This makes the Goldfinger cover (which is awesome) make all the more sense. At one point he starts singing in German and I always just assumed it was for style. In reality - he's singing the "real" song, and one of the most critical parts "censored" for the English version. This is what he's singing in German:
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"Ninety-nine ministers of war
Matches and petrol cans (gasoline cans)
They regarded themselves as clever people
Already on the scent of fat quarry
They shouted "War" and wanted power
Man, who would have thought
That someday it would come as far as this
Because of ninety-nine balloons"
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It's a shame he stops there since the German ending is also dramatically better, "Ninety-nine years of war. Left no place for victors. There are no longer any ministers of war. And also no jet fighters. Today I'm making my rounds. I see the world lying in ruins. I have found a balloon. I think of you and let it fly."
The English version ending speaks in metaphor and can even be interpreted to mean it might have just been a dream.
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Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwgOWo7mDc
Goldfinger Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQFplXS0DIM
English Lyrics ("censored") - https://genius.com/Nena-99-red-balloons-lyrics
English Lyrics (translated from German) - https://lyricstranslate.com/en/99-Luftballons-99-Luftballons...
