Sternhagelvoll Lyrics in English by In Extremo
Sternhagelvoll is a wonderfully vivid and colloquial German word that literally translates to something like "star-hail-full," but it's used to mean "plastered" or "hammered" – completely drunk.
It's a strong, memorable, and somewhat humorous term that perfectly captures the song's theme of heavy drinking and revelry. Its unique construction makes it stand out from more common ways to say "drunk" and is sure to pique a learner's curiosity.
A night at the pub, told from the barstool. At ten the church clock warns him ("Wenn am Abend um zehn die Turmuhr mahnt" [When the clock tower warns at ten in the evening]), but thirst grips him "mit eiserner Hand" [with an iron hand], and he tells his wife it will be late. His pockets are empty, the beer is ordered anyway, and he shrugs it off with "Was kostet die Welt?" [I could buy the whole world!].
The chorus counts the damage in blood alcohol: "Zwei Promille über Soll" [Two per mille over the limit] becomes three, then four by the last round. In between comes the brawl: a wrong word, a bloody nose, a ripped shirt, his name written "gelb im Schnee" [yellow in the snow], and he is back inside when the bell strikes four. "Heute Dur und morgen Moll" [Major today, minor tomorrow] is the hangover in musical terms.
