During World War II, Alexander was a member of the Luftwaffenhelfer and the Reichsarbeitsdienst before being drafted into the navy. In 1945, he was captured by the British and held as a prisoner-of-war.
After the war he attended Vienna's Max Reinhardt Seminary for actors until 1948 and started a career as actor. He starred in several musical comedies, including among others Liebe, Tanz und 1000 Schlager and Peter schießt den Vogel ab. Later he starred in the famous Count Bobby movies and the Luemmel-series. In the 1970s, Peter Alexander started a second career as a TV host and entertainer. He is a talented imitator of voices and people, including Queen Elizabeth II.
He married Hilde Haagen in 1952, and they had two children, Susanne Alexander Neumayer (born in 1958), an artist, and Michael (born in 1963). Since the death of his wife Hilde in 2003, he has lived in his house in Vienna in the 19th district, completely retired from the public.
Peter Alexander died on February 12th 2011 in Vienna.
Zuschau'n kann i net
Peter Alexander Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Für ein einziges Wort
Hätt ich alles getan, sofort
Doch für Sie ist ein Scherz,
Was für mich ein Schmerz
I glaub die hat kein Herz
Für ein Körnchen Gemüt,
Einen Hauch Sympathie
Und für sie wär ich gsprungen ins Wasse rhinein
Doch in einem Fall da sag ich nein
Nein
Zuaschaun kann i ned
Zuaschaun mog i ned
Wann i ned söba bin dabei
Bricht mir das Herz entzwei
Neidisch bin i ned
Meiner Sö', i ned
Aber zuschaun, ich gesteh,
Zuschaun tut holt goa so weh.
The lyrics of Peter Alexander's song "Zuschau'n kann i net" depict the longing and unrequited love of the singer towards a woman he has feelings for. He would do anything for a smile or a word from her, but he realizes that what hurts him deeply is just a joke for her. He believes that she has no heart and doesn't care about his emotions. However, he admits that he would steal horses and jump into the water for her, although he draws the line at watching her with someone else. He cannot bear to watch her with someone else because it tears his heart apart.
The song captures the vulnerability of unrequited love, where one person feels intensely for another, but the object of their affection doesn't feel the same way. The haunting melody further enhances the melancholy mood of the lyrics. The repeated use of the phrase "zuschau'n kann i net" (I can't watch) highlights the pain of being a mere spectator to the woman's life, unable to participate in it.
Overall, the song is a poignant portrayal of the pain of unrequited love and the desperate longing to be loved by someone who doesn't return those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Für ein Lächeln von ihr
I would do anything for a smile from her
Für ein einziges Wort
Even a single word from her means the world to me
Hätt ich alles getan, sofort
I would have done anything for her immediately
Doch für Sie ist ein Scherz,
But for her, it's just a joke,
Was für mich ein Schmerz
While for me, it's a painful reality
I glaub die hat kein Herz
I think she doesn't have a heart
Für ein Körnchen Gemüt,
If only she had a little bit of kindness in her
Einen Hauch Sympathie
Or a hint of sympathy
Hätt ich Pferde gestohlen für sie
I would steal horses for her
Und für sie wär ich gsprungen ins Wasse rhinein
And I would jump into the water for her
Doch in einem Fall da sag ich nein
But there's one thing I won't do
Nein
No
Zuaschaun kann i ned
I can't just stand by and watch
Zuaschaun mog i ned
I don't want to just be a spectator
Wann i ned söba bin dabei
If I'm not a part of it myself
Bricht mir das Herz entzwei
It just breaks my heart in two
Neidisch bin i ned
I'm not jealous
Meiner Sö', i ned
Not even of my own children
Aber zuschaun, ich gesteh,
But I admit that watching hurts me
Zuschaun tut holt goa so weh.
Watching just hurts so much
Writer(s): ROBERT GILBERT, BRUNO GRANICHSTAEDTEN
Contributed by Arianna L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
The J-Man
es ist schon komisch auch 56 Jahre später hat man heutzutage immer noch die selben probleme ;)
Markus
Selbst in 2021 noch aktuell 🥺
Roger Lynch
Man kann wirklich alle Fassungen vom Weißen Rössel am Wolfgangssee seit dem Roman(1878 ) miteinander vergleichen. Ist wirklich nicht uninteressant, ABER am besten und am einzigartigsten finde ich die Fassung von 1960 mit Peter A.lexander. Da merkt man auch wie gut dem Manuskript der Einfluß der amerikanischen Musical Fassung THE WHITE HORSE gebracht hatte.
Nur das mit dem Hubschrauber fand ich leicht übertrieben; war eben noch dei Fortschritts begeisterung der Sechziger gewesen.
Ich bin zu dem Film über meine Mutter gekommen für die er einer ihrer Lieblingsfilme gewesen war
BIANCA WAACK
Super Titel
Matteo Corallo
Indimenticabile