The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Horizont" by the artist "Unheilig"

Unheilig's song "Horizont" ("Horizon") paints a bleak picture of life devoid of individuality and freedom, where a person exists solely to conform to external pressures and societal expectations.

The first verse depicts an artificial, joyless environment: the neon light that cannot replace the warmth of the sun, the dehumanization conveyed through "being numbered," and the suppression of individuality for the sake of abstract "success for the fatherland."

The second verse deepens the sense of hopelessness: cramped living spaces, pervasive greyness, the absence of dreams, and the whispers of others controlling thoughts and actions. The "foreign self" symbolizes the values and beliefs imposed from the outside.

The chorus offers a contrast between the fleeting nature of time ("time flies by") and the hope for liberation ("the horizon opens up"). Looking at the sky becomes symbolic of yearning for freedom, for something more than the mundane routine.

The third verse reveals the inner world of the lyrical hero: he suppresses his emotions ("you burn the pain inside you"), avoids challenges ("you swallow every problem"), and hides from life ("you make a cult out of timidity"). The image of "crawling on your knees" emphasizes his humiliation and submissiveness.

The final lines reiterate the motif of time's transience, emphasizing that even a "short eternity" is subject to its relentless flow. The song leaves a lingering feeling of despair while holding onto a glimmer of hope that the horizon of freedom might still be attainable.