The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Mitternacht!
Aha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Mitternacht!
Wenn die Gondeln Trauer tragen
Und es hallt der toten Klagen
Tief im Nacken das Grauen sitzt
Wenn die Uhr beginnt zu schlagen
Kalte, dichte Nebelschwaden
Berühr'n dich sacht
Mitternacht!
(Loca in ferna in nocte
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
Gefriert das Blut dir in den Adern
Schnürt dir Angst die Kehle zu
Hörst du dein Herz und die Glocken schlagen
Ist es Nacht
Mitternacht!
(Loca in ferna in nocte
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
Mitternacht!
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula
Es ist Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Aha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Mitternacht!
Wenn die Gondeln Trauer tragen
Und es hallt der toten Klagen
Tief im Nacken das Grauen sitzt
Wenn die Uhr beginnt zu schlagen
Kalte, dichte Nebelschwaden
Berühr'n dich sacht
Mitternacht!
(Loca in ferna in nocte
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
Gefriert das Blut dir in den Adern
Schnürt dir Angst die Kehle zu
Hörst du dein Herz und die Glocken schlagen
Ist es Nacht
Mitternacht!
(Loca in ferna in nocte
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
Mitternacht!
Loca in ferna in nocte
Animae in nebula
Es ist Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Mitternacht!
(Media nox obscura nox
Crudelitas animarum
Campana sonat
Mora deis)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Lyrics submitted by Lexiticus, edited by DodgerFuckYou
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The lyrics above are incomplete. Here are the complete lyrics:
Mitternacht.
Mitternacht.
Wenn die gondeln trauer tragen Und es hallt der toten klagen Tief im nacken das grauen sitzt
Wenn die uhr beginnt zu schlagen Kalte, dichte nebelschwaden Berühr‘n dich sacht
Mitternacht
Loca inferna in nocte. Loca inferna in nocte. Anima in nebula.
Mitternacht (mitternacht).
Media nox, obscura nox. Crudelitas animarum. Compana sonat duo decies.
Mitternacht.
Media nox, obscura nox. Crudelitas animarum. Compana sonat duo decies.
Mitternacht!
Gefriert das blut dir in den adern Schnürt dir angst die kehle zu Hörst du dein herz und die glocken schlagen Ist es nacht
Mitternacht !
Loca inferna in nocte Loca inferna in nocte Anima in nebula
Mitternacht (mitternacht).
Media nox obscura nox Crudelitas animarum Campana sonat Duo decies
Mitternacht (mitternacht, mitternacht, mitternacht)!
Mitternacht.
Loca inferna in nocte Anima in nebula
A Latin chorus begins here. I can't find the lyrics online and I can't make out the words (which would be easier if I spoke Lating) so I can not transcribe what is sung, but it is repeated once or twice
Es ist mitternacht!
Media nox obscura nox Crudelitas animarum Compana sonat duo decies
Media nox obscura nox Crudelitas animarum Compana sonat duo decies
Below is the translation. I used German to English and Latin to English translators as well as sometimes going in reverse to make sure that the words translated properly. I also used other peoples online translations, specifically from forums.massassi.net/vb3/showthread.php (much of which was inaccurate but some of which was helpful). Finally, I made use of my own limited but not nonexistent understandings of the languages.
Midnight.
Midnight.
When the small gondolas carry the mourning And the crying of the dead resounds, Up to the neck the gray sit.*
When the clock begins to sound Cold, dark clouds Touch you lightly.
Midnight.
Located below the night. Located below the night. Life in a dark cloud.**
Midnight (midnight).
In the middle of the night. In the dark of the night. Cruel life. The bell rings twelve times.
Midnight.
In the middle of the night. In the dark of the night. Cruel life. The bell rings twelve times.
Midnight!
Your blood freezes in your veins. Your fear catches in your throat, too. You hear your heart and the clock strike.*** This is night.
Midnight.
The place below the night. The place below the night. Living in a cold, dark cloud.
Midnight (midnight).
In the middle of the night. In the dark of the night. Cruel life. The bell rings twelve times.
Midnight (midnight, midnight, midnight)!
Midnight.
The place below the night. Living in a cold, dark cloud.
That Latin chorus that I can't catch
This is midnight!
In the middle of the night. In the dark of the night. Cruel life. The bell rings twelve times.
In the middle of the night. In the dark of the night. Cruel life. The bell rings twelve times.
That's the literal translation, but this is probably meant to be something like “The gray are piled neck-high” Literally “cold, dark dark clouds,” as "dichte translates to "dark" and “nebelschwaden” translates to “dark clouds,” or more literally “dark nebula clouds." "strike" probably also refers to what we think of as the heart's “”beat” in this case.
The song does bring out the perfect "Vampires come out at midnight" feeling.
I'd like to thank Christiangoth for his great translation, but would like to add a bit of my own, because i am native german speaking, and i think he has missed a bit while using automated translators (it happens all the time, dont worry about it):
Und es hallt der toten klagen
Tief im nacken das grauen sitzt
Kalte, dichte nebelschwaden
Anima in nebula
Hörst du dein herz und die glocken schlagen -You hear your heart and the clock strike.*** ->This is also lost in translation. In german, Clocks also "beat", like a heart. Its the same word, though we too have several different words for hitting stuff. Coincidentally, we use the same for hearts and bells ;) => You hear your heart and the bell strike
Thats about what i can make out. Someone correct me if i am wrong :)
i actually have the complete lyrics. i got them off of another site, but they were kind of jumbled, so i'm fixing them as best as i can. but i have the latin chorus: Loca inferna in nocte. Loca inferna in nocte. Animae in nebula...Mitternacht!
Media nox obscura nox. Crudelitas animarum. Campana sonat duodecies...Mitternacht!
still not sure on the translation i got. it was really messed up (grammar-wise) so i'm doing it by hand.
ok i give up if anyone has a none-crappy translation let me know
ok so ive listened to this song a zillion time over and i may have some answers. the "latin"chorus is actually a high pitched "Media nox, obscura nox" so thats one.... i cant do much right now about the german-english tranlation yet but i intend to do it by hand word for word...
I know the latin chorus in english! I think... here it is: cure night darkness night cruelty soul bell sonat two fall dead
That's as close as I could get... but I got it! ...I think...
katybexyiii was on the right track
if i remember right from my latin its something like this
media nox, obscura nox crudelitas animarum campana sonat duo decies
midnight, darknight cruelty of the soul(animarum isnt genetive but i think the case could be used a such) a bell sounds twenty (duodecies is twice ten, twenty...i assume it means that the bell rang twenty times)
loca in ferna in nocte
i thinks it may be loca inferna nocte instaed in which case its somethink like "the place of hellacious night" yes....hell is an adjective...haha
and anima in nebula is pretty expendable
soul in the fog, soul in the night, soul of the dark, etc thats depending on the person i suppose
Midnight
laughing... ...midnight!
When the gondolas are in mourning* and the dead's lament resounds horror is breathing down your neck
When the clock starts striking cold thick fog is touching you gently ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]
When your blood is freezing in your veins When fear is constricting your throat When you hear your heart strike with the bells It is night... ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]
Midnight
laughing... ...midnight!
When the gondolas are in mourning* and the dead's lament resounds horror is breathing down your neck
When the clock starts striking cold thick fog is touching you gently ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]
When your blood is freezing in your veins When fear is constricting your throat When you hear your heart strike with the bells It is night... ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]
Midnight
laughing... ...midnight!
When the gondolas are in mourning* and the dead's lament resounds horror is breathing down your neck
When the clock starts striking cold thick fog is touching you gently ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]
When your blood is freezing in your veins When fear is constricting your throat When you hear your heart strike with the bells It is night... ...midnight!
[latin] endless craziness in the night endliss craziness in the night ghosts in the mist ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight!
midnight, dark night cruelty of the soul the bell is ringing twelve times ...midnight! [/latin]