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.
Die kleine Zockerin
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jetzt bist du weg und ich fühl mich geschändet
dabei hab ich mich so an dich verschwendet
du erinnerst mich an so 'nen streunenden Hund
du benutztest mich und mein Telefon und sagtest, du würdst mich ewig lieben
dann gingst du mal eben Zigaretten holen und kamst nie wieder - mir ist nichts geblieben
als 'ne ausgequetschte Zahnpastatube und 'n Paar schmutzige Socken - und sonst gar nichts
und dann gingst du wieder zocken
Was glaubst du wer ich bin
dass du mich nimmst wie einen Drink
und dann nach dem besoffenen Fest
das Lokal verlässt
du bist ja so eine miese Ratte
du bist ja so eine miese Schlampe
das Letzte, zum Kotzen, echt widerlich
- doch ich liebe dich noch immer
Sie schmissen dich raus aus der Kasinobaracke, abgebrannt kleine Zockerin
du wanktest durch den Regen
und fielst mir vor den Kühler
Ich sagte: steig ein, nasse Katze
war es dein Blick? ich weiß nicht warum
und mein Zuhause, was war's für dich?
doch wohl eher 'n Sanatorium
Du benutztest mich und mein Spiegelbett
und sagtest, ich wär der Mann deines Lebens
und ich gab dir alles, was ich hab - vergebens, vergebens!
Was glaubst du wer ich bin
dass du mich nimmst wie einen Drink
und dann nach dem besoffenen Fest
das Lokal verlässt
du bist ja so eine miese Ratte
du hast mich so gelinkt
das Letzte, zum Kotzen, echt widerlich
- doch ich liebe dich noch immer
The song "Die kleine Zockerin" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a woman who is a gambler and a user, and the singer's complicated relationship with her. He describes how she used him for his phone and made him waste his time and money on her. He compares her to a stray dog, implying that she has no loyalty or commitment. Despite everything, he still loves her and is unable to move on. The song ends with the singer picking the woman up when she is down and showing her kindness, but he knows that she will continue to use and manipulate him.
The lyrics use a lot of metaphors and imagery to convey the singer's feelings of betrayal and desperation. He describes his ears as being sticky with the woman's honeyed words, indicating that he was taken in by her lies. He also mentions that he feels violated by her actions, implying that she took advantage of him in some way. The line "was it your look? I don't know why" reveals that he is still searching for a reason to justify his love for her, even though she has done him wrong.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of a dysfunctional relationship and the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing. Despite the woman's flaws, he cannot resist her charm and continues to hold on to the hope that she will change.
Line by Line Meaning
Meine Ohren sind noch ganz verklebt von deinen süßen Honigsprüchen und ich spür noch deinen Zucker auf meinem Mund
I am still under the spell of your sweet and seductive lies and still taste the sweetness of your deceitful words on my lips.
Jetzt bist du weg und ich fühl mich geschändet
Now that you are gone, I feel like I have been violated and taken advantage of.
dabei hab ich mich so an dich verschwendet
I wasted so much of myself on you.
du erinnerst mich an so 'nen streunenden Hund
You remind me of a stray dog, using me and then disappearing without a second thought.
du benutztest mich und mein Telefon und sagtest, du würdst mich ewig lieben
You used me and my phone to deceive me with false promises of eternal love.
dann gingst du mal eben Zigaretten holen und kamst nie wieder - mir ist nichts geblieben
You went out for a quick smoke and never came back, leaving me with nothing.
als 'ne ausgequetschte Zahnpastatube und 'n Paar schmutzige Socken - und sonst gar nichts
I was left with nothing but an empty toothpaste tube and a pair of dirty socks.
und dann gingst du wieder zocken
And then you went back to gambling.
Was glaubst du wer ich bin
Who do you think I am?
dass du mich nimmst wie einen Drink
That you can treat me like a drink to consume and dispose of at your leisure.
und dann nach dem besoffenen Fest das Lokal verlässt
And then leave me behind after a drunken night out.
du bist ja so eine miese Ratte
You are such a despicable rat.
du bist ja so eine miese Schlampe
You are such a disgusting slut.
das Letzte, zum Kotzen, echt widerlich
You are the worst, sickening and truly revolting.
- doch ich liebe dich noch immer
But I still love you.
Sie schmissen dich raus aus der Kasinobaracke, abgebrannt kleine Zockerin
They kicked you out of the casino, broke and desperate little gambler.
du wanktest durch den Regen und fielst mir vor den Kühler
You stumbled through the rain and fell in front of my car.
Ich sagte: steig ein, nasse Katze
I told you to get in, wet cat.
war es dein Blick? ich weiß nicht warum
Was it your gaze that drew me in? I don't know why.
und mein Zuhause, was war's für dich?
And my home, what was it to you?
doch wohl eher 'n Sanatorium
But more like a sanatorium.
Du benutztest mich und mein Spiegelbett und sagtest, ich wär der Mann deines Lebens
You used me and my mirrored bed to tell me I was the man of your dreams.
und ich gab dir alles, was ich hab - vergebens, vergebens!
And I gave you everything I had - in vain, all in vain!
du hast mich so gelinkt
You tricked me.
Writer(s): Ulla Meinecke, Udo Lindenberg
Contributed by Kaylee M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.