Dschinghis Khan (English translation: "Genghis Khan") was the West German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in German by Dschinghis Khan.
The song was performed ninth on the night (following Switzerland's Peter, Sue & Marc & Pfuri, Gorps & Kniri with "Trödler und Co" and preceding Israel's Gali Atari & Milk & Honey with "Hallelujah"). At the close of voting it had received 86 points, coming fourth in a field of nineteen.
The song was written and composed by the prolific duo of Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, and owes a considerable debt to disco music, specifically of the Boney M tradition. As the name suggests, it is in praise of the titular Mongol warrior, with verses extolling his military and sexual prowess. Indeed, the entirety of his band are the subjects of this paean, being described as exceptional drinkers with a devil-may-care attitude to life.
Lyrics (click on the Closed Caption button - CC):
Hu, ha, hu, ha... hu, ha, hu, ha...
Hu, ha, hu, ha... hu, ha, hu, ha...
Hu, ha, hu, ha, hu, ha, hu, ha...
They rode the fastest horses
Left the wind behind
Thousand men
Ha, hu, ha...
And one man led the way
The others followed by:
Genghis Khan
Ha, hu, ha...
They gallopped over mountains and desert-sands
They carried desolation throughout the land
And nothing there could stop them in this world
Hu, ha...
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, rider; ho, rider; go, rider
Let us follow
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, brother; ho, brother; hey, brother
Hear us holler
Who cares where we're going
Ho, ho, ho, ho...
There's no way of knowing
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
And we'll let the Devil take our souls
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, rider; ho, rider; go, rider
Let us follow
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Go, brother; dream, brother; dance, brother
Hear us holler
You can hear his laughter
Ho, ho, ho, ho...
Now and ever-after
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
When he lifts his glass up in the air
He was the greatest lover
And the strongest man
Of his day
Ha, hu, ha...
And we have heard that
All the women fell for him
So they say
Ha, hu, ha...
And he bred seven children in one whole night
He had his girls around him at his very sight
And nothing that could stop him in this world
Hu, ha...
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, rider; ho, rider; go, rider
Let us follow
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, brother; ho, brother; hey, brother
Hear us holler
Who cares where we're going
Ho, ho, ho, ho...
There's no way of knowing
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
And we'll let the Devil take our souls
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Hey, rider; ho, rider; go, rider
Let us follow
Gen... Gen... Genghis Khan
Go, brother; dream, brother; dance, brother
Hear us holler
You can hear his laughter
Ho, ho, ho, ho...
Now and ever-after
Ha, ha, ha, ha...
When he lifts his glass up in the air
Ha... hu, ha, hu...
