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.
Muß i denn
Marlene Dietrich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Zum Städtele hinaus, Städtele hinaus,
Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier?
Kann i glei net allweil bei dir sein,
Han i doch mein Freud' an dir!
Wenn i wiedrum komm',
Kehr' i ein, mein Schatz, bei dir.
The lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's "Muß i denn" tell the story of a person who must leave their love in the town and head off into another town. The singer of the song expresses their sadness about parting ways with their love. They ask whether their love will remain in town while they leave or come with them. The singer acknowledges that they cannot be by their love's side always but finds joy in their love's company whenever they are with them. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer will return to their love eventually and spend time with them again.
Line by Line Meaning
Muss i denn, muss i denn
Must I really, must I really
Zum Städtele hinaus, Städtele hinaus,
Go out into the town, into the town,
Und du, mein Schatz, bleibst hier?
And you, my darling, remain here?
Kann i glei net allweil bei dir sein,
I can't always be with you right away,
Han i doch mein Freud' an dir!
But I still find joy in you!
Wenn i komm', wenn i komm',
When I come, when I come,
Wenn i wiedrum komm',
When I come again,
Kehr' i ein, mein Schatz, bei dir.
I'll return, my darling, to you.
Writer(s): Traditional (writer Unknown), Ramin Djawadi
Contributed by Owen E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lu K
Muss i' denn, muss i' denn
Zum Städtele hinaus
Städtele hinaus
Und du mein Schatz bleibst hier
Wenn i' komm, wenn i' komm
Wenn i' wieder, wieder komm
Wieder, wieder komm
Kehr i' ein mein Schatz bei dir
Kann i' auch nicht immer bei dir sein
Hab' i' doch mei' Freud' an dir
Wenn i' komm, wenn i' komm
Wenn i' wieder, wieder komm
Wieder, wieder komm
Kehr' i' ein mein Schatz bei dir
Weine nicht, weine nicht
Wenn i' weiter wandern muss
Weiter wandern muss
Als wär' alle Lieb' vorbei
Gibt es auch, gibt es auch
Der Mädele so viel
Mädele so viel
Lieber Schatz i' bleib dir treu
Denk nicht gleich wenn i die andern seh'
Wär' meine Liebe vorbei
Gibt es auch, gibt es auch
Der Mädele so viel
Mädele so viel
Lieber Schatz i bleib dir treu.
Über's Jahr, über's Jahr
Sind die Träubele erst reif
Träubele erst reif
Stell i' hier mich wieder ein
Wenn i' dann, wenn i' dann
Dein Schätzele noch bin
Schätzele noch bin
So soll die Hochzeit sein
Und ein Jahr geht ja so schnell vorbei
Und bis dahin bin i' dein
Wenn i' dann, wenn i' dann
Dein Schätzele noch bin
Schätzele noch bin
So soll die Hochzeit sein
Joe Harkins
I was taught this song, in German, by a lovely young woman. I was 21 years old. She was a bit younger in years but older in so many - - - so very many - - - ways. We had just finished a room-service breakfast in a sun-filled hotel room overlooking the Rhine in Koln (Cologne) in 1954. I was impatient to get dressed and leave. The song changed my mind. I never hear this song without thinking of that lovely morning. My tour was over. I left Germany 4 days later. I never saw or heard of her again.
Wilhelm The Second
Joe Harkins that's so sweet
scooperman
Great Story Joe , I too have fond memories of my time in Deutschland
James VanGurp an
great memory of a great song!
_stalins _gulag_
Still a better Love Story then Twilight 👌🏻
᭙iꪀꪀiꫀ _
Twilight was actually good-😭😭😭
Chris King
For me Marlene was the girl of the 20th century. One of the reasons for my love of Germany. Bless her.
Lu K
Muss i' denn, muss i' denn
Zum Städtele hinaus
Städtele hinaus
Und du mein Schatz bleibst hier
Wenn i' komm, wenn i' komm
Wenn i' wieder, wieder komm
Wieder, wieder komm
Kehr i' ein mein Schatz bei dir
Kann i' auch nicht immer bei dir sein
Hab' i' doch mei' Freud' an dir
Wenn i' komm, wenn i' komm
Wenn i' wieder, wieder komm
Wieder, wieder komm
Kehr' i' ein mein Schatz bei dir
Weine nicht, weine nicht
Wenn i' weiter wandern muss
Weiter wandern muss
Als wär' alle Lieb' vorbei
Gibt es auch, gibt es auch
Der Mädele so viel
Mädele so viel
Lieber Schatz i' bleib dir treu
Denk nicht gleich wenn i die andern seh'
Wär' meine Liebe vorbei
Gibt es auch, gibt es auch
Der Mädele so viel
Mädele so viel
Lieber Schatz i bleib dir treu.
Über's Jahr, über's Jahr
Sind die Träubele erst reif
Träubele erst reif
Stell i' hier mich wieder ein
Wenn i' dann, wenn i' dann
Dein Schätzele noch bin
Schätzele noch bin
So soll die Hochzeit sein
Und ein Jahr geht ja so schnell vorbei
Und bis dahin bin i' dein
Wenn i' dann, wenn i' dann
Dein Schätzele noch bin
Schätzele noch bin
So soll die Hochzeit sein
Paul William Dixon
A great version of a great song. I like 'Lili Marlene' more, which she also sings very well.
Doris Thomson
I first learned this song in German class in 1963. If I ever saw a translation, I can;t remember it. Elvis sang about the wooden heart, but I don;t know. I used to go around the house, singing this, and my mom asked whatever are you singing. I decided to look it up and see how ,much i had right and how much I had forgotten. I was surprised how much I remembered. Just love this song.