Marlene was known in school for her "bedroom eyes" and her first affairs were at this stage in her life - a professor at the school was terminated.
Marlene enjoyed music and attended concerts. She was adept at playing the violin and piano. By the time she was in her mid-teens, Marlene had discovered the stage. Acting was to be her vocation. In 1921, Marlene applied for an acting school run by Max Reinhardt. She was accepted. She appeared in several stage productions, but never had more than a couple of spoken lines. In short, she wasn't setting the stage world on fire.
She attempted films for the first time in 1922 Her first film was So sind die Männer (The Little Napoleon) (1923) which was followed by Tragödie der Liebe (Love Tragedy) (1923). On this last project, she met Rudolf Sieber and married him in 1924. The union lasted until his death in 1976 although they didn't live together the whole time.
The remainder of her early film career was generally filled with bit roles. After being seen in the German production of Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) (1930) in 1930, Marlene was given a crack at Hollywood. Her first US film was Morocco (1930) with Gary Cooper, which was followed by Dishonored (1931). This latter movie had her cast as a street walker who is appointed a spy. The film was rather boring but was a success because of Marlene's presence. In 1932, Marlene filmed Shanghai Express (1932) which proved to be immensely popular, grossing $3 million. Once again, she was cast as a prostitute. The next film was Blonde Venus (1932) which turned out to be a horrible production. Her co-star was Cary Grant and once again she was cast as a prostitute.
During this period Dietrich had been typecast as a woman of low morals and she wanted different parts. Her chance came in 1939 in Destry Rides Again (1939) when she was cast as "Frenchy", a Western saloon hostess. This began a new direction for Marlene since it shed the previous typecasting. All through the 1940s, she appeared in well-produced, well-directed films such as Manpower (1942), The Spoilers (1942), The Lady Is Willing (1942) and Pittsburgh (1942).
Afterwards the roles came less frequently, perhaps one to two films every year. In 1945, Marlene didn't appear in any. She only made seven productions in the 1950's. Her last role of any substance was Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). Despite the lack of theatrical roles, Marlene still made appearances on the stage. However, by 1979, she was a shell of her former self. After breaking her leg in one performance, she never made a go of it in show business again.
Spending the last 12 years of her life bed-ridden, Marlene died on May 6, 1992 in Paris, France of kidney failure at the age of 90.
Ich hab' noch einen koffer in Berlin
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deswegen muß ich da nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten vergangener Zeiten
Sie sind alle immer noch in diesem kleinen Koffer
Drin
Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Das bleibt auch so und das hat seinen Sinn
Und wenn ich Sehnsucht hab dann fahr ich wieder hin
Wunderschön ists in Paris
Auf der Rue Madleen
Schön ist es im Mai in Rom
Durch die Stadt zu gehen
Oder eine Sommernacht
Still beim Wein in Wien
Doch ich denk, wenn ihr auch lacht
Heute noch an Berlin
Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Deswegen muß ich da nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten vergangener Zeiten
Sie sind alle immer noch in diesem kleinen Koffer
Drin
Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Das bleibt auch so und das hat seinen Sinn
Auf diese Weise lonht sich die Reise
Und wenn ich Sehnsucht hab dann fahr ich wieder hin
Und ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
The lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's song "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin" speak to the deep emotional attachment that the singer has to Berlin, despite the physical distance between her and the city. She refers to a small suitcase that she has kept, which contains all of the precious memories of her past in Berlin. She sings about the joy that she has experienced in other places around the world, such as Paris or Rome, but ultimately her heart still longs for Berlin.
The singer explains that there is a reason that she still keeps her suitcase in Berlin, even though she may not be physically present there. The suitcase serves as a reminder of all of the happy times that she has had in the city, and it helps her to revisit those memories whenever she feels a sense of nostalgia. The decision to keep the suitcase in Berlin is a deliberate one, as it allows her to make the most of her travels and to have a touchstone in a place that is close to her heart.
Overall, the lyrics to "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin" convey a strong sense of longing and nostalgia for a place that the singer has left behind. However, they also demonstrate how the power of memories and keepsakes can help to keep one connected to a specific time and place, even from afar.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin
I still have a suitcase in Berlin
Deswegen muß ich da nächstens wieder hin
That's why I have to go back there soon
Die Seligkeiten vergangener Zeiten
The joys of past times
Sie sind alle immer noch in diesem kleinen Koffer
They are all still in this little suitcase
Drin
Inside
Das bleibt auch so und das hat seinen Sinn
That remains so and it has its meaning
Auf diese Weise lonht sich die Reise
This way the journey is worthwhile
Und wenn ich Sehnsucht hab dann fahr ich wieder hin
And if I'm longing, I'll go back there again
Wunderschön ists in Paris
Paris is wonderfully beautiful
Auf der Rue Madleen
On Rue Madleen
Schön ist es im Mai in Rom
May in Rome is beautiful
Durch die Stadt zu gehen
To walk through the city
Oder eine Sommernacht
Or a summer night
Still beim Wein in Wien
Quietly at wine in Vienna
Doch ich denk, wenn ihr auch lacht
But I think, even if you laugh
Heute noch an Berlin
Even today, I still think of Berlin
Writer(s): Aldo Pinelli Von, Ralph Maria Siegel
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Denise Stardust
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Deswegen muss ich nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten
Vergang'ner Zeiten
Sind alle noch in meinem kleinen Koffer drin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Und der bleibt auch dort und das hat seinen Sinn
Auf diese Weise
Lohnt sich die Reise
Denn wenn ich Sehnsucht hab', dann fahr' ich wieder hin
Wunderschön ist's in Paris
Auf der Rue Madeleine
Schön ist es im Mai in Rom
Durch die Stadt zu geh'n
Oder eine Sommernacht
Still beim Wein in Wien
Doch ich häng', wenn ihr auch lacht
Heut' noch an Berlin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Deswegen muss ich nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten
Vergang'ner Zeiten
Sind alle noch in meinem kleinen Koffer drin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Und der bleibt auch dort und das hat seinen Sinn
Auf diese Weise
Lohnt sich die Reise
Denn wenn ich Sehnsucht hab', dann fahr' ich wieder hin
Thomas Granville
I won't attempt my very poor German. When I was 20 years old, I bought my first Dietrich album. This song was among the offerings. That was in the 1960's. It was my favorite then and I still melt, hearing it today. What great artistry! Perfect!
Nygel Miller
To Thomas Granville. You are an old softy - like ME! I saw her in concert in Wimbledon in the 1970's, and her charismatic personality, and spectacular professional show, certainly COULD melt ALL of us! I had an album of hers, and scribbled on the back of it - telling my mates I had got her autograph! THEN I actually found out Wimbledon Theatre was one of those theatres where the artists actually DO sometimes sign autographs! So I could have had a real signature on the back of my album - had I known that!
Denise Stardust
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Deswegen muss ich nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten
Vergang'ner Zeiten
Sind alle noch in meinem kleinen Koffer drin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Und der bleibt auch dort und das hat seinen Sinn
Auf diese Weise
Lohnt sich die Reise
Denn wenn ich Sehnsucht hab', dann fahr' ich wieder hin
Wunderschön ist's in Paris
Auf der Rue Madeleine
Schön ist es im Mai in Rom
Durch die Stadt zu geh'n
Oder eine Sommernacht
Still beim Wein in Wien
Doch ich häng', wenn ihr auch lacht
Heut' noch an Berlin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Deswegen muss ich nächstens wieder hin
Die Seligkeiten
Vergang'ner Zeiten
Sind alle noch in meinem kleinen Koffer drin
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin
Und der bleibt auch dort und das hat seinen Sinn
Auf diese Weise
Lohnt sich die Reise
Denn wenn ich Sehnsucht hab', dann fahr' ich wieder hin
A'lex
Danke dafür!
Alvin purple
Wunderbau me in fruend!
spartacus spartacus
Top
HANS BRAAM VAN DEIJZEN
Ich hab noch ein koffer in Dresden
W
Herzlichen Dank!💖
GOPETO DRAKULA
Много добро и носталгично испълнение на великата Марлене Дитрих !
Richard Spencer
I was a student at the Free University in Berlin 1959-60 (junior year abroad) after my sophomore year at UCLA. The city has changed much since then, but I still have a special place in my heart for it. I have visited Paris and Rome. I still love Berlin more. Dietrich's rendition/recording was well known at the time. I heard students mimicking her on campus. And I have sung it to myself many times during the last sixty years. If I were younger, I would go back again...um meinen Koffer zu wiederholen.