Uploaded January 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Sung by Willemijn Verkaik
Lesson: 'Man' means one/you in the sense of "one/you must not swear in front of the queen." It doesn't refer to anyone specific. It's also a very common way to form passive constructions. German *does* have passive forms but they're not as common as English. You can see this in the chorus and in other parts of the song. It would also be possible to say "You/one must atone doing good" for example, but I think it flows best the way it is.
Other notes:
1:06 'möchte' generally means 'would like' but "I'd like to help and I'm totally failing" sounds funny in English.
2:31 literally = free from punishment
Sung by Willemijn Verkaik
Lesson: 'Man' means one/you in the sense of "one/you must not swear in front of the queen." It doesn't refer to anyone specific. It's also a very common way to form passive constructions. German *does* have passive forms but they're not as common as English. You can see this in the chorus and in other parts of the song. It would also be possible to say "You/one must atone doing good" for example, but I think it flows best the way it is.
Other notes:
1:06 'möchte' generally means 'would like' but "I'd like to help and I'm totally failing" sounds funny in English.
2:31 literally = free from punishment
