After he was stationed as an Airman in the U.S. Air Force at Wiesbaden Air Base in 1957, Backus had to leave The Del-Vikings but he later became a popular singer of Schlager music in 1960s West Germany. He sang all his songs in German with an American accent. 19 of his songs between 1960 and 1967 made the charts, including eight Top Ten hits. He landed a Number 1 hit in the German charts with his song Der Mann im Mond (The Man in the Moon) in 1961. Backus also did German cover versions of songs by Elvis Presley, Paul Anka and Conway Twitty.
Backus came back to America for some years in the 1970s and worked as a foreman on oil fields in Texas, later returning to Germany. He lived for the rest of his life in Germering near Munich and retired from singing in 2014. He was married and was the father of four children.
DAMALS
Gus Backus Lyrics
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Damals wars schön bei dir
Doch heute bin ich allein
Heute muss ich einsam sein
Komm wieder
Und die Welt wird schön
Komm wieder
Damals warst du mir treu
Heute gehst du vorbei
Komm doch
Und du wirst es seh'n
Komm wieder
Und diese Welt wird schön!
The lyrics to Gus Backus's "Damals" reminisce about a past love and the happiness they shared together. The singer laments about feeling alone now and wishing the love from the past would return to make the world beautiful again. The verses describe the contrast between the past and present; back then, the love was loyal, and being together was beautiful, but now the singer is alone and must endure the sadness that comes with it. The chorus is a plea for the love to return, promising that everything will be beautiful again if they do.
The song carries a sense of nostalgia and sadness, with the singer desiring the past to come back to the present, where everything seems bleak. It can be interpreted as a reflection on the importance of love and how it can make everything seem better. The last verse suggests the love of the past still exists, but now it's distant and fleeting. The song has a bittersweet tone, highlighting the inevitability of change and the pain of losing something that once brought so much happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Damals warst du bei mir
During that time, you were with me
Damals wars schön bei dir
Those were beautiful moments spent with you
Doch heute bin ich allein
However, today I am alone
Heute muss ich einsam sein
I have to be lonely today
Komm wieder
Please come back
Und die Welt wird schön
And the world will be beautiful again
Was immer auch gescheh'n!
No matter what happens!
Damals warst du mir treu
During that time, you were loyal to me
Heute gehst du vorbei
Today, you just pass me by
Komm doch
Please come back
Und du wirst es seh'n
And you'll see for yourself
Komm wieder
Please come back
Und diese Welt wird schön!
And this world will be beautiful again!
Contributed by Emily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.