S.T.S.
With their biggest successes in the '80s, S.T.S. is one of the most successful Austrian bands. In their songs they combine traditional provincial Austrian music with pop on a high level; the lyrics are usually written in Styrian dialect, many songs are typically accompanied by their accoustic guitars.
One of their biggest successes is Großvater (Grandfather). It's a nostalgic song of a man remembering his grandfather who has been his role model throughout the whole life and wishing him back. His grandfather had taught him a lot for life, although he was nothing like outstanding or highly educated but just a modest, wise, decent man.
It may encourage us to recognize the hidden treasures within the ordinary people of our surroundings.
Lyrics:
Every
time there was quarrel with the mother
The
first thing I did was going to you
And you
said “She’s alone, you must understand her
Everything
passes by, c’mon let’s have a beer”
And then
you meant, the whole life is about taking
And a
lot more of giving,
So in the
next night out of the cupboard
I stole
the 1000 Schilling
For
spending in the discotheque
The day
after you asked me about it.
I denied
it, cried hysterically
Your
eyes were sad, then I wept
You just
said, “C’mon, forget about it
Money
can’t possibly be so important.”
When you
told me about the war
When you
looked with a Russian eye to eye
You both
offered each other a cigarette
The hand
on the trigger was shaking out of fear.
Or your
wife, who all day cried your ears full
You just
said “I love her
I don’t always
need to hear everything she says.”
Grandfather,
can’t you come down for a cup of coffee,
Grandfather,
there are just so many things to say I now came to understand,
Grandfather,
you were my first friend and that’s something I’ll never forget,
Grandfather.
You were
neither superhuman, nor pretended to be
Just
because of that there was some sort of power
But by
the way you lived your life
I recognized
how you may make it through
Your principle
was: Always think first
Have an
opinion you advocate
No violence, talk about everything
But never
be afraid of anyone.
Grandfather,
can’t you come down for a cup of coffee,
Grandfather,
there are just so many things to say I now came to understand,
Grandfather,
you were my first friend and that’s something I’ll never forget,
Grandfather.
Translation by Julian Trummer
Other notable songs:
Fürstenfeld. A slightly parodic song about the longing for getting back to province.
Irgendwann bleib I dann dort (One day I'll stay there). A song about going away from home forever.
