Originally, A Balladeer was the name of band fronted by De Goederen. The group made melancholy ballads and catchy pop songs. After their début EP, Rumor Had It (2004), they started the long process of making their first album, for a long time without a record company and with their own money. Eventually signed by EMI, Panama hit the stores in May 2006. An extensive club tour of The Netherlands followed. In February 2007 A Balladeer won a Dutch Zilveren Harp ('Silver Harp') award.
Later that year Marinus, Tijs and Erik started working on their second album, which came out to critical acclaim in September 2008, entitled Where Are You, Bambi Woods?. Peaking at #16 in the Dutch album charts it is A Balladeer's highest charting album to this day. It was also the final album made in the original band line-up.
Today, A Balladeer is the solo moniker of Marinus de Goederen, who released his 2010 solo album Sorry, kid. as mr. a balladeer, but soon reverted to the old band name and released several more albums, including I Can't Keep Track of Each Fallen Robin (2012), A Wolf at the Door (2016) and the seasonal album, December (2017).
Pre-Berlin
A Balladeer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're making away with right in the rear
An Indian Summer sun, red
Berlin ahead
The sky so pretty through the open roof
And I so witty - your laughter, my proof
Through your hand on my knee
The memory's alive tonight
The driver's seat feels quite alright
And I don't know what it is
But I think I could get used to this
The lamppost lights are a canopy of stars
But you on my right you light up the car
The road and me
Your hand on my knee
More on than off it distracts my pedal foot
As we fall in love with Parachutes
Yeah, we do –
Yeah, we do
The memory's alive tonight
The driver's seat feels quite alright
And I don't know what it is
But I think I could get used to this
I am aware and sad somehow
This is here, this is now
How I love to be in this state we're in
Right before we take Berlin
Before we take Berlin
We're moving too fast
Let's take another five
I'd just like it to last
This six hour drive
A few hours more
Snacks and gas galore
The memory's alive tonight
The driver's seat feels quite alright
And I don't know what it is
But I think I could get used to this
I am aware and sad somehow
This is here, this is now
How I love to be in this state we're in
Right before we take Berlin
Don't tell me you don't feel this, too
"Pre-Berlin" by A Balladeer is a song about a couple taking a road trip to Berlin. The song begins with the singer reflecting on the perfect day they are having, with the Indian Summer sun shining upon them as they drive towards Berlin. The sky is pretty and the open roof allows the characters to take in their surroundings. The singer is confident in his wittiness and the singer highlights the joy they share with one another. However, the chorus is tinged with a sense of melancholy, as the singer is aware that this moment is fleeting and that soon they will have to confront the reality of their destination.
There are specific details throughout the song that further flush out the story of the couple's road trip. For example, the lamppost lights are described as a "canopy of stars," which not only shows how the singer is enjoying their surroundings but also foreshadows that Berlin will be a stark contrast to the beauty of the countryside. The reference to Parachutes, a Coldplay album, suggests that the couple is listening to music during the trip, adding to the romantic atmosphere. The singer's pause for snacks and gas also shows that he wants to extend the trip and that he is enjoying the company of his partner.
Overall, "Pre-Berlin" presents a romantic and bittersweet journey towards an uncertain destination. While the couple is enjoying the moment, they are also aware that this perfect day is limited, and that they must confront the reality of their destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a perfect day (for this time of year)
It is a beautiful day suitable for this season
We're making away with right in the rear
We are leaving something unpleasant behind us
An Indian Summer sun, red
The sun is setting and its color is red like an Indian Summer
Berlin ahead
We are driving towards Berlin, our destination
The sky so pretty through the open roof
The sky looks beautiful through the open car roof
And I so witty - your laughter, my proof
I am making you laugh and that's proof of my humor
All your glee
You are joyful
Through your hand on my knee
You are touching my knee with your hand
The memory's alive tonight
I am still thinking about this moment tonight
The driver's seat feels quite alright
I feel comfortable in the driver's seat
And I don't know what it is
I am not sure what this feeling is
But I think I could get used to this
But I would like to experience this feeling again
The lamppost lights are a canopy of stars
The lampposts look like stars over us
But you on my right you light up the car
You sitting on my right are lighting up the car with your presence
The road and me
The road and I are driving towards our destination
Your hand on my knee
You are still touching my knee with your hand
More on than off it distracts my pedal foot
Sometimes your hand on my knee distracts me from driving
As we fall in love with Parachutes
We are listening to the album Parachutes by Coldplay and enjoying it
Yeah, we do –
Yes, we do enjoy listening to Parachutes
The memory's alive tonight
I am still thinking about this moment tonight
The driver's seat feels quite alright
I feel comfortable in the driver's seat
And I don't know what it is
I am not sure what this feeling is
But I think I could get used to this
But I would like to experience this feeling again
I am aware and sad somehow
I am feeling emotional and a little sad for reasons unknown
This is here, this is now
We are living in the present moment
How I love to be in this state we're in
I love being in this emotional and physical state we are in
Right before we take Berlin
We are close to arriving at our destination
We're moving too fast
We are driving too fast
Let's take another five
Let's take a five-minute break
I'd just like it to last
I wish this moment could last longer
This six hour drive
We have been driving for six hours
A few hours more
We still have a few hours ahead of us
Snacks and gas galore
We have plenty of snacks and gas for the car
Don't tell me you don't feel this, too
I know you are also feeling the emotions of this moment
Contributed by Tristan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.