It was worth it to be near you.

Meine Schwester liebt den Buster [My Sister Loves Buster]

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/N84NZZlg1QA

In 1928, Friedrich Hollaender [little guy to Buster’s right in photo] wrote a cabaret tune, “Meine Schwester liebt den Buster”. After I found this video, I was determined to get, on my own, an English translation of the lyrics. After jumping through many hoops – including using a Portuguese translation, which was the only form of the lyrics I could find online, and running them through a few online translators – I think I have the gist. It’s really amusing, especially when you consider how aptly it describes many of the tumblr Keaton fandom, including me!

[Photo of Buster with Hollaender, circa 1930]

Enjoy:

My sister’s lost her way. She’s insensitive. Oh, very modern! She couldn’t care less about love or men. People even think she’s got a slight tilt to the other side. Unfortunately it’s not like that. She only has “it” when she goes to the movies!

[Chorus]:  Because my sister is in love with Buster Keaton, and she sees him in all men! And all men are nothing compared to Keaton, and that’s why she watches him every day. No man can compare to Buster, and she idolizes him year after year! My sister loves Buster Keaton and get this – more than Chaplin!

My sister’s lost her way. She spends on Buster to her last cent. And she also says, “With dick*, it’s not the same thing, not even half the effect!” Oh, that sister of mine, you will laugh. She does the melancholic line just because Buster is melancholic. Then she buys several pictures of him and devours them with salt and pepper!

[Chorus]

Oh, that sister of mine…words escape me… She doesn’t need pleasure to feel pleasure… She is so disturbed and perverse, as the youth of today must be… God! She’s so bleak, so sensual, so stubborn, so full of ennui. But she’s like a silly little bird that craves the Rothschild fortune! Because…

[Chorus]