Overview
There are two versions of the song: the original version completely in German, and a second version partially in English (Found on special editions of the Sehnsucht album). In the second version, the first chorus and the verses are in English and the last chorus is in German. The lyrics to the English version are not a direct translation from the German due to the use of a homophone between the German verbs haben (to have), and, hassen (to hate), in the original song. When conjugated in the second person singular form (i.e. "you"), the verbs haben and hassen become respectively hast and hasst. There is no phonetic difference between these two words. Due to the translational impossibility of retaining the homophone in English, the English version was changed from Du hast, meaning "you have," to Du hasst, meaning "you hate." The song is a play on German marriage vows.
The refrain "Willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet, treu ihr sein für alle Tage?" translates to "Do you want, until death separates you, to be faithful to her for all time?" Instead of answering with "ja" (yes), the singer says "nein" (no), finally breaking his silence earlier in the song: "Du hast mich gefragt, und ich hab' nichts gesagt." This is in the present perfect and translates to "You have asked me, and I have said nothing," but is usually translated in the past tense to, "You asked me, and I said nothing."
One time in the song, the refrain is sung with different words ("Willst du bis zum Tod der Scheide, sie lieben auch in schlechten Tagen?"). This is a pun and translates as "Do you want, until the death of the vagina, to love her even in bad days?". Again, the singer responds with "Nein!".
Read more about this topic: Du Hast