99 Red Balloons probably makes a little more sense in the original German. But, then again, when does music have to make sense? People are still debating the "meaning" behind _American Pie_, in spite of Don McLean stating that much of the song is sense-free.
I actually ran Google's translation on the German version in that link... it's roughly the same, though I guess the details about the toy shop were added in.
In fact there's an interview with the translator linked from that page. I'd say it was a good job, though I think making the last line no longer rhyme gives it a more plantive feel.
Oh K-Iz, you're so silly!
That's the most bizzare thing I've read for a very, very long time.
I'm sure homeland security is working overtime, deciphering the hidden plot, coded in that post.
Way to ge, Kirk.
It wouldn't be the first time that the US was attacked by hostile balloons:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avfusen.html
I always wondered what that Captain Kirk reference was in that song, and yet I never really paid attention to the lyrics when the song was sung in English.