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.
Was ist los mit mir
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Schrieb ich an eine Wand:
Was ist los mit mir?
Was ist los mit mir?
Und dann bin ich gerannt
Mit dem Kopf gegen die Wand
Was ist los mit mir?
Was ist los mit mir?
Meine Träume sind weg
Und mein Herz ist verdreckt
Was ist los mit mir?
Was ist los mit mir?
Retten kann mich wohl keiner
Jeder bleibt für sich alleine
Was ist los mit mir?
Was ist los mit mir?
The opening lyrics of Marius Müller-Westernhagen's song, Was ist los mit mir, mention the invention of chalk, and the act of writing on walls. The phrase "What is wrong with me?", written in chalk on a wall, is repeated several times throughout the song. The following line, "And then I ran with my head against the wall," suggests that the singer of the song feels frustrated and helpless.
The second verse reveals that the singer has lost their dreams, and their heart is in a state of disrepair. This continues to reinforce the idea that something is not right. The final verse suggests that the singer feels abandoned and alone, as though nobody can save him from his predicament.
The repetition of the question "What is wrong with me?" acts as a central theme throughout the song. It suggests that the singer is struggling with internal conflict, a sense of detachment from the world around him, and a feeling of being lost. The image of him running into a wall serves as a metaphor for his attempts to escape his problems, but ultimately finding himself stuck.
Overall, the song is an exploration of personal struggles and existential questioning. Despite its melancholic tone, it ultimately offers a sense of hope, suggesting that even when we feel lost and alone, there is always the possibility of redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Als man die Kreide erfand
In the past, when chalk was invented
Schrieb ich an eine Wand:
I wrote on a wall:
Was ist los mit mir?
What is wrong with me?
Und dann bin ich gerannt
And then I ran
Mit dem Kopf gegen die Wand
With my head against the wall
Was ist los mit mir?
What is wrong with me?
Meine Träume sind weg
My dreams are gone
Und mein Herz ist verdreckt
And my heart is dirty
Was ist los mit mir?
What is wrong with me?
Retten kann mich wohl keiner
No one can save me
Jeder bleibt für sich alleine
Everyone is alone
Was ist los mit mir?
What is wrong with me?
Contributed by Eli J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.