Lebenszeit

The lyrics follow two people through the stages of life, always together. At first, they travel and explore; later, they face work and hardship; finally, they sit old and tired in the shade. The repeated promise of staying together “for a lifetime” gives the song a warm, steady feeling, though the final verse adds sadness: their shared life has lasted, but it is nearing its end.

The pair’s different skills suggest that they complement each other: one knows the stars while the other measures depth with a plumb line. On the mountain, one looks at the world and the other sees light, hinting that they may understand life in different ways. Their journey through “stone and smoke” can be read as an image of difficult, noisy everyday life, where each person is called toward work or burden.

The lyrics never specify whether the two are lovers, friends, or another kind of close pair, so the bond is open to interpretation. Their loyalty matters more than the exact relationship. The closing shift from “they hold together” to “they held together” may suggest that the story is being remembered after a long life, or simply emphasize how much time has passed. The song celebrates devotion without claiming that companionship prevents fatigue, illness, or loss.