Störtebeker Lyrics in English by In Extremo
Störtebeker is not just a word, but the name of a legendary German pirate, Klaus Störtebeker, who was active in the late 14th century. He is a folk hero in Northern Germany, known for his daring raids and his defiance of authority.
In this song, the band In Extremo celebrates this historical figure, identifying with his rebellious spirit and lifestyle. Learning this word opens a window into German folklore and history, making it much more engaging than a common vocabulary word.
Grab a flag with a skull on it, because this one is a pirate drinking song. In Extremo sing as the crew of Klaus Störtebeker, the legendary pirate captain of the North and Baltic Seas: "Störtebeker ist sein Name / Und wir sind seine Brüder" (Störtebeker is his name / And we are his brothers). They roar out robber songs, and everyone "von Helgoland selbst bis auf Rügen" (from Helgoland all the way to Rügen) knows who they are.
The crew has its own twisted code. They never lie at the altar on Sunday, they share everything, and they sail for "Silber, Weiber, Salz und Bier" (silver, women, salt and beer). The chorus is a cheeky play on words: "Wir plündern nicht, wir rauben / Wir beten nicht, wir glauben" (We don't plunder, we rob / We don't pray, we believe). The darkest verse nods to the old legend of Störtebeker's execution, where "Er ging ohne Kopf" (He walked without a head), and the song never stops grinning about it.
