Die Ärzte were formed in 1982 by Jan Vetter (alias Farin Urlaub), Dirk Felsenheimer (alias Bela B.) and bassist Hans Runge (alias Sahnie). Bela and Farin had previously played together in the punk band Soilent Grün; after that band broke up they decided to form a band playing fun songs, in contrast to the mostly political bands of the punk scene at that time. While deriving from that punk scene, their early music was heavily influenced by pop and rock and roll, especially The Beatles, whom Farin heard a lot as a child due to his mother playing their records.
In the first two years they mostly played in clubs of their hometown of Berlin. Their first release was a contribution to the sampler "20 schäumende Stimmungshits" (roughly, "20 exuberant mood hits"), which contained a strong alcohol theme. In 1983 they won a rock contest in Berlin; with the prize money they recorded their debut EP "Uns gehts Prima" ("We're doing great"). Finally Columbia Records signed them, and they released their first LP "Debil" in 1984 and the second one ("Im Schatten der Ärzte") a year later.
After the second record they parted ways with Sahnie due to internal problems. On the third record he was replaced by producer Miccey Meuser; later Hagen Liebig, better known as The Incredible Hagen, played bass for them during live performances until their breakup.
In 1987 the German Federal Centre for Media Harmful to Young Persons put the songs Geschwisterliebe ("Sibling Love", a song about incest, from Die Ärzte), Claudia hat 'nen Schäferhund ("Claudia has a German Shepherd", about zoophilia, from "Debil") and Schlaflied ("Lullaby", about a monster coming and eating you after falling asleep, also from "Debil") on the German List of Media Harmful to Young People. This prohibited the band from performing the songs live and, more importantly, promoting the two albums, and shops from openly displaying the records in their shelves. After several trials against shops that still openly sold the records a lot of shops removed Die Ärzte completely from their stock. The result was a drop in record sales and big financial problems for the band. In response they released the compilation "Ab 18" ("Adults Only") with all their songs on the index and some other old and new tasteless songs, and the greatest hits album "Ist das alles?"("Is this everything?" but also can be translated as "Is this the end?"). The album and the new singles were fairly successful, partly because of growing media interest due to the previous censorship.
The following album "Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit" ("That is not the whole truth") was even more successful, climbing into the top 10 in the German album charts. They decided to go out on a high note in 1988, breaking up after doing one last tour and recording a live double album that became their first number one in the album charts.
Neither Farin's new band King Køng nor Bela's Depp Jones were really successful, so in 1993 they decided to do a reunion. As bass player they invited Rodrigo Gonzales, who was guitarist in Depp Jones and a friend of Bela. Their comeback single was Schrei nach Liebe ("Cry for Love"), their first ever political song, that they published as a statement against what was perceived as growing racism and right wing extremist violence in Germany at that time.
The album was more diverse than ever, with ballads, punk, rock and traditional German sounds. Both album and single became big hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The follow-up "Planet Punk" was also very successful.
In 1996 they wanted to make an EP just about hair, but they wrote too many songs for an EP and made the Album "Le Frisur" ("The Hairdo") instead. It was slightly less successful than its predecessors. Apart from their own tours they also supported Kiss in that year, a dream come true for Bela and Rod.
1998 was perhaps the most successful year of their career, the single "Männer sind Schweine" ("Men are Pigs") being their first Number 1 single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the album 13 also being Number 1 in Germany and Switzerland. After a lot of promotion and touring in that year they decided to take a break, deciding also to never play again "Männer sind Schweine" at a concert due to the too great success this song had. They did not like the upcoming unwanted and rather unoriginal remakes by other bands as e.g. "Frauen sind Schweine" ("Women are pigs") and also did not like to see their song played at mass tourist beach parties at places like Mallorca/Spain.
In 2000 they came back with another very successful album, "Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!", and two top 10 singles. As the third single from the album they released the 30-second-song "Yoko Ono", which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the shortest single ever released - another example of their sense of humour. On their tour in 2001 they sold the limited Album "5, 6, 7, 8 Bullenstaat" consisting of short punk songs that were written and recorded while recording the full length album published a year before, and some cover songs published in 1994 on a tour only EP.
After that they again took a break: Bela did some acting, Farin recorded his first solo album (Endlich Urlaub!). In late 2002 they did an MTV Unplugged in a school auditorium together with the school band. After that they made a new double album Geräusch that was released in 2003. On the next tour a Live DVD was recorded and published one year later.
On 2 November 2007, Die Ärzte released their latest album, Jazz ist anders ("Jazz is nothing like this", literally "Jazz is different").
In August 2011 the band announced that they are working on a new album which is set to be released in 2012 with a tour called "Das Ende ist noch nicht vorbei" ("The end is not over yet") following in the summer 2012.
The official homepage for Die Ärzte is www.bademeister.com
DAS LETZTE LIED DES SOMMERS
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im Feierabendstau, die Straßen sind total blockiert
Kognitive Dissonanz, ich bin im falschen Film
Ich träume immer noch von Sonne, Sand und Meer
Doch ich steh' hier im Berufsverkehr
Statt Seeluft rieche ich nur Diesel, Dreck und Teer
Es ist schon viel zu lange her
Das Thermometer fällt und niemand hält es auf
Ich hab' mir vorgestellt, dass ich grad barfuß lauf'
Hitze, Palmen, Hängematten, weißt du noch, wie schön wir's hatten?
Ich träume immer noch von Sonne, Sand und Meer
Doch ich steh' hier im Berufsverkehr
Das Fernweh hält mich in der Hand, das macht es schwer
Ich wünsche mir einen Hubschrauber
Ist es wirklich schon so lange her
Oder kommt es mir nur so vor?
Ich hab' das letzte Lied des Sommers noch im Ohr
Und das klang so
Eines Morgens wachst du auf, und ich werd' nicht mehr da sein
Doch du weißt, wo du mich findest, hoffentlich
Ich sitze dann am Strand und ich wart' auf dich
Ich träume immer noch von Sonne, Sand und Meer
Doch ich steh' hier im Berufsverkehr
Statt Seeluft rieche ich nur Diesel, Dreck und Teer
Es ist schon viel zu lange her
Ich will wieder ans Meer, ich will wieder ans Meer
Oder wenigstens ein Eis zum sofortigen Verzehr
Ich will wieder ans Meer, ich will wieder ans Meer
Oder wenigstens Verkehr
The opening lines of the song set a dreary scene, describing a gray sky that feels as if it has been wallpapered. The reference to cognitive dissonance suggests a feeling of being out of place or disconnected from reality. The singer finds themselves stuck in evening rush hour traffic, where the streets are completely blocked. This mundane and frustrating situation contrasts with the dreamlike longing for sun, sand, and sea that persists within the singer's mind.
The second verse further emphasizes the stark contrast between the singer's current reality and their desire for a summer escape. They imagine themselves still dreaming of sun, sand, and sea, but instead find themselves surrounded by the smell of diesel fuel, dirt, and asphalt. The longing for a beach getaway is heightened by the mention of palm trees, hammocks, and the nostalgia of the beauty they once experienced. The singer's yearning is so strong that they even wish for a helicopter to transport them away from their current circumstances.
The third verse introduces the idea of the passing of time and the possibility that the memories of the enjoyable summer are fading. The singer questions whether it has truly been a long time since the summer or if it just feels that way to them. They recall having the last song of the summer still in their ears, emphasizing the lasting impact of the joyful moments they once experienced.
In the final verse, a sense of inevitability and finality emerges. The singer describes a future in which they will no longer be present, but they express hope that the listener will know where to find them. Imagery of sitting on a beach and waiting for the listener underscores the singer's unwavering desire for a return to the idyllic setting they yearn for. The repetition of the lines expressing the longing for sun, sand, and sea, combined with the yearning for even a simple pleasure like an ice cream, highlights the intensity of the singer's longing. The final line of the song, "Oder wenigstens Verkehr" (or at least traffic), could be seen as a humorous way of expressing that anything is better than the current situation of being stuck in mundane daily routines.
Line by Line Meaning
Der Himmel ist so grau, als wär er tapeziert
The sky is so gray, as if it were wallpapered. (The gloomy atmosphere reflects the singer's mood)
Im Feierabendstau, die Straßen sind total blockiert
In the rush hour traffic, the streets are completely blocked. (The singer is frustrated with the congestion)
Kognitive Dissonanz, ich bin im falschen Film
Cognitive dissonance, I'm in the wrong movie. (The singer feels a sense of detachment and disconnect)
Ich träume immer noch von Sonne, Sand und Meer
I still dream of sun, sand, and sea. (The artist longs for a vacation escape)
Doch ich steh' hier im Berufsverkehr
But I'm standing here in rush hour traffic. (The artist is stuck in the daily grind)
Statt Seeluft rieche ich nur Diesel, Dreck und Teer
Instead of sea air, I smell only diesel, dirt, and tar. (The singer yearns for the freshness of the beach)
Es ist schon viel zu lange her
It's already been too long. (The singer expresses longing for the past)
Das Thermometer fällt und niemand hält es auf
The thermometer is dropping and no one stops it. (The artist feels helpless in the face of changing seasons)
Ich hab' mir vorgestellt, dass ich grad barfuß lauf'
I imagined myself walking barefoot. (The artist reminisces about carefree and comfortable moments)
Hitze, Palmen, Hängematten, weißt du noch, wie schön wir's hatten?
Heat, palm trees, hammocks, do you remember how beautiful it was? (The artist recalls past joys and asks if the listener remembers)
Ich wünsche mir einen Hubschrauber
I wish for a helicopter. (The singer desires a quick escape from the current situation)
Ist es wirklich schon so lange her oder kommt es mir nur so vor?
Has it really been so long, or does it just feel that way? (The artist questions the passing of time and its perception)
Ich hab' das letzte Lied des Sommers noch im Ohr
I still have the last song of summer in my ear. (The singer nostalgically remembers a specific moment)
Und das klang so
And it sounded so... (The singer is about to describe the beauty and significance of the song)
Eines Morgens wachst du auf, und ich werd' nicht mehr da sein
One morning you wake up, and I won't be there anymore. (The singer implies their absence in the future)
Doch du weißt, wo du mich findest, hoffentlich
But you know where to find me, hopefully. (The artist hopes the listener will come looking for them)
Ich sitze dann am Strand und ich wart' auf dich
I'll be sitting on the beach, waiting for you. (The artist visualizes a reunion in a familiar place)
Ich will wieder ans Meer, ich will wieder ans Meer
I want to go to the sea again, I want to go to the sea again. (The singer strongly desires to return to the beach)
Oder wenigstens ein Eis zum sofortigen Verzehr
Or at least an ice cream for immediate consumption. (The singer yearns for small pleasures associated with vacations)
Ich will wieder ans Meer, ich will wieder ans Meer
I want to go to the sea again, I want to go to the sea again. (Reiteration of the artist's longing for the beach)
Oder wenigstens Verkehr
Or at least traffic. (The artist would prefer anything but the current mundane routine)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jan Vetter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind