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 sitz den ganzen Tag bei den Docks
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
die Schiffe laufen ein und aus
den ganzen Tag sitz' ich am Hafen
hab' keinen Job und kein Zuhaus
ich sitz' den ganzen Tag bei den Docks
und alles, was ich hier machen kann
von guten Zeiten träumen
und ich guck' mir Flut und Ebbe an
ich kam den weiten Weg von Georgia
trampte zur Frisco-Bay
in der Hoffung, hier was aufzubau'n
doch jetzt glaub ich, ich sollte bald wieder abhau'n
nichts, was ich hier tun kann -
die Kähne gehn auf die nächste Reise
und ich häng' hier rum
verlier' meine Zeit
und das bedient mich in keinster Weise
Was soll ich machen, wenn nichts passiert?
Ich bin kaputt und deprimiert
die anderen Typen hier, genauso wie ich
sie suchen Arbeit, doch die gibt es nicht
Hier hab' ich nichts gefunden
außer Einsamkeit
2.000 Meilen hab' ich hinter mir
doch jetzt vertu' ich hier meine Zeit
ich sitze bei den Docks an der Bucht...
The song "Ich sitz den ganzen Tag bei den Docks" by Udo Lindenberg is about a person who spends their whole day sitting at the docks by the bay, watching ships come in and go out. The person has no job and no home, and spends their time dreaming of better days while watching the ebb and flow of the tide.
The lyrics describe the person's journey from Georgia to San Francisco Bay in the hopes of finding work and building a better life. However, they have found themselves stuck at the docks with nothing to do and no opportunities to improve their situation. The person feels lost and depressed, and notes that others in the same situation are also searching for work with no success.
The song explores themes of loneliness, hopelessness, and the struggle to find purpose in life. The person is essentially a bystander in the world, watching life pass them by without being able to participate or make a difference. Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of the American Dream, and suggest that for some, it remains just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Den ganzen Tag sitz' ich am Hafen
I sit at the harbor all day long
die Schiffe laufen ein und aus
Watching the ships come and go
den ganzen Tag sitz' ich am Hafen
Sitting at the harbor all day long
hab' keinen Job und kein Zuhaus
I have no job and no home
ich sitz' den ganzen Tag bei den Docks
I sit all day long at the docks
und alles, was ich hier machen kann
All I can do here is
von guten Zeiten träumen
Dream of good times
und ich guck' mir Flut und Ebbe an
Watch the ebb and flow of the tide
ich kam den weiten Weg von Georgia
I made the long journey from Georgia
trampte zur Frisco-Bay
Hitchhiked to Frisco Bay
in der Hoffung, hier was aufzubau'n
Hoping to build something here
doch jetzt glaub ich, ich sollte bald wieder abhau'n
But now I think I should leave soon
nichts, was ich hier tun kann -
There's nothing I can do here
die Kähne gehn auf die nächste Reise
The boats go on their next voyage
und ich häng' hier rum
And I'm just hanging around here
verlier' meine Zeit
Losing my time
und das bedient mich in keinster Weise
And that doesn't serve me in any way
Was soll ich machen, wenn nichts passiert?
What should I do if nothing happens?
Ich bin kaputt und deprimiert
I am broken and depressed
die anderen Typen hier, genauso wie ich
The other guys here, just like me
sie suchen Arbeit, doch die gibt es nicht
They are looking for work, but there is none
Hier hab' ich nichts gefunden
I found nothing here
außer Einsamkeit
Except for loneliness
2.000 Meilen hab' ich hinter mir
I have 2,000 miles behind me
doch jetzt vertu' ich hier meine Zeit
But now I'm wasting my time here
ich sitze bei den Docks an der Bucht...
I sit at the docks by the bay...
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.