Wenn Ich Ein Vöglein Wär
Bandits Lyrics

The song "Wenn Ich Ein Vöglein Wär" by Bandits is a traditional German folk song that talks about a bird's desire to fly to their beloved. The song speaks of the freedom that birds have to fly anywhere they please and reach their loved ones, while the singer is unable to do so, as it is a mere human being. The lyrics express the feelings of longing and desire for proximity felt by individuals separated from their loved ones. The song gives voice to the desires of the heart that cannot always be fulfilled.

The second stanza emphasizes the limitations imposed on human beings, who unlike birds, are bound by earthly barriers which cannot be overcome. The phrase "weil's aber nicht sein kann," meaning "because it cannot be," is repeated twice, accentuating the sense of resignation and acceptance that the singer experiences. The song is an embodiment of the melancholic yet hopeful mood that characterizes German folk music.