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.
Father You Should Have Killed Hitler
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was a violinist in Berlin's most popular cabaret
"You watched the tide turn dirty brown
weren't you afraid you were gonna drown
in your orchestrapit
while sailorgirls sang through the night
those silly lovesongs in the limelight
how could you stand it?"
Bert Brecht already left the land
from cabarets so many had been banned
the first had been killed by the crowd
you couldn't hear the music was too loud
you should have sold your violin
or traded it in for a gun
rather than fiddling the refrain
doing cocaine and charming ev'ryone
You should have killed Hitler
you know you would have been right
why didn't you fight?
You should have killed Hitler
you didn't see behind the curtain
you didn't try to stop that show
was it so nice your Third-Reich-paradise
where the sailorgirls sang: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles
tralala, wunderbar
no panic on the Titanic
you should have sold your violin
or traded it in for a gun
rather than fiddling the refrain
doing cocaine and charming ev'ryone
You should have killed Hitler
you know you would have been right
why didn't you fight?
You should have killed Hitler
hey dad, you didn't see behind the curtain
you didn't try to stop that show
was it so nice your Third-Reich-paradise
where the sailorgirls sang:
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles
tralala, wunderbar
no panic on the Titanic
feel alright - what a night
no panic on the Titanic
more champagne - more cocaine
no panic on the Titanic
what a night - out of sight
no panic on the Titanic
tralala, wunderbar
no panic...
In Udo Lindenberg's song "Father You Should Have Killed Hitler," the singer tells the story of his father, who was a violinist in Berlin's most popular cabaret before the outbreak of World War II. The song is a reflection on his father's failure to take a stand against Hitler's atrocities, and ultimately his complicity in the rise of the Third Reich.
The first verse of the song sets the scene, describing his father's life as a musician in Berlin in 1933. The lyrics describe the cabaret scene in which he performed, the "sailorgirls" who sang love songs through the night, and the rise of the Nazi party. The second verse offers a scathing critique of his father's failure to take action against Hitler, suggesting that he should have sold his violin or traded it in for a gun, rather than "fiddling the refrain" and "doing cocaine and charming everyone." The chorus repeats the refrain "You should have killed Hitler," highlighting the missed opportunity to stop the atrocities before they began.
The song is a powerful reflection on the role of individuals in shaping history and the need for personal responsibility, even in the face of overwhelming political and social pressure. Lindenberg's lyrics suggest that his father's failure to act was not just a personal failing, but a betrayal of humanity and a missed opportunity to prevent one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century.
Line by Line Meaning
My father lived in Germany before the war in 1933
My dad resided in Germany before World War II started, specifically in 1933.
He was a violinist in Berlin's most popular cabaret
He worked as a violin player in the most acclaimed entertainment club in Berlin.
"You watched the tide turn dirty brown
You saw things change and get uncontrollably worse, like water turning into a murky shade.
weren't you afraid you were gonna drown
Did you not fear getting consumed by the negative effects because you were just watching from the sidelines?
in your orchestrapit
Amidst playing in the orchestra pit.
while sailorgirls sang through the night
As female performers dressed in Sailor outfits sang throughout the night.
those silly lovesongs in the limelight
These cheesy, romantic songs being sung on the spotlight.
how could you stand it?"
How did you bear witness to it?
Bert Brecht already left the land
Bert Brecht, a popular cabaret performer, had already departed the country.
from cabarets so many had been banned
Numerous cabarets were already closed due to the government's prohibition.
the first had been killed by the crowd
Even the initial performer was killed by the audience.
you couldn't hear the music was too loud
The music was too loud that you could not differentiate it from the noise.
you should have sold your violin
You ought to have sold your instrument.
or traded it in for a gun
Or swapped it for a firearm.
rather than fiddling the refrain
Instead of going in circles and playing repetitive parts.
doing cocaine and charming ev'ryone
Indulging in drugs and captivating those around you.
You should have killed Hitler
You should have taken out Hitler.
you know you would have been right
You were certainly in the moral right and justified to do so.
why didn't you fight?
Why were you not fighting against the oppressive regime?
hey dad, you didn't see behind the curtain
Hey dad, you failed to see the government's true intentions and motives.
you didn't try to stop that show
You did not take the initiative to impede their extreme ideology from spreading.
was it so nice your Third-Reich-paradise
Did you enjoy living in your Third Reich paradise?
where the sailorgirls sang: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles
Where the sailor girls sang Germany, Germany above everything.
tralala, wunderbar
A happy, upbeat chorus exclaiming wunderbar (German for wonderful) repeatedly.
no panic on the Titanic
The unsinkable Titanic ship is a comparison to the nation with the citizens not feeling any alarm despite the country's destruction and sinking.
feel alright - what a night
A celebration of the supposed greatness of the nation and the people's joyful complacency.
more champagne - more cocaine
More excessive substances to further heighten their amusement and ignorance.
what a night - out of sight
A night to remember with people disregarding the debauchery and atrocities occurring in their midst.
tralala, wunderbar
A repetition of the frivolous and mindless song lyrics.
no panic...
Repeatedly affirming the lack of apprehension despite the nation's problems and evils.
Contributed by Ellie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.