Wir sind bereit

The lyrics present a group waiting for a decisive change. At first, the speakers sound restless and impatient: they stand in the street, feel that the past is over, and demand a new era. Their repeated claim, “We are ready,” shifts from a statement of confidence into a chant. But the mention of retreating after a defeat and carrying their dead friends adds loss and makes their readiness feel costly, not simply triumphant.

Several images suggest conflict and resistance. “Give us rifles for the final fight” evokes literal battle, though it could also express a desire to confront a larger struggle. The friends’ bodies make the consequences of that conflict painfully concrete. The “night” that carries their cry can imply danger or uncertainty, while the sound of the group’s voice suggests that their cause continues even after defeat.

The song leaves the nature of the “new time” and the final fight unclear. The repeated words may sound inspiring, but their repetition can also feel tense or even unsettling, as if the group is trying to convince itself as much as anyone else. Their claim to be ready therefore holds both hope and a willingness to face further loss; the lyrics do not tell us whether their struggle will succeed or what they are preparing for.