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.
Ich hab noch einen Koffer für Berlin
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wenn die Türme wieder stehn
kannst von ganz hoch oben weit
bis nach Bagdad sehn,
Kinder die lachen und kein Hunger,
und das Erdöl schießt
aus dem Boden, der allen gehört,
dass endlich Frieden ist.
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer für Berlin,
und da sind solche schönen Träume drin.
Die Seligkeiten moderner Zeiten
die sind alle in diesem kleinen Koffer drin.
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer für Berlin,
die Bibel und ´n Koran, die liegen da drin,
wir schreiben das um ganz flott:
es gibt nicht mehr nur einen Gott!
Komm greif dir den Koffer und lass uns in der Welt rumzieh'n...
The lyrics to Udo Lindenberg's song "Ich hab noch einen Koffer für Berlin" is a reflection on the beauty of life and the hope of a better future. The opening lines describe New York and the view from the top of the towers, where one can see as far as Baghdad. The images painted in these lines represent a time before the events of September 11, 2001, which forever changed the skyline of New York. The lines also speak to the feeling of being on top of the world, able to see everything clearly.
In contrast, the next lines describe the harsh realities of life in other parts of the world. The mentioning of children who are hungry and oil that is being extracted from the ground by everyone, speaks to the unequal distribution of wealth and resources in the world. The use of the word "endlich" (finally) suggests that the singer longs for a world in which these inequalities are addressed and peace is achieved.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that Berlin is a place of hope where the singer keeps his dreams. The mention of modern times and the contents of the suitcase, such as the Bible and the Quran, suggest that the singer believes in the possibility of a better future, in which people of different backgrounds and beliefs can coexist peacefully. The use of the phrase "Komm greif dir den Koffer und lass uns in der Welt rumzieh'n" (Come grab the suitcase and let's travel the world) urges the listener to take action and work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Wunderschön ist´s in New York
New York is a beautiful place
wenn die Türme wieder stehn
When the towers are standing again
kannst von ganz hoch oben weit
You can see far from high up
bis nach Bagdad sehn,
All the way to Baghdad
Kinder die lachen und kein Hunger,
Children who are happy and not hungry
und das Erdöl schießt
And the oil is gushing out
aus dem Boden, der allen gehört,
From the ground that belongs to everyone
dass endlich Frieden ist.
So that finally there is peace.
Ich hab' noch einen Koffer für Berlin,
I still have a suitcase for Berlin,
und da sind solche schönen Träume drin.
And there are such beautiful dreams in it.
Die Seligkeiten moderner Zeiten
The blessings of modern times
die sind alle in diesem kleinen Koffer drin.
They are all in this small suitcase.
die Bibel und ´n Koran, die liegen da drin,
The Bible and the Quran are in there,
wir schreiben das um ganz flott:
Let's write that down quickly:
es gibt nicht mehr nur einen Gott!
There is no longer just one God!
Komm greif dir den Koffer und lass uns in der Welt rumzieh'n...
Come grab the suitcase and let's travel around the world...
Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.