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.
Daumen im Wind
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und halt' den Daumen in den Wind
Es wurde Zeit 'mal wieder loszufahr'n –
Ich hoff' es hält bald einer an!
Nun steh' ich hier und sing' ganz and're Lieder
Ich weiß noch nicht wohin es geht
Ja, die Straße hat mich wieder
Betty ist ein gutes Mädchen –
Ich weiß noch wie es damals war
Sie sagte: "Schmeiß den Schlafsack weg und bleib' bei mir
Ich biete dir ein festes Bett dafür!"
Ich hab's versucht mit ihr
Und es war ja auch ganz schön –
Frühstück im Bett und viele nette Sachen!
Doch irgendwie, auf die Dauer
Fand ich's denn doch nicht mehr so schön –
Mit mir ist das leider nicht zu machen!
Und jedesmal, wenn ich am Ortsausgang stand
Tat mein Tramperherz so weh –
Und ich wusste, dass ich sie verlassen musste
Und heut' ist es soweit und ich geh'!
Da steh' ich also an der Autobahn –
Wann nimmt mich endlich einer mit?
Wann kommt denn hier 'mal ein Typ vorbei
Der auf seine Bremse tritt?
Vielleicht kommt einer der zum Nordpol fährt
Oder auch nur zur nächsten Stadt
Ich steige einfach ein – mal sehen wohin man kommt
Auf jeden Fall die Gegend, hier die hab' ich satt!
Ich möcht' so gern' 'mal nach Haiti
Oder zum Titicacasee –
Ich würd' so gerne einmal Freundschaft schliessen
Mit einem Eskimo im Schnee!
Ich möcht' auch gerne 'mal nach Afrika
Und mit den Urwaldnegern trommeln –
Ich möchte 'mal 'nen Medizinmann fragen
Wieviel böse Geister kann er denn wohl verjagen!
Ich steh' noch immer an der Autobahn
Und träume von der weiten Welt –
Vielleicht sollt' ich den Daumen etwas höher heben
Denn ich will meine Träume nicht nur träumen –
Ich will sie auch erleben!
Udo Lindenberg's song "Daumen im Wind" tells the story of a man who stands by the highway, holding out his thumb and hoping for someone to give him a ride. The singer is restless and eager to hit the road again, and he sings about leaving behind a good woman and their comfortable life together for the unknown adventures of the open road.
The song highlights the sense of adventure and freedom associated with the act of hitchhiking, while also acknowledging the risks and uncertainties that come with it. The lyrics are often wistful and reflective, with the singer dreaming of far-off places and new experiences, but also grappling with the consequences of his choices and the people he's left behind.
Overall, "Daumen im Wind" presents a vivid picture of a wandering spirit who is driven by a deep sense of restlessness and a desire for new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Nun steh' ich wieder an der Autobahn
The singer is back on the road hitchhiking.
Und halt' den Daumen in den Wind
He is standing with his thumb out hoping for a ride.
Es wurde Zeit 'mal wieder loszufahr'n –
He feels it was overdue that he hit the road again.
Ich hoff' es hält bald einer an!
He hopes someone will give him a ride soon!
Nun steh' ich hier und sing' ganz and're Lieder
He's singing different songs now, as he's going to new places.
Ich weiß noch nicht wohin es geht
He doesn't know where he's headed yet.
Ja, die Straße hat mich wieder
He's back on the road again, after a while.
Für Betty und mich ist es zu spät!
It's too late for him and Betty to be together anymore.
Betty ist ein gutes Mädchen –
Betty is a good girl.
Ich weiß noch wie es damals war
He recalls how it was before.
Sie sagte: "Schmeiß den Schlafsack weg und bleib' bei mir
Betty wanted him to stay and not hitchhike anymore.
Ich biete dir ein festes Bett dafür!"
She offered him a comfortable bed in place of a sleeping bag.
Ich hab's versucht mit ihr
He tried to be with her.
Und es war ja auch ganz schön –
Being with her felt nice, initially.
Frühstück im Bett und viele nette Sachen!
They had breakfast in bed, and other nice experiences.
Doch irgendwie, auf die Dauer
But somehow, it didn't last permanently.
Fand ich's denn doch nicht mehr so schön –
Eventually, he didn't enjoy it as much anymore.
Mit mir ist das leider nicht zu machen!
Unfortunately, he realized he could not stay with Betty.
Und jedesmal, wenn ich am Ortsausgang stand
Every time he left a town or city,
Tat mein Tramperherz so weh –
He felt hurt in his heart, as a hitchhiker.
Und ich wusste, dass ich sie verlassen musste
He knew he had to leave her behind.
Und heut' ist es soweit und ich geh'!
And today, he's finally moving on.
Da steh' ich also an der Autobahn –
He finds himself once again hitchhiking.
Wann nimmt mich endlich einer mit?
He's waiting for someone to give him a ride.
Wann kommt denn hier 'mal ein Typ vorbei
He's asking when someone would come by and give him a ride.
Der auf seine Bremse tritt?
Someone who would stop for him.
Vielleicht kommt einer der zum Nordpol fährt
He imagines someone who's going to the North Pole.
Oder auch nur zur nächsten Stadt
Or someone who's simply driving to the next city.
Ich steige einfach ein – mal sehen wohin man kommt
He's willing to get in with anyone, and see where it takes him.
Auf jeden Fall die Gegend, hier die hab' ich satt!
At least, he's done with this place and wants to go anywhere else.
Ich möcht' so gern' 'mal nach Haiti
He would love to go to Haiti someday.
Oder zum Titicacasee –
Or visit the Lake Titicaca.
Ich würd' so gerne einmal Freundschaft schliessen
He wishes to make friends with someone from far away.
Mit einem Eskimo im Schnee!
Even an Eskimo living in the snow!
Ich möcht' auch gerne 'mal nach Afrika
He wants to go to Africa someday too.
Und mit den Urwaldnegern trommeln –
He wants to play drums with the indigenous people living in the jungle.
Ich möchte 'mal 'nen Medizinmann fragen
He longs to ask a medicine man a question.
Wieviel böse Geister kann er denn wohl verjagen
How many evil spirits can he banish, he wants to know.
Ich steh' noch immer an der Autobahn
He's still waiting by the roadside.
Und träume von der weiten Welt –
He's dreaming of traveling to different places.
Vielleicht sollt' ich den Daumen etwas höher heben
Maybe he should raise his thumb a little higher.
Denn ich will meine Träume nicht nur träumen –
Because he wants to make his dreams come true.
Ich will sie auch erleben!
He wants to experience his dreams as well.
Contributed by Max E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.