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.
Es fängt immer wieder an
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
länger halt ich das nicht aus
hab das schon zu oft durchgemacht
also Jacke an und nichts wie raus
Ich fahr mit meinem Auto los
es regnet und die Stadt ist leer
weiß nicht wohin, was mach ich bloß
Es fangt immer wieder an
auch wenn ich tausend Meilen lauf
nein, ich kann nicht von dir los
es hört immer
wieder auf
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's "Es fängt immer wieder an" describe the dilemma of trying to forget someone and move on with one's life. The singer feels tired of enduring yet another lonely and cold night, but knows that he must step out of his comfort zone and face his emotions in order to find closure. Despite driving aimlessly through the rain, he cannot escape the pervasive feeling of heartache and the memories of his lost love. The chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of this experience, where the pain of separation always seems to resurface, no matter how far or fast he tries to run.
The song poignantly captures the universal struggle of moving on from a past relationship, and the ways in which we cannot always control our emotions or the memories that arise in response to them. The lyrics speak to the power of love as a force that can influence and haunt us long after the relationship has ended. The tone of the song is melancholic but also resolute, with a sense of determination to face these emotions head-on and find a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Schon wieder kommt 'ne kalte Nacht
Once again, a cold night is upon me.
länger halt ich das nicht aus
I cannot endure this for much longer.
hab das schon zu oft durchgemacht
I have been through this too many times before.
also Jacke an und nichts wie raus
So I put on my jacket and head out quickly.
Ich fahr mit meinem Auto los
I get into my car and start driving.
es regnet und die Stadt ist leer
It's raining and the city is empty.
weiß nicht wohin, was mach ich bloß
I don't know where to go or what to do.
dich zu vergessen ist so schwer
Forgetting you is so difficult.
Es fangt immer wieder an
It always starts anew.
auch wenn ich tausend Meilen lauf
Even if I run a thousand miles.
nein, ich kann nicht von dir los
No, I can't let go of you.
es hört immer
It never stops.
Contributed by Savannah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.