His breakthrough in music came with the album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" ("With peppermint, I'm your prince") in 1978.
Müller-Westernhagen's music is shaped through his concise voice and shouting passages. His texts are very direct and provoking, e.g. "Dicke" ("Fat people"), but also social critical texts like "Freiheit" (freedom) are included in his emotional repertoire.
Ich Bin Ein Mann
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und ich hab vor Schmerz geschrien
Nahm mein Vater mich in seinen Arm
Sei ein Mann
Als ich vierzehn war er starb
Ich stand heulend an 'nem Sarg
In der Tasche war die Faust geballt
Komm, nimm mich fest in deine Arme
Ich möchte nicht, dass jemand sieht
Dass ich zitter' ganz erbärmlich
Dass ich in deine Arme flieh'
Ich bin ein Mann
Ein ganzer Mann
The song "Ich Bin Ein Mann" by Marius Müller-Westernhagen is about the struggles and challenges of growing up and becoming a man. The lyrics describe the pain and suffering that the singer experiences, and how he is told by his father to be strong and persevere through it all. The first verse describes the physical pain the singer experiences, with bloody knees and cries of pain, but his father holds him and tells him to be a man. The second verse describes the emotional pain of losing his father at a young age, and how he is left to stand alone and try to be a man on his own. He is overwhelmed by the loss, as seen by the image of a clenched fist, but ultimately he knows he must still be a man.
The song acknowledges the difficulties of masculinity, and how society often expects men to be strong and unemotional. However, it also recognizes that sometimes it is okay to seek comfort and to show vulnerability. This is seen in the final verse, where the singer leans onto someone for comfort, and admits to being scared and weak. Nevertheless, he still identifies as a man, suggesting that masculinity can be complex and multifaceted.
Overall, "Ich Bin Ein Mann" is a powerful song that celebrates and critiques masculinity, acknowledging both its strength and fragility.
Line by Line Meaning
Kam ich nach Haus mit blut'gen Knien
I came home with bloody knees
Und ich hab vor Schmerz geschrien
And I screamed in pain
Nahm mein Vater mich in seinen Arm
My father took me in his arms
Sei ein Mann
Be a man
Als ich vierzehn war er starb
When I was fourteen he died
Ich stand heulend an 'nem Sarg
I stood weeping at a coffin
In der Tasche war die Faust geballt
My fist was clenched in my pocket
Ich war ein Mann
I was a man
Komm, nimm mich fest in deine Arme
Come, hold me tight in your arms
Ich möchte nicht, dass jemand sieht
I don't want anyone to see
Dass ich zitter' ganz erbärmlich
That I'm shaking terribly
Dass ich in deine Arme flieh'
That I'm seeking refuge in your arms
Ich bin ein Mann
I am a man
Ein ganzer Mann
A whole man
Contributed by Benjamin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.