Von nun an ging's bergab [English translation]

I was born in the depths of winter

I sneezed three times, acted tired

My father was angry, he wanted a son

I looked around and I already knew:

From now on, things will go downhill

Thereafter I didn't have a lot of things to do

They let me grow up and rest once in a while

But a few years later, they told me offhand:

You've got to learn a trade now!

Trouble began:

From that moment on, things went downhill

When I was fifteen, I had an idea:

I wanted to become a stage actress, Mum said "No way!"

They would have cut me out of their will, but we didn't have any money

So I answered the call into the spotlight:

From that moment on, things went downhill

And everybody thought I had a gift

And they gave me roles not even mentioned in the programme

But one day, the star fell ill and that was fine with me

And then film business executive discovered me:

From that moment on, things went downhill

Sometimes I played the good girl and sometimes I played the vamp

Sometimes beminked and sometimes without a stitch on

America told me they really needed me

So I felt pity for them and I answered their call:

From that moment on, things went downhill

Now I was famous, I was lucky Hilde

Returned home, elated

I received an award and I was treated well

But after one failure, they frowned upon me:

From that moment on, things went downhill

At first, I was sore, then I was shocked

But then some guy heard me sing

I warned him, but he told me I had to

And so this new chagrin came about

It wasn't my fault!

Please be patient

• Artist:Hildegard Knef
• Album:Halt mich fest (1967)