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.
Flipper
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ist es bald zu spät
Dann bleib' ich hier für immer kleben
Ein Junge wie ich
Ständig fragt er sich
Ob das die stärkste Art ist zu leben
Es fällt mir wirklich schwer, so schwer
Denn ich lieb' dich sehr
Doch jeder weitere Tag mit dir
Macht ihn kaputt, den Zigeuner in mir
Ich muss doch erst noch den Amazonas runterrudern
Mit 'ner wilden Dschungelbraut
Und dann zum Himalaja, zum Schneemenschen Yeti
Bevor der wieder auftaut
Und außerdem mit meinen Rock'n'Roll-Komplizen
Immer wieder müde Menschen wecken
Bevor wir dann in einer Manhattan-Bar
An unserem Durchdreh-Lebensstil verrecken
Du wärst sie gewesen
Die Frau, zu der ich mich bekenn'
Mit der ich durch ein ganzes Leben renn'
Es zieht mich so zu dir hin
Doch ich kann's nicht akzeptieren
Weil ich tief drin ein Flipper bin, yeah
Wir hatten große Pläne
Doch jetzt stehst du da und weinst
Es tut mir sehr weh, es tut mir sehr leid
Und ich weiß, es ist hart
Zu verstehen, dass ich wieder los muss
Wir hatten eine viel zu starke Zeit
Ja als ich ankam war ich so sicher
Wir sind jetzt Romeo und Julia
Das lag bestimmt nicht an dir
Dass es wieder nur Durchreise
Und immer noch nicht der letzte Bahnhof war
Schade, denn du wärst sie gewesen
Die Frau, zu der ich mich bekenn'
Mit der ich durch ein ganzes Leben renn'
Ich gehör' zwar zu dir, trotzdem haut das nicht hin
Weil ich doch leider nur ein Flipper bin
The song "Flipper" by Udo Lindenberg tells the story of a man who knows he needs to leave his current relationship in search of new experiences. The singer is torn between his love for his partner and the desire to live his life to the fullest. He recognizes that his own nature is like that of a pinball machine, constantly bouncing from one experience to another. He wants to explore new places like the Amazon and the Himalayas with his rock and roll companions, and to live a wild and adventurous life. The song is both about the excitement of living and the pain of letting go of love.
The line "Ich bin ein Flipper" (I am a pinball machine) is the central metaphor of the song, and underscores the singer's restlessness and inability to stay in one place for too long. He acknowledges that he loves his partner, but can't help feeling as though he's missing out on something by staying with her. The song also touches on themes of youth, growing up, and coming to terms with one's own identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Wenn ich jetzt nicht geh'
If I don't leave now,
Ist es bald zu spät
It will soon be too late.
Dann bleib' ich hier für immer kleben
Then I will be stuck here forever.
Ein Junge wie ich
A boy like me
Ständig fragt er sich
Always wonders
Ob das die stärkste Art ist zu leben
If this is the strongest way to live.
Es fällt mir wirklich schwer, so schwer
It's really hard for me, so hard
Dich zu verlassen
To leave you.
Denn ich lieb' dich sehr
Because I love you very much.
Doch jeder weitere Tag mit dir
But every other day with you
Macht ihn kaputt, den Zigeuner in mir
Destroys the gypsy in me.
Ich muss doch erst noch den Amazonas runterrudern
I still have to row down the Amazon
Mit 'ner wilden Dschungelbraut
With a wild jungle bride.
Und dann zum Himalaja, zum Schneemenschen Yeti
And then to the Himalayas, to the snowman Yeti.
Bevor der wieder auftaut
Before he melts again.
Und außerdem mit meinen Rock'n'Roll-Komplizen
And also with my rock and roll accomplices
Immer wieder müde Menschen wecken
Always waking up tired people
Bevor wir dann in einer Manhattan-Bar
Before we die in a Manhattan bar
An unserem Durchdreh-Lebensstil verrecken
From our wild lifestyle.
Du wärst sie gewesen
You would have been
Die Frau, zu der ich mich bekenn'
The woman I would have committed to.
Mit der ich durch ein ganzes Leben renn'
With whom I would run through a whole life.
Es zieht mich so zu dir hin
I am so drawn to you
Doch ich kann's nicht akzeptieren
But I can't accept it
Weil ich tief drin ein Flipper bin, yeah
Because deep down, I'm a nomad, yeah.
Wir hatten große Pläne
We had big plans
Doch jetzt stehst du da und weinst
But now you stand there and cry
Es tut mir sehr weh, es tut mir sehr leid
It hurts me a lot, I'm very sorry
Und ich weiß, es ist hart
And I know it's hard
Zu verstehen, dass ich wieder los muss
To understand that I have to leave again.
Wir hatten eine viel zu starke Zeit
We had such a strong time.
Ja als ich ankam war ich so sicher
Yes, when I arrived I was so sure
Wir sind jetzt Romeo und Julia
We are now Romeo and Juliet
Das lag bestimmt nicht an dir
It certainly wasn't your fault
Dass es wieder nur Durchreise
That it's just another transit
Und immer noch nicht der letzte Bahnhof war
And still not the last station.
Schade, denn du wärst sie gewesen
Too bad, because you would have been
Die Frau, zu der ich mich bekenn'
The woman I would have committed to.
Mit der ich durch ein ganzes Leben renn'
With whom I would run through a whole life.
Ich gehör' zwar zu dir, trotzdem haut das nicht hin
Although I belong to you, it still doesn't work out
Weil ich doch leider nur ein Flipper bin
Because I'm just a nomad, unfortunately.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David King Virgin, Udo Lindenberg, Kristian Schultze
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind