Many of Wecker's songs have lyrics written in the Bavarian dialect and musically he fuses the traditional singer/songwriter ways with jazz and other elements, especially in the years between 1986 and 1993.
Wecker is a member of the international Attac-movement, a pacifist and leftist movement for a more equal world order. He has thus opened a website of his own: Politik hinter den Schlagzeilen (politics behind the headlines). He also writes diary entries of political and trivial nature on his own website.
Oma
Konstantin Wecker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hast a wirklich nix mehr steh, hast nachgschaugt?
Muaßt versteh, die neien Mieter warten,
und die ham scho lang die bessern Karten.
Oma, sag mir liaber, sag mir, was i macha ko.
Mach jetzt gschwind, die Möbelpacker lacha scho.
Oide Leit san heitzutag blamabel,
Oma, ja, i woaß, da hast dei Lebn verbracht.
Da herin hat di mei Muatter scho zur Oma gmacht.
In dem Bett da, woaßt as, is da Opa gstorbn -
siebzig Winter san mit dir da drin zum Frühling wordn.
Oma, hat koan Sinn, wenn ma si gegan Fortschritt wehrt.
Wer koa Geld hat, is heut bloß die Hälften wert.
Immerhin, die neie Wohnung is am Stadtrand draußt,
und i führ dir jeden Tag dein Wasti aus,
i versprichs.
Oma, bittschön ja, i hab ja a a Wuat
und muaß zuagebn, i versteh di guat,
und am liabsten dad i mit dir sitzenbleibn
und dös ganze Gschwerl aus unserm Haus vertreibn.
Aber irgendwie kriagn die uns immer wieder raus.
Die ham an längern Atem, ja, ja die haltn länger aus.
Liaber samma stolz, geh weiter, pack dei Glump -
wenn i ihn triff, an Hauswirt, speib i ihn o, den Lump,
I versprichs.
Wehr di, Oma, wehr di, laß di außatragn,
dene sollt ma doch koa Schand ersparn.
Und i glaub, an seine Schmerzen tragn,
is am End no besser wia koa Herz mehr habn.
1 versprichs.
The song "Oma" by Konstantin Wecker reflects the conflicting feelings of a grandson who is helping his grandmother move out of her home. The lyrics suggest that the grandmother's home is being demolished to make space for new apartments, and the grandson is grappling with the decision to move on and embrace progress or hold onto the past. The grandson acknowledges that the new tenants have better cards and that old people and homes have become unprofitable in today's world. However, he also expresses a deep love for his grandmother and her home, where she spent her entire life. The grandson wants to stand up to the heartless landlord but realizes that he may not win this battle. Consequently, he resolves to take care of his grandmother's dog and to visit her every day, as he watches her move to a new apartment far from the city center.
Line by Line Meaning
Oma kumm, mir müaßn geh, ´s werd abbaut.
Grandma, come on, we have to go, they're going to demolish the building.
Hast a wirklich nix mehr steh, hast nachgschaugt?
Do you really have nothing left? Have you checked?
Muaßt versteh, die neien Mieter warten,
You have to understand, there are new tenants waiting,
und die ham scho lang die bessern Karten.
And they already have the upper hand.
Oma, sag mir liaber, sag mir, was i macha ko.
Grandma, tell me, what can I do?
Mach jetzt gschwind, die Möbelpacker lacha scho.
Hurry up, the movers are already laughing.
Oide Leit san heitzutag blamabel,
Old people are shameful nowadays,
und wia oide Häuser unrentabel.
And like old houses, unprofitable.
Oma, ja, i woaß, da hast dei Lebn verbracht.
Grandma, yes, I know, you've lived here all your life.
Da herin hat di mei Muatter scho zur Oma gmacht.
My mother used to call you grandma when she was here.
In dem Bett da, woaßt as, is da Opa gstorbn -
In that bed over there, you know, grandpa died.
siebzig Winter san mit dir da drin zum Frühling wordn.
Seventy winters were turned into spring while you were in there.
Oma, hat koan Sinn, wenn ma si gegan Fortschritt wehrt.
Grandma, it doesn't make sense to resist progress.
Wer koa Geld hat, is heut bloß die Hälften wert.
If you have no money, today, you're only worth half.
Immerhin, die neie Wohnung is am Stadtrand draußt,
At least the new apartment is outside the city,
und i führ dir jeden Tag dein Wasti aus,
And I'll walk your dog for you every day,
i versprichs.
I promise.
Oma, bittschön ja, i hab ja a a Wuat
Grandma, please, I'm angry too.
und muaß zuagebn, i versteh di guat,
And I have to admit, I understand you well,
und am liabsten dad i mit dir sitzenbleibn
And I would love to just sit with you,
und dös ganze Gschwerl aus unserm Haus vertreibn.
And drive all these brutes out of our house.
Aber irgendwie kriagn die uns immer wieder raus.
But somehow they always get us out.
Die ham an längern Atem, ja, ja die haltn länger aus.
They have a longer breath, yes, they can hold out longer.
Liaber samma stolz, geh weiter, pack dei Glump -
But we're proud, go ahead, pack your stuff -
wenn i ihn triff, an Hauswirt, speib i ihn o, den Lump,
If I see him, the landlord, I'll spit on him, that scoundrel,
I versprichs.
I promise.
Wehr di, Oma, wehr di, laß di außatragn,
Defend yourself, grandma, don't let them push you around,
dene sollt ma doch koa Schand ersparn.
We shouldn't embarrass them.
Und i glaub, an seine Schmerzen tragn,
And I believe bearing his pain,
is am End no besser wia koa Herz mehr habn.
Is at the end still better than having no heart left.
1 versprichs.
I promise.
Writer(s): Konstantin Wecker
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.