst. Ich werde den ganzen Abend warten!

Galinda—I hope that you will grant me at least one dance. I will wait the whole evening!

GALINDA:

Ach - das ist lieb - aber weißt du, was sogar noch lieber wäre?

Oh—that is kind—but do you know what would be even kinder?
Schau das Mädchen im Rollstuhl dort an.

Look at that girl in the wheelchair over there.
Sie hat es sehr schwer.

She has it very hard.
Ich find es nicht fair,

I find it unfair
Wir gehn aus und sind froh

We are going out and are happy
Sie ist so

She is so—
- Oh!

Oh!
Weißt du, wen ich bewundern würde?

Do you know who I would admire?
Einen, der zu ihr käm,

Someone who would come to her,
Der sie mit sich nähm ...

Who would take her with him…

MOQ:
Naja, vielleicht… Vielleicht lad' ich sie ja ein!

Well, maybe… Maybe I could invite her!

GALINDA:
Oh, Mick, ehrlich ...?

Oh, Mick, really?
Willst du das für mich tun?

You want to do that for me?

MOQ:
Für dich tu ich alles, Galinda!

I do everything for you, Galinda!

GALINDA:
Also ...

So…

FIYERO:

... Also hole ich dich gegen acht ab.

…So, I’m calling for you around eight.

GALINDA:

Schließlich ...

After all…
Bist du, was and're nur schienen ...

You are what others only seemed to be…

FIYERO/GALINDA:
Ich denk, dass wir uns verdienen.

I think that we deserve each other.

GALINDA:

Ich mag dich ...

I like you… (8)

FIYERO:

Ich mag dich ...

I like you…

(8) AWWW! As you can see from the video, even the German audience is tickled by this exchange. And I don't think it's just because it was Mark Siebert's last performance, but rather because of the line itself and the way Lucy says it so adorably. "I like you!" "I like you!" Hee!

GALINDA/FIYERO:

Drum mag ich dich begleiten

So I’d like to accompany you
Auf dem wilden, weiten

On the wild, wide
Tanz durch die Welt!

Dance through the world! (9)

(9) Through the whole world, huh? That's a long dance. I hope Galinda is wearing comfortable shoes. Probably she is not.

NESSAROSE:
Oh, Elphaba, ist das nicht wunderbar?

Oh, Elphaba, isn’t it wonderful?
Ich bleib nicht allein heut.

I’m not staying alone today.
Endlich lud mich jemand ein heut.

Someone finally invited me today.
Dieser Junge,

This boy,
Den Galinda für mich fand.

Who Galinda found for me.
Das vergesse ich ihr nie.

I will never forget this of her.
Ich will auch was tun für sie.

I want to do something for her, too.
Weil sie da war,

Because she was there
Hab ich erkannt,

I recognized
Dass wir uns verdienen

That we deserve each other,
Und Galinda half, weil sie sah,

And Galinda helped, because she saw
Dass wir uns verdienen.

That we deserve each other,
Ich und Moq ...

Me and Moq…
Bitte, Elphaba, versteh das doch ...

Please, Elphaba, understand this…

ELPHABA:

Oh ja.

Oh, yes.

...
Galinda, hör mal - meine Schwester und ich haben gerade von dir gesprochen ...

Galinda, listen—my sister and I were just speaking about you…

GALINDA:

Und ich von dir! Ich habe mir gedacht, den könntest du super auf der Party tragen!! (10)

And I about you! I thought you could wear this really well at the party!!
Der ist echt, äh, schräg, unleugbar.

It’s really, uh, offbeat, undeniably. (11)
Schwarz ist "in".

Black is “in.”
Ihr seid, ganz klar,

You are, very clearly,
Zwei, die sich verdienen.

Two, who deserve each other (12)
Der Hut und du

The Hat and you
Ihr seid der Clou,

You are a show-stopper, (13)
Zwei, die sich verdienen.

Two, who deserve each other.
Drum hier - mein gutes Herz drängt mich dazu.

So, here!—my good heart urges me to do this.

(10) The text I copied this from does not use exclamation points lightly or, in my opinion, enough. That it places two here is a testament to Galinda's sheer enthusiasm about Hat.

(11) This is a pun, or play on words. "Schraeg" can also mean "slanted," or "angular" which, of course, Hat is. It could also mean just "weird," but Galinda is trying to put a positive spin on it.

(12) I really like the way this parallels "The Wizard and I," where Elphaba and the Wizard are "two who understand each other."

(13) "Clou" can also mean "real joke." Really, German Galinda is not being very subtle about this, and Elphaba should probably have caught on. But then, I guess English Galinda isn't all that subtle, either.

MOQ:
Hör mal ... Nessa ...

Listen… Nessa…

NESSAROSE:

 Ja?

Yes?

MOQ:

Äh, Nessa

Uh, Nessa
Ich erkläre dir jetzt besser,

I’ll explain to you better now
Warum ich - nun ja –

Why I—well—
Dich bat, mit mir zu gehn.

Asked you to go with me.
Echt, ich schäme mich beinah...

Really, I am almost ashamed…

NESSAROSE:

Ach, Moq ... ich weiß doch warum.

Oh, Moq… I actually know why.

MOQ:
Du weißt?

You know?

NESSAROSE:
Ja, ich saß im Rollstuhl da.

Yes, I was sitting there in my wheelchair
Und du warst einfach zu gut,

And you were simply too good
Mich leiden zu sehn

To see me suffer.

MOQ:
Nein, nein! Sondern weil... weil...

No, no! But rather because… because…
Ich finde dich ganz wunderschön

I find you completely beautiful

NESSAROSE:
O Moq, ich hab sofort gesehn,

Oh, Moq, I saw right away
Dass wir zwei uns verdienen.

That we two deserve each other.
Sag mir, du verstehst mich ganz,

Tell me you understand me completely,
Weil wir uns verdienen.

Because we deserve each other
Sag's mir, Moq!

Tell me, Moq!

MOQ:
Ach, weißt du—

Oh, you know—
Komm, tanz!

Come dance!

NESSAROSE:

Was?

What?

MOQ:
Komm, tanz!

Come dance!

ALL:
Tanz durch die Welt,

Dance through the world
Leb deine Träume.

Live your dreams.
Genieß und versäume

Revel, and neglect
Nichts, was dir gefällt.

Nothing that pleases you.
Wag's zu schweben,

Dare to soar,
Verändere dein Leben,

Change your life,
Und tanz durch die Welt!

And dance through the world!