His name Farin Urlaub is a pun on the German expression "Fahr in Urlaub!", which means "Go on vacation!", to refer to his love of traveling. He is also a pescetarian, a teetotaler, a non-smoker and a pacifist. He speaks seven languages: German, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and Japanese, and a supporter of Greenpeace and Amnesty International (amongst others). For the last few years he has been living in a village near Hamburg, where he has his own recording studio.
In 1980 he joined Bela B.'s band Soilent Grün as guitarist. When the band broke up in 1982, Urlaub, Bela B. and Hans Runge (better known as Sahnie) formed Die Ärzte, one of the most successful German pop punk rock bands of the 1980s. In 1988, at the height of their popularity, Die Ärzte disbanded.
Urlaub then formed King Køng, which remained unsuccessful, even for an indie band. Die Ärzte reunited in 1993 and have had continued success ever since. Urlaub still writes most songs for Die Ärzte which has the consequence that not all of them can be used for the band.
Therefore, in 2001, Urlaub started his solo career with the album Endlich Urlaub! ("Vacation at last!", which can also be read as pun on his name, as in "Urlaub at last!"). Am Ende der Sonne ("At the end of the Sun") was released in 2005, followed by the release of the live album Livealbum of Death in 2006. This live album was released under the name of Farin Urlaub's live band Farin Urlaub Racing Team. However, Urlaub announced that subsequent studio releases will also be made under the name Farin Urlaub Racing Team.
And so their latest studio album Die Wahrheit übers Lügen ("The truth about lying") was released in 2008, followed by a live album/video Lass es wie einen Unfall aussehen ("Make it look like an accident") in 2010. The video material was intended to become a live DVD, but was then released as a free download on the artist's website www.farin-urlaub.de, due to difficulties during the live sound recording (which led to the name).
Lieber Staat
Farin Urlaub Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich fühle mich so rundum wohl in dir
Lieber Staat
Es weht ein Wind von Freiheit hier
Du erklärst mir immer wieder, was erlaubt ist und was nicht
Lenkst mein Leben jeden Tag und bist furchtbar fürsorglich
Ach, was wär ich ohne dich
Danke, dass du mich regierst
Und dass du mich nicht ignorierst
Lieber Staat
Gut, dass du weißt, was richtig für mich ist
Lieber Staat
Schön, dass du so ehrlich bist
Du willst immer nur mein Bestes und du gibst mir zu verstehn
Wenn mir irgendwas nicht passt, steht mir frei hier wegzugehn
Danke, dass du mich regierst
Womit hab ich das verdient
Ich rutsche vor dir auf den Knien
Lieber Staat, jetzt mal echt
Du bist absolut gerecht
Wer was anderes sagt, macht dich nur schlecht
Lieber Staat eigentlich wär ich garnichts ohne dich
Ich schrob dir dieses Lied
Du weißt Bescheid
Als Zeichen meiner Dankbarkeit
Lieber Staat
Ich weiß, vor dir sind alle Menschen gleich
Lieber Staat
Ganz egal ob arm ob reich
Manche sagen zwar, du wärest auf dem rechten Auge blind
Wobei die, die das behaupten alle Terroristen sind
Das lernt man bei uns schon als Kind
Danke, dass du mich regierst
Danke, dass du mich regierst
Und in Serbien einmarschierst
Lieber Staat, du bist hart
Aber nur, wenn es was nützt
Zum Beispiel, wenn du uns vor Ausländern beschützt
Lieber Staat, da sind ganz klar
Arbeitsplätze in Gefahr
Es gibt viel zu viel Ausland auf der Welt
Und die wolln eh nur unser Geld
Bevor ich es vergesse:
Eine kleine Sache nur:
Ich danke dir für deine Leitkultur
Lieber Staat, ich habs kapiert
Es ist einfach herrlich hier
Die Massen stehen jubelnd hinter dir
Lieber Staat, ohne Mist
Bleib genau so wie du bist
Ich tätowier mir deine Flagge ins Gesicht
Ich bin so schrecklich stolz auf dich
The song "Lieber Staat," which translates to "Dear State," is a satirical commentary on the relationship between the government and its citizens. The lyrics are written in a sarcastic tone and express gratitude towards the state for governing every aspect of a person's life. The opening lines, "Ich fühle mich so rundum wohl in dir/Lieber Staat," translate to "I feel so completely comfortable in you, dear State." The song suggests that the government controls the people's thoughts, beliefs, and behaviour by dictating what is allowed and what is not. The government is represented as an overprotective parent who displaces the citizens' personal agency by becoming too involved in their lives. The lyrics express thanks towards the government for providing direction and structure in life, but they also suggest a sense of irony since the government's actions can be perceived as intrusive.
The song mentions the government's obligation to keep the citizens safe from external forces such as terrorists and foreign workers. It also states a belief in the government's justice and impartiality while acknowledging that it may be blind in some areas. The song suggests that criticism of the government is not allowed, and those who do so must be terrorists. The song's ending lines express an almost cult-like admiration for the state, with the singer tattooing the flag onto their face and proclaiming their immense pride and loyalty.
Overall, the song is an exaggerated and sarcastic representation of a society that places excessive trust and power in the state, thus relinquishing individual autonomy and personal freedom. It highlights the danger of totalitarianism and the importance of maintaining a balance between the government and its citizens.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich fühle mich so rundum wohl in dir
I feel completely content and comfortable with the way you govern me.
Es weht ein Wind von Freiheit hier
I sense a breath of freedom in the air, thanks to you.
Du erklärst mir immer wieder, was erlaubt ist und was nicht
You constantly remind me of what is legal and what is not, guiding my every move.
Lenkst mein Leben jeden Tag und bist furchtbar fürsorglich
You steer my life every day and are incredibly caring in your approach.
Ach, was wär ich ohne dich
Oh, I don't know where I'd be without your governance.
Danke, dass du mich regierst
Thank you for governing my life.
Und dass du mich nicht ignorierst
Thank you for not disregarding me.
Gut, dass du weißt, was richtig für mich ist
It's great that you know what's best for me.
Schön, dass du so ehrlich bist
It's wonderful that you are always truthful with me.
Du willst immer nur mein Bestes und du gibst mir zu verstehn
You always have my best interests at heart, and make that clear to me.
Wenn mir irgendwas nicht passt, steht mir frei hier wegzugehn
If there's anything I don't like, I am free to leave and look for something better.
Womit hab ich das verdient
What have I done to deserve this kind of governance?
Ich rutsche vor dir auf den Knien
I am willing to humble myself and do whatever it takes to please you.
Du bist absolut gerecht
You are completely fair and impartial.
Wer was anderes sagt, macht dich nur schlecht
Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to defame you.
Eigentlich wär ich garnichts ohne dich
Honestly, I am nothing without your governance.
Ich schrob dir dieses Lied
I wrote this song for you.
Du weißt Bescheid
You know what I mean.
Als Zeichen meiner Dankbarkeit
As a token of my gratitude.
Ich weiß, vor dir sind alle Menschen gleich
I know that all humans are equal in your eyes.
Ganz egal ob arm ob reich
Regardless of their wealth or status.
Manche sagen zwar, du wärest auf dem rechten Auge blind
Some people accuse you of being biased towards the right-wing agenda.
Wobei die, die das behaupten alle Terroristen sind
But those who make such claims are all terrorists, in our view.
Das lernt man bei uns schon als Kind
We teach this to our children from an early age.
Und in Serbien einmarschierst
And for invading Serbia.
Du bist hart
You can be tough when it's necessary.
Aber nur, wenn es was nützt
But only when it serves a purpose.
Zum Beispiel, wenn du uns vor Ausländern beschützt
For example, when you protect us from foreigners.
Arbeitsplätze in Gefahr
Our jobs are at risk.
Es gibt viel zu viel Ausland auf der Welt
There are too many foreigners in the world.
Und die wolln eh nur unser Geld
And all they want is our money anyway.
Bevor ich es vergesse:
Before I forget:
Eine kleine Sache nur:
Just a small thing:
Ich danke dir für deine Leitkultur
Thank you for your guiding culture.
Es ist einfach herrlich hier
It's simply wonderful here.
Die Massen stehen jubelnd hinter dir
The masses are cheering for you.
Bleib genau so wie du bist
Stay exactly the way you are.
Ich tätowier mir deine Flagge ins Gesicht
I will tattoo your flag onto my face.
Ich bin so schrecklich stolz auf dich
I am so incredibly proud of you.
Contributed by Molly B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.