After dropping out of high school, he started an apprenticeship as a construction draftsman. He soon changed plans and was admitted to the Duisburg conservatoire to study piano, after passing an entrance exam for particularly gifted applicants (it later turned out that his diploma was invalid since he dropped out of high school too early). He then toured as a little-known jazz musician and as entertainer, basically as stand-up comedian in local clubs. Schneider plays various instruments such as the Hammond organ, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, drums, piano, accordion, trumpet and others.
He became a popular comedian in the 1990s and still is among the best known German comedians. He toured and still tours (alone and with his bands "Hardcore", "The Firefuckers" and others) through major concert halls with a mixture of music and comedy. He frequently appears on German TV, and is probably best known for his song Katzenklolied (Kitty Litter Box Song): "Katzenklo, Katzenklo, ja das macht die Katze froh" ("Kitty litter box, kitty litter box, that makes the cat happy."), a number one hit in 1994. He wrote, directed and starred in four movies. In 2007 he appeared as Adolf Hitler in a satirical film: Mein Führer: The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler.
Schneider has written nine books, including an autobiography ("There is my whole life in this book, up to right now. The second part comes in thirty, forty years") and a musical, "Mendy - das Wusical", which appeared at Bochum Theatre in 2004.
His comic techniques include parody, use of the local Ruhr area dialect, surprising use of infantile language and other unexpected changes in style, slapstick/physical humour, Dada like absurdities, sudden and unexpected use of crude/sexual humour, references to national and international highbrow and lowbrow culture, and phonetic and declamatory playfulness and exaggeration. Most of his material is heavily language dependent and therefore does not translate well into other languages.
Comeback
Helge Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comeback, ich war lange weg. Jetzt bin ich wieder da. Comeback, ja es geht mir gut. Ich hab viel zu tun, der Tach geht sehr schnell um! Wie findet ihr meine alte Frisur?? Errinerungen werden wach, Memories pur!
Und die vielen schönen Melodien, die ich für euch geschrieben habe! Von mir selber ausgedacht! Comeback, Comeback, Comeback, Comeback, Comeback!
Ich bin wieder da! (Big-Band: Er ist wieder da!) Ich war lange weg! (Big-Band: Er war lange weg!) Jetzt bin ich wieder da! (Big-Band: Jetzt ist er wieder da, wie gefällt euch seine alte Frisur??) Na, wie gefällt euch meine Frisur??
Comeback, ja es geht mir gut. Ich hab viel zu tun, der Tach geht sehr schnell um! Comeback, ich bin wieder da nanana... Kleines Orgelsolo! Comeback!
The lyrics of Helge Schneider's "Comeback" speak to the idea of a last chance. The singer is taking their final attempt at something, and they had no other choice but to try again. They are back and ready to go, with memories and melodies flooding back to them. The song's title, "Comeback," is repeated throughout to reinforce the message that the singer is back.
The singer is asking for their audience's thoughts on their appearance, particularly their old hairstyle. The lyrics suggest that memories and nostalgia are a big part of the singer's return. They are proud of the melodies they have written and want to show them off to their audience. The song's instrumentation features a big band, giving it an old-school, classic feel to match the themes of nostalgia and memories.
Overall, Helge Schneider's "Comeback" is a song about giving it one more shot and wanting to make the most of it. It speaks to the idea of nostalgia and memory and the importance of music in capturing those things.
Line by Line Meaning
Der letzte Versuch, hier bin ich noch einmal.
I am attempting one more time to come back.
Der letzte Versuch, ich hatte keine Wahl.
I had no other option but to make one last attempt.
Der letzte Versuch, ich kann es immer noch
I still have the skills and ability to make it work.
Ich bin wieder da, jetzt ist alles klar.
I have returned and everything is now clear and settled.
Comeback, ich war lange weg.
This is my comeback after being gone for a long time.
Jetzt bin ich wieder da.
But now I have returned and ready to perform again.
Comeback, ja es geht mir gut.
My comeback is going well and I am feeling good.
Ich hab viel zu tun, der Tach geht sehr schnell um!
I have a lot to do and time is passing quickly.
Wie findet ihr meine alte Frisur??
What do you think of my old hairstyle?
Errinerungen werden wach, Memories pur!
These memories are resurfacing and it's pure nostalgia.
Und die vielen schönen Melodien, die ich für euch geschrieben habe!
I wrote many beautiful melodies for you all.
Von mir selber ausgedacht!
I created them all on my own.
Ich bin wieder da! (Big-Band: Er ist wieder da!)
I have returned and the big band is announcing it loud and proud!
Ich war lange weg! (Big-Band: Er war lange weg!)
I was gone for a long time and the big band is acknowledging that fact.
Jetzt bin ich wieder da! (Big-Band: Jetzt ist er wieder da, wie gefällt euch seine alte Frisur??)
But now I am back and the big band is asking how everyone likes my old hairstyle.
Na, wie gefällt euch meine Frisur??
So, what do you all think of my hairstyle?
Comeback, ich bin wieder da nanana...
This is my comeback and I'm here to stay.
Kleines Orgelsolo!
I'm going to play a short organ solo for you all.
Comeback!
My comeback is happening right now!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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