In 1963, Maffay and his parents emigrated from the Siebenbürgen region in Romania to Germany, like other Transylvanian Saxons. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes. After completing his education and spending some time working for Chemigraphics, an art manufacturer, Maffay worked in clubs, where he distributed his music.
Peter Maffay's career began in 1969 with the publication of his first single, "Du" (You in German). It was the biggest German hit in 1970 and brought Maffay instant fame. With the album Steppenwolf in 1979, Maffay became a major music star in Germany. The album sold 1.6 million copies, making it the best selling LP at that time. In 1980, the album Revanche (Revenge) broke his previous record, selling 2.1 million copies.
Maffay holds the German record for the most number one ranked singles in the single and album sales charts, including 12 albums. In addition, most of his studio albums reached the top ten. He also holds a German record for most albums to have sold over one million copies, with 14. His latest album ,Laut und Leise (Loud and Quiet), became the fourteenth.
Altogether, Maffay has sold over 35 million records. Since 1980, each of his 13 tours (roughly every 2 years) has ranked among the three most visited attractions each season in Germany, with nine of them ranked first in that category.
Maffay also created a string of fairy tales about a little green dragon named Tabaluga, which was spread out onto four albums. The piece was also turned into a musical. Maffay went on tour individually with Tabaluga & Lilli in Germany; he later released a live album, DVD and live TV broadcast. The tour included Peter Maffay, Alexis, Nino de Angelo, Rufus Beck, and Carl Carlton among others.
In 1998, Maffay collaborated to create an album with artists from all corners of the world, including Aboriginal singers and musicians from Israel.
He also starred in two films directed by Peter Patzak - The Joker in 1986, and Captured in Yemen in 1999. In addition, Maffay played a supporting role in the feature "The Polar Bear".
Steppenwolf
Peter Maffay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und einfach zu kompliziert
Er blieb mittendrin immer draußen
Und fühlte sich nicht akzeptiert
Er baute sich Mauern aus Schweigen
Und trug eine Kapsel aus Glas
Er wollte es niemandem zeigen
Was er in der Stille besaß
Sie nannten ihn den Steppenwolf
Er wirkte wüst und wild
Dabei war nur sein Lebensdrang
Nach Freiheit noch nicht gestillt
Den anderen war er viel zu anders
Ein lebender Putschversuch
Er blieb mittendrin immer draußen
Ein wandelndes rotes Tuch
So lebte er in seiner Spannung
Dem inneren Frieden fern
Er fühlte sich wie in Verbannung
Auf einem frierenden Stern
Sie nannten ihn den Steppenwolf
Er wirkte wüst und wild
Dabei war nur sein Lebensdrang
Nach Freiheit noch nicht gestillt
Sie nannten ihn den Steppenwolf
Er wirkte wüst und wild
Dabei war nur sein Lebensdrang
Nach Freiheit noch nicht gestillt
Oh, sie nannten ihn den Steppenwolf
Er wirkte wüst und wild
Dabei war nur sein Lebensdrang
Nach Freiheit noch nicht gestillt
The lyrics to Peter Maffay's "Steppenwolf" depict the struggles of an individual who feels like an outsider, a misfit who is too complicated and different for others to accept. The person is unable to connect with others and builds walls around himself, living in a state of tension and inner turmoil. He is referred to as "Steppenwolf", a name that suggests wildness and untamed nature. However, the song reveals that this is a misjudgment of who this person really is. His apparent wildness is merely a reflection of his thirst for freedom, which has not yet been quenched.
The lyrics continue to describe Steppenwolf as a living challenge and a red cloth to those around him, indicating that his presence provokes discomfort among those who are accustomed to conforming. The person is unable to find inner peace and feels as if he is living on an alienated planet. The name Steppenwolf symbolizes not only the wildness and freedom-seeking spirit of an individual but also the struggle to fit into society and be accepted for who they are. Ultimately, the message of the song is that acceptance and freedom are universal human needs that should not be denied to anyone, no matter how different they may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Den andern war er viel zu anders
He was too different for the others
Und einfach zu kompliziert
And too complicated for them to understand
Er blieb mittendrin immer draußen
He always felt like an outsider, even when among them
Und fühlte sich nicht akzeptiert
And didn't feel accepted by them
Er baute sich Mauern aus Schweigen
He built walls with his silence
Und trug eine Kapsel aus Glas
And carried a glass capsule
Er wollte es niemandem zeigen
He didn't want to show anyone
Was er in der Stille besaß
What he possessed in silence
Sie nannten ihn den Steppenwolf
They called him the Steppenwolf
Er wirkte wüst und wild
He seemed rough and wild
Dabei war nur sein Lebensdrang
But it was only his desire for life
Nach Freiheit noch nicht gestillt
Not yet satisfied with freedom
Ein lebender Putschversuch
A living revolution attempt
Ein wandelndes rotes Tuch
A walking red flag
So lebte er in seiner Spannung
So he lived in his tension
Dem inneren Frieden fern
Far from inner peace
Er fühlte sich wie in Verbannung
He felt like he was in exile
Auf einem frierenden Stern
On a freezing star
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter (de 1) Maffay, Johnny Tame, Oliver Spiecker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind