The LP Lindenberg (also 1971, and sung in English, already with Steffi Stephan on bass) was likewise unsuccessful. In the following year, the fist LP in German was released: Daumen im Wind (produced by Lindenberg and Thomas Kukuck, who also produced the next five albums together), from which the single "Hoch im Norden" became a radio hit in northern Germany. The year 1973 brought a breakthrough with the album Andrea Doria and its catchy "Alles klar auf der Andrea Doria" and "Cello". Over 100,000 copies sold, and Lindenberg quickly received the largest record deal of any German-language musician up to that time. Lindenberg was earning a special place in the new German-language music of the 70s: Between internationally-oriented Krautrock and pop music, he found his niche. German-language rock had previously been confined to predominantly political message bands whose music was directed at a narrow audience.
Lindenbergs brash style, everyday subject matter ("Bei Onkel Pö…") and his feel for language were an unprecedented combination in German-language music. His pioneering work helped other artists such as Stefan Waggershausen and Marius Müller-Westernhagen get record deals of their own. In 1973 Lindenberg first went on tour with his Panikorchester (Panic Orchestra).
1976 was one of Udo Lindenberg's most productive years. Besides the LP Galaxo Gang he also published under the name Das Waldemar Wunderbar Syndicat I make you feel good, a first Best of Panik Udo and the first in a series of foreign-language publications No Panic, on which Lindenberg translated his songs to English. In the same year (and on another LP: Sister King Kong) with the song "Rock ’n’ Roll Arena in Jena", Lindenberg first mentioned a Panic Orchestra tour in the GDR. In 1976, Lindenberg discovered Ulla Meinecke and produced her first two albums. She was a guest artist and co-author of the 1977 LP Panische Nächte (Panic Nights) and the 1978 Dröhnland Symphonie. On Lindenbergs Rock Revue (1978) Lindenberg and Horst Königstein "Germanized" rock classics from Little Richard to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and went on a big tour. The Nr.-1-Hit "We Gotta Get out of This Place" was also published with German lyrics.
The subsequent Dröhnland-Symphonie-Tour was staged by Peter Zadek as a big multimedia stage show with a plethora of costumed extras. The result was Lindenbergs first live album Livehaftig. In 1979, Der Detektiv was the second Rock Revue, in which more international hits such as "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John, "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "My Little Town" and "As Time Goes By" (from the film Casablanca) were "Germanized". Also 1997 was published "Belcanto - Udo Lindenberg & das Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg" which included hits like "Horizont", "Bis ans Ende der Welt" along with a song by Bertold Brecht and Udo's own interpretation of The Windmills of Your Mind - "Under the drunkard moon" ("Unterm Säufermond").
One of his most famous songs is Sonderzug nach Pankow (Special train service to Pankow), an adaptation of Chattanooga Choo Choo, released as a single on 2 February 1983. It originated from the refusal of eastern German authorities to allow Lindenberg a concert in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
On June 3, 2011, Lindenberg performed at Kampnagel unplugged. The recording was later released as an album within the MTV unplugged series. Lindenberg was the 8th German artist in that series. The album became the second No.1 album for Lindenberg declared Platin status for 200,000 sold units after two weeks. The second single from the album "Cello" (feat. Clueso) went No.4 giving Lindenberg the highest chart position in German singles charts ever reached.
Lindenberg has worked collaboratively with various local and international recording artists (Eric Burdon, Helen Schneider, David Bowie, Tom Robinson, Keith Forsey, Gianna Nannini, and Nena) on a number of projects. He currently lives in Hamburg in the Hotel Atlantic (for several years now). His somewhat hoarse voice is the result of too much liquor and cigarettes. In 1989, he survived a heart attack. In 2010, he designed two stamps, themed on his songs "Andrea Doria" and "Sonderzug nach Pankow", for the Deutsche Post.
Cowboy
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich ritt' die wilden Gäule
Auf die die Stars sich nicht drauftrauen
Ich war ein Stuntman, bei Metro-Goldwyn-Müller
Ich kann Ihnen sagen, das war vielleicht
Ein Spitzenknüller
Im Wilden Weste Pferde testen
Und Buffalo-Bill-Romantik in der Prärie
Yippi ya yeah
Yippi ya yeah
(Yippi ya yeah)
Eigentlich bin ich aus Dortmund-Applerbeck
Ich war Steiger in der Zeche „Glückrunter“
Doch ich wollte hoch hinaus und da bin ich da weg
Und so zog ich nach Hollywood
Mel Brooks war mein Regisseur
Doch mein Pferd war von der Brauerei
Und so kam's zum Malheur
Das dumme Ding soff öfter 'ne Tasse Bier
Und hat mich trunken angestiert
Und eines Tages haben wir uns vergaloppiert
In der Todeswüste
Yippy ya yeah
Yippi ya yeah
(Yippi ya yeah)
Und so krochen wir im Zeitlupentempo
Durch die Sierra Nevada
Mein Pferd sagt: „Meine Knie
Sind schon so weich wie Kaugummi
Das hat doch alles keinen Zweck
Ich sterbe dir zwischen den Sporen weg“
Und so musste ich mein Pferd erschießen
Es tut mir so leid Pferd, es musste sein
Yippy ya yeah
Yippi ya yeah
Und ich hör' das Lied vom Tod
Und so schlepp ich mich durch den Wüstensand
Nur ab und zu ein paar Kakteen
Und kein Ende abzusehen
Ich will doch noch nicht sterben
Da kichern doch nur die Erben
Nein neiiiiin
The song "Cowboy" by Udo Lindenberg is a story about a man who leaves his life as a coal miner in Dortmund-Applerbeck to pursue his dream of being a cowboy in Hollywood. The singer reminisces about his experiences as a "stuntman" and horse tester in the Wild West, but ultimately meets an unfortunate end when his horse, which is actually a brewery horse, gets him lost and he has to shoot it to end its suffering. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery that paints a picture of the Old West, and the song has a classic Western-style sound with guitar riffs and harmonica solos that contribute to its nostalgic feel.
The line "Ich war ein Mann wie ein Baum" ("I was a man like a tree") is a reference to the German idiom "stark wie ein Baum" ("strong like a tree"), which is used to describe someone who is solid and dependable. The singer describes himself as a "Cowboy" who rode wild horses that were too dangerous for even the biggest stars to ride. He also sings about his experiences testing horses in the Wild West and references famous Western figures like Buffalo Bill. The chorus of the song, "Yippi ya yeah," is a classic cowboy catchphrase that appears in many Western films.
Interestingly, Udo Lindenberg was actually born in the city of Gronau in western Germany and has no direct connection to the Wild West or Hollywood. Nevertheless, he has always been fascinated by American culture and has incorporated elements of it into his music throughout his career. "Cowboy" was released in 1978 and remains one of Lindenberg's most popular and beloved songs to this day. The song has been covered by multiple artists and has even been used in advertisements for German car companies.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich war ein Cowboy, ein Mann wie ein Baum
I used to be a cowboy, strong and sturdy like a tree
Ich ritt' die wilden Gäule
I rode the fiercest horses
Auf die die Stars sich nicht drauftrauen
Even the biggest stars were afraid of riding them
Ich war ein Stuntman, bei Metro-Goldwyn-Müller
I worked as a stuntman for Metro-Goldwyn-Müller
Ich kann Ihnen sagen, das war vielleicht
Let me tell you, it was quite something
Ein Spitzenknüller
A top hit
Im Wilden Weste Pferde testen
Testing horses in the Wild West
Jede Menge Larry in Laramy
Lots of Larrys in Laramy (a reference to Western films)
Und Buffalo-Bill-Romantik in der Prärie
And all the romanticism of Buffalo Bill in the prairie
Yippi ya yeah
Yippi ya yeah (a Western-style exclamation)
Eigentlich bin ich aus Dortmund-Applerbeck
Actually, I'm from Dortmund-Applerbeck (a city in Germany)
Ich war Steiger in der Zeche „Glückrunter“
I used to work as a miner in the Glückrunter mine
Doch ich wollte hoch hinaus und da bin ich da weg
But I wanted to reach higher and so I left
Und so zog ich nach Hollywood
And so I moved to Hollywood
Mel Brooks war mein Regisseur
Mel Brooks was my director
Doch mein Pferd war von der Brauerei
But my horse was from a brewery
Und so kam's zum Malheur
And so disaster struck
Das dumme Ding soff öfter 'ne Tasse Bier
The silly thing would often drink a cup of beer
Und hat mich trunken angestiert
And it would look at me drunkenly
Und eines Tages haben wir uns vergaloppiert
And one day we got lost while riding carelessly
In der Todeswüste
In the deadly desert
Und so krochen wir im Zeitlupentempo
And so we crawled in slow motion
Durch die Sierra Nevada
Through the Sierra Nevada mountains
Mein Pferd sagt: „Meine Knie
My horse said: 'My knees
Sind schon so weich wie Kaugummi
Are as soft as chewing gum now
Das hat doch alles keinen Zweck
This is all pointless
Ich sterbe dir zwischen den Sporen weg“
I'll die right here under your spurs'
Und so musste ich mein Pferd erschießen
And so I had to shoot my horse
Es tut mir so leid Pferd, es musste sein
I'm so sorry, horse, but it had to be done
Und ich hör' das Lied vom Tod
And I hear the song of death
Und so schlepp ich mich durch den Wüstensand
And so I drag myself through the desert sand
Nur ab und zu ein paar Kakteen
Only a few cacti every now and then
Und kein Ende abzusehen
And no end in sight
Ich will doch noch nicht sterben
I don't want to die yet
Da kichern doch nur die Erben
Only the heirs would laugh at that
Nein neiiiiin
No noooo
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Udo Lindenberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ReisenderBecauseOfLuv
Ah
Letzter Kommi Versuch war Vor 3 monate. Beginn ohne alk Zeit
Da Klang es anders..
I still like it 😁 auch wenn's mal Anleitung war. Werd penner!
Oh alta. Sch alk...alk stoert hoersinn! Abba Wie. ....
@Kingbreck
Sehr großer Verlust der großartigen Carola Kretschmer, damals noch als Thomas gelistet. Was für ein fantastisches, seelenvolles Gitarrensolo! Einzig und prägend! Eine große Künstlerin hat die Bühne belassen.
Danke, für die großartigen Momente!!!
@joefreiburg2716
Ein ganzes Hörspiel in einem Song. Mit einem Gitarrensolo der Extravaganz. Und Inga, Otto, Charles, Udo... Geniales Meisterwerk!
@fietsvriend
So ist es. It makes me cry. Udo is a genius
@dietmarreuter8163
Ja , das waren noch Zeiten
@sportbilli735
Bestes Gitarren Solo der deutschen Rock Musik...immer noch... !
@joefreiburg2716
Ja! Einfach ja!
@townsedan2kalle794
Absolut Genial Gespielt ,,, Gänsepelle 👍👍👍👍👍
@ralfjekel2642
Solo bei nichts haut einen Seemann ist noch besser.
@matblower1555
Absolut richtig ! Carola Kretschmer - mit viel Gefühl 👍
@bobbaumeister5243
R.I.P. Carola Kreschtmer