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.
Der Boss von der Gang
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Frag sie doch - da ist sie!
Betty, ist das ein Ring von Jimmy,
den du da am Finger trägst?
Hm - mit ihm auf dem Motorrad, das muss wahnsinnig sein
Holt er dich heute von der Schule ab?
Wo hast du ihn eigentlich kennengelernt?
er drehte sich um, kam auf mich zu
und sagte: Hey Baby, ich bin der Boss von der Gang!
Zu Hause wollte das keiner sehen
mit Jungs aus diesem Teil der Stadt kann man nicht gehen
er wäre ein ganz gemeiner Rockertyp
doch ich hatte ihn so lieb
meine große Liebe - der Boss von der Gang
Mein Daddy war sauer:
Mach Schluß mit Jim
doch Jimmy sagte: Alles, was ich brauch, bist du!
Ich schluchzte: Lass mich in Ruh'
verzeih - das tat weh, mein Boss von der Gang
Er war so zärtlich
vergiss mich nicht
er stieg aufs Motorrad
Tränen im Gesicht
es regnete in dieser Nacht
ich flüsterte noch:
Pass auf dich auf, Jim - gib acht
No, no, no
Ich war so hilflos, was war geschehen
warum müssen solche Träume vergehen?
Sie alle starrten mich an
ich schrie: das habt Ihr getan!
Niemals vergess ich den Boss von der Gang
In Udo Lindenberg's song "Der Boss von der Gang," the lyrics tell a story of a young woman named Betty who falls in love with the "Boss von der Gang," or boss of the gang. The chorus poses questions to Betty about her relationship with the gang boss - "Does she really go out with him? Ask her, there she is! Betty, is that a ring from Jimmy that you're wearing on your finger? Hm - riding with him on the motorcycle, that must be insane. Is he picking you up from school today? Where did you even meet him?"
Betty admits to meeting him at a supermarket, where he approached her with the pickup line, "Hey Baby, I'm the boss of the gang!" Her family disapproves of her relationship with a rough biker, but Betty is in love and finds him to be kind and loving. The song takes a dark turn as the singer describes a night where she waved goodbye to her lover on his motorcycle in the pouring rain, only to find out later that he had died in a motorcycle accident.
The lyrics tell a tragic story of young love and rebellion, with a sense of nostalgia and regret for a relationship that could never be. The song's emotional intensity is heightened by Lindenberg's raw voice and the simple, melodic piano accompaniment.
Line by Line Meaning
Geht sie wirklich mit ihm?
Is she really going out with him?
Frag sie doch - da ist sie!
Just ask her - she's right there!
Betty, ist das ein Ring von Jimmy,
Betty, is that a ring from Jimmy,
den du da am Finger trägst?
that you are wearing on your finger?
Hm - mit ihm auf dem Motorrad, das muss wahnsinnig sein
Hmm - riding with him on his motorcycle, that must be crazy.
Holt er dich heute von der Schule ab?
Is he picking you up from school today?
Wo hast du ihn eigentlich kennengelernt?
Where did you actually meet him?
Ich traf ihn vor dem Supermarkt
I met him in front of the supermarket
er drehte sich um, kam auf mich zu
he turned around, came up to me
und sagte: Hey Baby, ich bin der Boss von der Gang!
and said: Hey baby, I'm the boss of the gang!
Zu Hause wollte das keiner sehen
Nobody wanted to see it at home
mit Jungs aus diesem Teil der Stadt kann man nicht gehen
You can't be seen with boys from this part of town
er wäre ein ganz gemeiner Rockertyp
he's a really mean biker type
doch ich hatte ihn so lieb
but I loved him so much
meine große Liebe - der Boss von der Gang
my big love - the boss of the gang
Mein Daddy war sauer:
My dad was angry:
Mach Schluß mit Jim
Break up with Jim
doch Jimmy sagte: Alles, was ich brauch, bist du!
but Jimmy said: All I need is you!
Ich schluchzte: Lass mich in Ruh'
I sobbed: Leave me alone
verzeih - das tat weh, mein Boss von der Gang
I'm sorry - that hurt, my boss of the gang
Er war so zärtlich
He was so tender
vergiss mich nicht
Don't forget me
er stieg aufs Motorrad
He got on the motorcycle
Tränen im Gesicht
tears on his face
es regnete in dieser Nacht
it was raining that night
ich flüsterte noch: Pass auf dich auf, Jim - gib acht
I whispered: Take care of yourself, Jim - be careful
No, no, no
No, no, no
Ich war so hilflos, was war geschehen
I was so helpless, what had happened?
warum müssen solche Träume vergehen?
why do such dreams have to fade?
Sie alle starrten mich an
They all stared at me
ich schrie: das habt Ihr getan!
I yelled: You did this!
Niemals vergess ich den Boss von der Gang
I'll never forget the boss of the gang
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.