On November 24, 2011 Hirsch committed suicide, by jumping from a window at Wilhelminenspital, a major hospital in Vienna. He was 65.
Discography:
1978 "Dunkelgraue Lieder" (Darkgrey songs)
1979 "Komm, grosser schwarzer Vogel" (Come, big black bird)
1980 "Zartbitter" (Bittersweet)
1982 "Bis zum Himmel hoch" (High up to the sky)
1983 "Bis ins Herz" (Into the heart)
1984 "6 - Traurige Indianer + Unfreundliche Kellner" (6 - Sad Indians + Unfriendly Waiters)
1986 "Landluft" (Country air)
1988 "Liebestoll" (Lovesick)
1991 "In meiner Sprache" (In my language)
1992 "Gottlieb - Live"
1995 "Tierisch" (Animalistic)
1999 "Dunkelgrau - Live" (Darkgrey - Live)
2002 "Perlen" (Pearls)
2006 "In Ewigkeit Amen" (Forever and ever dames)
Gruuuf
Ludwig Hirsch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
des was I
kenn'
Buuufffallo Bill is Trapper
den was jeder
kennt
Uuufff sagt a Indianer in Texas
der was mi
Schuuuffft sagt da Taucher zum feuchten
Zündholz
des was eam ned brennt
Luuuffft schnappt da Taucher im Wasser
des was eam ertränkt
Puuufff is a Wort bitte
des was a Taucher
ned kennt.
Youuufff**k off sagt da Engländer
wenn er
ned will
Wouuufff**k off sagt der Hund vom Englän-
der
wenn er ned will
Gruuuf is das schönste Wort
des was I
kenn'
und I kenn ned viel.
The song "Gruuuf" by Ludwig Hirsch is a playful ode to onomatopoeic words. The singer describes various words and their meanings, and how they are used in different contexts. The chorus, "Gruuuf is das schönste Wort des was I kenn'" (Gruuuf is the most beautiful word I know), is repeated several times throughout the song.
The first verse describes the word "Gruuuf" as the most beautiful word the singer knows. In the second verse, the singer mentions "Buffalo Bill", a famous American showman and hunter who was known as a trapper. The third verse features an Indian in Texas who says "Uuufff" - a sound that the singer admits he doesn't understand. The fourth verse features a diver who says "Schuuuffft" to a moist matchstick to keep it from burning, and then gets overwhelmed by "Luuuffft" (air) in the water that could make him drown. The final verse features an Englishman who says "Youufff**k off" when he doesn't want to talk to someone, and his dog who says "Wouufff**k off" when he doesn't want to be bothered.
Overall, the song celebrates the beauty and diversity of language, with a touch of humor and irony. It is a catchy tune that invites the listener to join in and appreciate the power of words.
Line by Line Meaning
Gruuuf is das schönste Wort
The word 'Gruuuf' is the most beautiful word I know.
des was I kenn'
'I know' what I'm talking about.
Buuufffallo Bill is Trapper
Buffalo Bill is a trapper that everyone knows.
den was jeder kenn't
That's someone everyone knows.
Uuufff sagt a Indianer in Texas
An Indian in Texas says 'Uuufff'
der was mi ned kennt
Someone who doesn't know me.
Schuuuffft sagt da Taucher zum feuchten Zündholz
A diver says 'Schuuuffft' to the wet match that won't light.
des was eam ned brennt
Something that doesn't 'burn' him.
Luuuffft schnappt da Taucher im Wasser
The diver gets 'air' in the water.
des was eam ertränkt
Something that would 'drown' him.
Puuufff is a Wort bitte
'Puuufff' is a word, please.
des was a Taucher ned kennt.
That's a word a diver doesn't know.
Youuufff**k off sagt da Engländer
An Englishman says 'Youuufff**k off' when he doesn't want to do something.
wenn er ned will
When he doesn't want to.
Wouuufff**k off sagt der Hund vom Englän-der
The Englishman's dog says 'Wouuufff**k off' when he doesn't want to do something.
Gruuuf is das schönste Wort
The word 'Gruuuf' is the most beautiful word I know.
des was I kenn'
'I know' what I'm talking about.
und I kenn ned viel.
And I don't know much.
Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.