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.
In Den Ruinen Von Berlin
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
fangen die Blumen wieder an zu blühn
ihr Indianer, Arbeiter und Bauern
komm wir sprengen alle Mauern
In den Ruinen von Berlin
fangen die Blumen wieder an zu blühn
ein neuer Frühling der beginnt
Admidst the ruins of Berlin
trees are in bloom as they have never been
sometimes at night you feel in all your sorrow
a perfume of a sweet tomorrow
Dans le ruines de Berlin
il ya des fleurs qui renaissant enfin
na rujinach berlina
wnow´zwejety rostky puskajut
In den Ruinen
In den Ruinen von Berlin
fangen die Blumen wieder an zu blühn
ihr Indianer, Arbeiter und Bauern
komm, wir springen über alle Mauern
That´s when you realize at last
they won´t return the phantoms of the past
a brandnew spring is to begin
out of the ruins of Berlin
The song "In Den Ruinen von Berlin" ("In the Ruins of Berlin") by Udo Lindenberg speaks about the aftermath and rebuilding of Berlin after World War II, focusing on the idea of hope and new beginnings. The first verse starts with the imagery of flowers blooming once again in a ruined Berlin, suggesting that even in destruction and tragedy, new life and growth can emerge. The chorus repeats this sentiment, with Lindenberg singing about a new spring beginning in the ruins of Berlin.
The second verse touches on the idea of moving on from the past and acknowledging that certain things cannot be undone. The line "they won't return the phantoms of the past" suggests a realization that the past cannot be changed, but the future is still open to possibility. The song is ultimately an uplifting message of hope and resilience, encouraging people to come together and break down any walls that may still be keeping them apart.
Overall, Lindenberg's lyrics are powerful and demonstrate his ability to capture the spirit of a city that has been through so much. Through his words, he shows that even in the darkest of times, there is always potential for growth and change.
Line by Line Meaning
In den Ruienen von Berlin
In the ruins of Berlin
fangen die Blumen wieder an zu blühn
where flowers start to bloom again
ihr Indianer, Arbeiter und Bauern
you Indians, labourers and farmers
komm wir sprengen alle Mauern
let's explode all walls
ein neuer Frühling der beginnt
A new spring that starts
Admidst the ruins of Berlin
in the midst of the ruins of Berlin
trees are in bloom as they have never been
as trees bloom like never before
sometimes at night you feel in all your sorrow
sometimes at night, in your sorrow
a perfume of a sweet tomorrow
you can catch the scent of tomorrow's sweetness
Dans le ruines de Berlin
in the ruins of Berlin
il ya des fleurs qui renaissant enfin
there are flowers that are finally reborn
na rujinach berlina
on the ruins of Berlin
wnow´zwejety rostky puskajut
new sprouts are pushing through
In den Ruinen
In the ruins
In den Ruinen von Berlin
In the ruins of Berlin
ihr Indianer, Arbeiter und Bauern
you Indians, labourers and farmers
komm, wir springen über alle Mauern
let's jump over all walls
That´s when you realize at last
That's when you finally realize
they won´t return the phantoms of the past
they won't bring back the ghosts of the past
a brandnew spring is to begin
a new spring is about to start
out of the ruins of Berlin
from the ruins of Berlin
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.