Wader was born in Bielefeld, Westphalia. His works are mostly based on German folk songs. Aside from his own lyrics, he also performs works of famous poets like Eichendorff. He now rarely sings the workers' songs and socialist hymns that used to be a large part of his repertoire. He recently published an album exclusively with songs by Franz Schubert. He also performed translated works from Carl Michael Bellman in the album "Liebe, Schnaps & Tod".
Remarkably, many of the social issues Wader sang about are still relevant today. Besides e.g. Franz Josef Degenhardt, Wader can be considered as one of the most active political singers in Germany.
In the 1970s Hanners Wader became one of the stars of the political left through his provocative songs. He was a member of the German Communist Party from 1977 to 1991. The publication of the song "Der Tankerkönig" stirred up controversy, as it covered the kidnapping of the son of the tycoon Rudolf August Oetker. Wader even came under suspicions of terrorism.
In 1973 he moved to Struckum, in Nordfriesland, where he published some of his later albums. He moved with his family in 1998 to live in Kreis Steinburg.
He has published numerous albums and still goes on tours around Germany. He appears on open-air concerts and also in clubs.
http://www.scala-kuenstler.de/hannes-wader.html
lothar
Hannes Wader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will erst mal in Kostas Bratfettverleih
Zum Frühstück eine Tüte Gyros kaufen
Ist Lothar, der Promoter da, sagt: "Hi!"
Vollgekokst, übernächtigt und zerschunden
Kommt er zu mir rüber, bis er vor mir steht
Den Gürtel um seinen Trenchcoat gebunden –
Vorn lässig geknoten und hinten verdreht
Er holt tief Luft, stößt seinen nicht ganz frischen
Atem durch das Loch in seiner Nasenscheidewand
Senkt seine Stimme und ich hör' ihn zischen:
"Hannes-Baby, ich hab' für dich was an der Hand!
Ich will dich in die nächste ZDF-Show bringen
Mit Michael Jackson, Gorbatschow und Sting –
Als Chor im Background und du darfst auch singen
Was du willst! Oh Mann, wär das'n Ding!"
Ich fühle mich geschmeichelt und spendiere
Ihm einen Kaffee, lasse ihn dann steh'n
Ich muss jetzt unbedingt normale Tiere
Bei Hackenbeck, zum Beispiel, um mich seh'n
Da lebt in seiner Höhle, ganz am Rande
Ein Alter Freund von mir, der Kodiak Bär
Er ist genau wie ich ein Junge vom Lande
In die Stadt verschlagen – lang ist es her
Lang ist es her
Lang ist es her . . .
The lyrics to Hannes Wader's song "Lothar" tell the story of a chance encounter between the singer and a man named Lothar, a promoter who is fully consumed by the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry. The singer describes Lothar's disheveled appearance and drug-induced state, as he approaches with an offer to make the singer a part of a ZDF-Show with none other than Michael Jackson, Gorbatschow, and Sting. Despite feeling flattered by the offer, the singer chooses to decline and instead, make a trip to see a friend, an "old country boy" like himself, who now resides in the city zoo.
Overall, the lyrics seem to convey a sense of disillusionment and a desire for simplicity. The singer of the song sees through Lothar's glamorous offer and chooses instead to seek out genuine connections with the world around him, both human and animal alike. The song speaks to the pitfalls of chasing fame and fortune, and the value of finding meaning in the ordinary, everyday experiences of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Dieser Tag soll ganz normal verlaufen
Today should go completely normally
Will erst mal in Kostas Bratfettverleih
I'll start by going to Kostas' fried food stand
Zum Frühstück eine Tüte Gyros kaufen
I'll buy a bag of gyros for breakfast
Ist Lothar, der Promoter da, sagt: "Hi!"
If Lothar, the promoter, is there, he'll say hi
Vollgekokst, übernächtigt und zerschunden
He'll be stoned, sleepless, and battered
Kommt er zu mir rüber, bis er vor mir steht
He'll come over to me until he's standing in front of me
Den Gürtel um seinen Trenchcoat gebunden –
He'll have his belt tied around his trenchcoat -
Vorn lässig geknoten und hinten verdreht
casually knotted in the front and twisted in the back
Er holt tief Luft, stößt seinen nicht ganz frischen
He'll take a deep breath and exhale his not-so-fresh
Atem durch das Loch in seiner Nasenscheidewand
breath through the hole in his septum
Senkt seine Stimme und ich hör' ihn zischen:
He lowers his voice and I hear him whisper,
"Hannes-Baby, ich hab' für dich was an der Hand!
"Hannes Baby, I've got something for you!
Ich will dich in die nächste ZDF-Show bringen
I want to bring you to the next ZDF show
Mit Michael Jackson, Gorbatschow und Sting –
with Michael Jackson, Gorbachev, and Sting -
Als Chor im Background und du darfst auch singen
as part of the background choir and you can even sing
Was du willst! Oh Mann, wär das'n Ding!"
whatever you want! Oh man, wouldn't that be something!"
Ich fühle mich geschmeichelt und spendiere
I feel flattered and offer
Ihm einen Kaffee, lasse ihn dann steh'n
him a coffee, then leave him standing
Ich muss jetzt unbedingt normale Tiere
I need to see some normal animals right now
Bei Hackenbeck, zum Beispiel, um mich seh'n
Maybe at Hackenbeck's farm to see me
Da lebt in seiner Höhle, ganz am Rande
There, on the outskirts, in his cave lives
Ein Alter Freund von mir, der Kodiak Bär
an old friend of mine, the Kodiak bear
Er ist genau wie ich ein Junge vom Lande
He's just like me, a boy from the countryside
In die Stadt verschlagen – lang ist es her
brought to the city - it's been a while
Lang ist es her
it's been a long time
Lang ist es her . . .
it's been a long time...
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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