"It's All a Swindle" (Alles Schwindel), by Mischa Spoliansky and Marcellus Schiffer (1931)

"Life's a swindle, yes, it's all a swindle
so get what you can
from your fellow man
Girls and boys today
would rather steal than play
and we don't care
We tell them get your share
Life is short and greed's in season
all mankind has lost its reason
life is good, knock on wood, knock, knock"

"Alles Schwindel, alles schwindel,
überall wohin du guckst
und wohin du spuckst!
Alles ist heut ein Gesindel,
jedes Girl und jeder Boy,
’s wird einem schlecht dabei!
’s wird ein’m schwindlig von dem Schwindel,
alles, alles, alles Schwindel,
unberufen toi! toi! toi!"

     This song talks about the way life was in 1931.  People would steal everything that they could. Children would be taught at a young age that stealing is not just okay, but also its a good thing.  Everybody does it from the politicians who take bribes to the average person on the street.  She is not even regretting what the people are doing she emphasizes this in the last line of the chorus "life is good, knock on wood, knock, knock."  She wants this life style to continue and she asks for Jesus' help to keep it this way.  I choose this song because to me it shows how low a society could become.  When it is accepted that everyone is stealing from anyone they could, you can not have a government that would make rules.  Especially when the politicians are not trust worthy.  I feel this is the fear of many people in countries that are corrupt.