In the entire history of musical theatre, there is no scene more beautiful and at the same time more terrifying than this one. The song is beautiful and could almost pass as a children's song, but when you know its time and setting, it gives you a terrible chill.
This is how it all started: a few innocent songs, a few demonstrations, a mistaken sense of patriotism ... and millions and millions dead!
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The sun on the meadow is summery warm. The stag in the forest runs free. But gather together to greet the storm. Tomorrow belongs to me!
The branch of the linden is leafy and green.
The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes.
Oh, Fatherland, Fatherland show us a sign.
(again)
(hailing)
(fading) |
The clip is part of the musical "Cabaret" which is set in 1929–1930 Berlin during the twilight of the Jazz Age as the Nazis are ascending to power.
The boy actor in the film was a fifteen-year-old German called Oliver Collignon. However, his voice was dubbed over with the voice of an American youth, Mark Lambert. Neither of these two young men were included in the film's credits.
"Tomorrow Belongs to Me" was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb in the style of a traditional German song that stirs up patriotism for the "Vaterland". It has been mistaken for a genuine "Nazi anthem" and led to the songwriters being accused of anti-Semitism even though the lyrics are neither racist nor anti-Semitic, and both writers are Jewish.
German nationalism explained in three minutes flat! Chilling stuff!
