Known to her fans as Der Stille Star (i.e., the Silent Star), Monika Martin… Read Full Bio ↴Known to her fans as Der Stille Star (i.e., the Silent Star), Monika Martin is an Austrian schlager singer with a long track record of hitmaking, going all the way back to her 1996 debut single, "La Luna Blu." Though generally classified as schlager, she can also be considered one of the leading Austrian practioners of volkstьmliche musik, a variant of volksmusik which incorporates contemporary themes and styles rather than the Alpine motifs generally associated with volksmusik. At least three times Martin has competed for the Austrian Grand Prix der Volksmusik ("La Luna Blu," 1996; "Goodbye Farewell," 1998; and "Heute Fьhl Ich Mich Wie Zwanzig," 2006).

Born on May 7, 1962, in Graz, Martin studied solo singing at Kunstuniversitдt Graz (i.e., University of Music and Dramatic Arts) in 1982 and, as a means of financing her studies, sung lead vocals in the tanzband the Heart Breakers from 1986 until 1992. Her band released one album, Dafьr Dank' Ich Dir (1990), billing itself as the Heart Breakers mit Dr. Ilse Bauer. During this period, Martin also studied art history and ethnology, earning her Ph.D. in 1990; from 1990 until 2000 she worked as an art teacher, starting her own ceramics business in Graz in 1994.

In 1995 Martin embarked on her solo singing career, signing to Koch Records and proceeding to release her solo debut, La Luna Blu (1996). The album spawned one of her all-time hits in the title track, which competed for the Grand Prix der Volksmusik, ultimately winning second place among Austrian participants. Martin's second album, Immer Nur Sehnsucht (1997), also put her in the running for the Austrian Grand Prix der Volksmusik, spawning the major hit "Goodbye Farewell." Martin's third album, Klinge Mein Lied (1999), became her most successful to date -- her first to reach gold sales status -- despite not spawning a hit on the level of "La Luna Blu" or "Goodbye Farewell."

Well established as a hitmaker with commercial appeal, Martin retired from teaching in 2000 and began focusing on her singing career full-time. A long string of popular albums resulted, including Mein Liebeslied (2000), Napoli Adieu (2001), Drei Stimmen d'Amour (2001; co-featuring Mara Kayer and Francine Jordi), Mein Gefьhl (2002), Das Beste von Monika Martin (2002), Himmel aus Glas (2003), Eine Liebe Reicht fьr Zwei (2004), Ave Maria: Lieder zur Stillen Zeit (2004), Ein Kleines Glьck (2005), Schmetterling d'Amour (2005), Heute Fьhl' Ich Mich Wie Zwanzig (2006), and Aloha Blue (2007) -- most of which were Top 20, if not Top Ten, hits in Austria and anywhere from Top 50 to Top 100 hits in Germany. Her most popular singles during this period include "Gib Einem Kind Deine Hand" (2000), "Schweige Mein Herz" (2000), "My Love" (2000), "Napoli Adieu" (2001), "Hast Du Heute Schon Gelдchelt" (2002), "Eine Liebe Reicht fьr Zwei" (2004), "Ich Trдum Mich Heute Nacht in Deine Arme" (2005), and "Heute Fьhl Ich Mich Wie Zwanzig" (2006). ~ Jason Birchmeier

Flieg kleine Schwalbe flieg
Monika Martin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
wenn Du wiederkehrst,
bring den Sommer mit.
Flieg, trag mein Herz dorthin,
wo im Winter noch
die Geranien blüh´n.
Dort, unter´m Palmenstrand
hielt er mich im Arm,

wenn die Sonne sank,
Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
bring ihm Grüße mit,
Sag, ich hab ihn lieb.
Träum´ Dir Deine Welt,
hat er oft gesagt.
Lebe Deinen Traum mit mir.
Manchmal ist das Glück
nur ein Augenblick,
dieser Sommer schenkt ihn Dir.
Du, dieses erste Du,
und der Sommerwind
sang sein Lied dazu.
Dann war das Meer ganz still,
weil die Zärtlichkeit
aus den Sternen fiel.
Bleib, hat er oft gesagt.
Und warum hab ich
nie mein Herz gefragt?
Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
sag ihm, dass die Zeit
wenn Du wiederkehrst,
Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg
bring den Sommer mit.
Flieg, trag mein Herz dorthin,
wo im Winter noch
die Geranien blüh´n.
Flieg, such die Spur im Sand,
die ich ohne ihn
nie mehr wieder fand.

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
sag ihm, dass die Zeit keine Wunden heilt.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Monika Martin's song "Flieg kleine Schwalbe flieg" express the yearning of someone who has been separated from their loved one and is hoping they will return. The singer addresses a little bird, a swallow, and implores it to fly and bring the summer back, along with messages of love to the person they miss. They describe a romantic memory of being held by their loved one on a beach, feeling sunsets and the warmth of the sun, and dreaming of a happy future. The singer acknowledges that sometimes happiness is fleeting and that the summer season may bring it, but it may also come and go quickly. The singer expresses their hope that the little bird will find traces of their love, their steps in the sand, and remind their loved one that time does not heal all wounds.

The song is rich in metaphors and symbols. The little bird, the swallow, is a classic symbol of migration and the return of spring and summer. The beach and the palm trees are also symbols of summer, warmth, and love. The geraniums mentioned in the song are a traditional plant often found in German gardens, and here they symbolize the singer's hope that something beautiful and alive can survive even in the winter months, when everything seems lifeless. The starry sky represents the magical quality of love, and the idea that it has the power to make even the sea quiet and peaceful.

Overall, "Flieg kleine Schwalbe flieg" is a poignant and heartfelt song that speaks to the longing and vulnerability of the human heart, and the hope and beauty that can still be found even in difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
Fly, little swallow, fly,

wenn Du wiederkehrst,
when you return,

bring den Sommer mit.
bring the summer with you.

Flieg, trag mein Herz dorthin,
Fly, take my heart there,

wo im Winter noch
where in winter still

die Geranien blüh´n.
the geraniums bloom.

Dort, unter´m Palmenstrand
There, under the palm tree beach,

hielt er mich im Arm,
he held me in his arms,

wenn die Sonne sank,
when the sun set,

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
Fly, little swallow, fly,

bring ihm Grüße mit,
bring him greetings,

Sag, ich hab ihn lieb.
say that I love him.

Träum´ Dir Deine Welt,
Dream of your world,

hat er oft gesagt.
he has often said.

Lebe Deinen Traum mit mir.
Live your dream with me.

Manchmal ist das Glück
Sometimes happiness

nur ein Augenblick,
is only a moment,

dieser Sommer schenkt ihn Dir.
this summer will give it to you.

Du, dieses erste Du,
You, this first you,

und der Sommerwind
and the summer wind

sang sein Lied dazu.
sang of it.

Dann war das Meer ganz still,
Then the sea was completely still,

weil die Zärtlichkeit
because the tenderness,

aus den Sternen fiel.
fell from the stars.

Bleib, hat er oft gesagt.
Stay, he has often said.

Und warum hab ich
And why have I

nie mein Herz gefragt?
never asked my heart?

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
Fly, little swallow, fly,

sag ihm, dass die Zeit
tell him that time

wenn Du wiederkehrst,
when you return,

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg
Fly, little swallow, fly

bring den Sommer mit.
bring the summer with you.

Flieg, trag mein Herz dorthin,
Fly, take my heart there,

wo im Winter noch
where in winter still

die Geranien blüh´n.
the geraniums bloom.

Flieg, such die Spur im Sand,
Fly, search for the trace in the sand,

die ich ohne ihn
that I without him

nie mehr wieder fand.
never found again.

Flieg, kleine Schwalbe, flieg,
Fly, little swallow, fly,

sag ihm, dass die Zeit keine Wunden heilt.
tell him that time doesn't heal all wounds.

Writer(s): Walter Widemair, Irma Holder Copyright: Koch Music Oe Ehem. Franz Koch Mv Ed.

Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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