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.
Schweige still
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jedes Wort wär zuviel
Jede Geste verwegen
Schweige still
Sieh mich einfach nur an
Eine Frau und ein Mann
Und die Hoffnung auf Liebe
Ich will dich ehren
Ich geb auf dich acht
Verloren geglaubte Zärtlichkeit
Hält uns gefangen heute Nacht
Schweige still, schweige still
Weiß dein Herz, was es will
Gesegnet sei diese Reise
Ohne Ziel
Ich will dich ehren
Ich geb auf dich acht
Verloren geglaubtes Verlangen
Raubt uns den Atem heute Nacht
Schlaf mein Mädchen, schlaf ein
Zugedeckt insgeheim
Von der Sehnsucht nach Liebe
Die uns eint
The song "Schweige still" by Marius Müller-Westernhagen is a ballad about the struggles and complexities of a relationship. It starts off with the phrase "Schweige still" (which means "keep quiet" in English) and repeats it as a chorus throughout the song. This phrase seems to suggest that the singer's words or actions would be too risky or damaging to the relationship, so he urges himself and his partner to keep quiet and maintain the peace.
The next lines introduce the idea of a man and a woman, united in the hope for love. The singer expresses his desire to honor and protect his partner, even as he struggles with lost intimacy or desire. The line "verloren geglaubte Zärtlichkeit hält uns gefangen heute Nacht" (which means "lost tenderness holds us captive tonight" in English) suggests that the couple is still bound together by their shared memories and hopes, despite their difficulties.
As the song progresses, the singer begs his partner to sleep, promising her the secret comfort of shared longing. He seems to acknowledge that their love is uncertain and without direction, but believes it is a blessed journey nonetheless.
Overall, this song is a poignant meditation on the challenges of maintaining intimacy and connection in a relationship. It speaks to the power of unspoken desires and the need for endurance and patience in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Schweige still, schweige still
Be quiet, don't say a word
Jedes Wort wär zuviel
Any word would be too much
Jede Geste verwegen
Any gesture would be reckless
Sieh mich einfach nur an
Just look at me
Eine Frau und ein Mann
A woman and a man
Und die Hoffnung auf Liebe
And the hope for love
Irgendwann
Sometime
Ich will dich ehren
I want to honor you
Ich geb auf dich acht
I take care of you
Verloren geglaubte Zärtlichkeit
The tenderness we thought we've lost
Hält uns gefangen heute Nacht
Keeps us captive tonight
Weiß dein Herz, was es will
Does your heart know what it wants
Gesegnet sei diese Reise
Blessed be this journey
Ohne Ziel
Without a goal
Verloren geglaubtes Verlangen
The desire we thought we lost
Raubt uns den Atem heute Nacht
Takes our breath away tonight
Schlaf mein Mädchen, schlaf ein
Sleep my girl, fall asleep
Zugedeckt insgeheim
Secretly covered
Von der Sehnsucht nach Liebe
By the longing for love
Die uns eint
That unites us
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.