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.
Salty Dog
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wir gaben alles
der Sturm hat unser Schiff besiegt
und wir verlassen
unsere alte Geliebte
die im Sterben liegt
wir sahen alle
kein Land war uns zu weit
kommt hoch an Deck
geht in die Boote
es bleibt nicht mehr viel Zeit
Wie viele Jahre
und wie viele Meilen
wir haben die Ufer am Ende der Welt gesehn
weißer Strand
ein Meer wie Kristall
Inseln, die auf keiner Karte stehn
hinter dem letzten Horizont
und nach der dritten Flasche Rum
schickten wir 'ne Flaschenpost in Richtung Ewigkeit
und wir vergaßen
die Könige und die Sklaven
eine Welt voller Traurigkeit
Das Schiff versinkt
es brennt der Mast
wir rudern an den Strand
der Käpt'n schweigt
und weinende Matrosen
ziehen das Boot an Land
Das ist lange her
und ich seh euch an
ihr denkt: Seemannsgarn - der Alte spinnt
gib mir noch 'n Salty Dog
und ich sauf auf die alten Jungs
die mit mir gefahren sind
Udo Lindenberg's song "Salty Dog" tells a story of a group of sailors who have been on a voyage on the sea for many years. They faced various challenges and adversities while sailing but managed to overcome them all. However, in their last battle with the storm, their ship is defeated, and they are forced to leave their beloved vessel, which is on the verge of sinking.
The sailors have a lot of memories of their journey, having sailed across all seven seas and visited different lands that were far from their own. They have seen white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and islands that are not even on the map. However, despite having experienced many adventures, the sailors' journey is saturated with sadness, as they seem to have forgotten the difference between nobility and slavery. Instead, they are surrounded by a world filled with sorrow and grief.
At the end of the song, the sailors are portrayed as aging men, who are reminiscing about their adventures and the sailors they have sailed with. They ask for another drink to raise a toast to the memories of the old days.
Line by Line Meaning
Der letzte Kampf
This line suggests that the singer and his crew are in the midst of their last battle with the sea.
wir gaben alles
The crew gave their all during their final battle with the stormy seas.
der Sturm hat unser Schiff besiegt
The storm was too much for the crew's ship, and it was ultimately defeated.
und wir verlassen unsere alte Geliebte die im Sterben liegt
The ship is personified as a dying lover who the crew must leave behind.
wir sahen alle sieben Meere
The crew has seen all of the seven seas during their travels.
kein Land war uns zu weit
There was no land that the crew felt was too far to travel to.
kommt hoch an Deck geht in die Boote
The crew is abandoning ship and getting into the lifeboats.
es bleibt nicht mehr viel Zeit
The crew is running out of time to escape the sinking ship.
Wie viele Jahre und wie viele Meilen wir haben die Ufer am Ende der Welt gesehn
The crew has seen the ends of the earth and have traveled for many years and miles.
weißer Strand ein Meer wie Kristall Inseln die auf keiner Karte stehn hinter dem letzten Horizont
The crew has seen beautiful and uncharted land with white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters in far-off places beyond the horizon.
und nach der dritten Flasche Rum schickten wir 'ne Flaschenpost in Richtung Ewigkeit
After drinking three bottles of rum, the crew sent a message in a bottle towards eternity.
und wir vergaßen die Könige und die Sklaven eine Welt voller Traurigkeit
During their travels, the crew forgot about the social hierarchies, and they experienced a world full of sadness.
Das Schiff versinkt es brennt der Mast
The ship is sinking, and the mast is on fire.
wir rudern an den Strand
The crew rows towards the shore to safety.
der Käpt'n schweigt
The captain is silent, likely due to the gravity of the situation.
und weinende Matrosen ziehen das Boot an Land
The crew is emotional and sad as they get the lifeboat to safety.
Das ist lange her
The artist is reminiscing on the past, which happened a long time ago.
und ich seh euch an ihr denkt Seemannsgarn - der Alte spinnt
The singer recognizes that his listeners might not believe the story, thinking it's a tall tale spun by an old sailor.
gib mir noch 'n Salty Dog
The singer asks for another Salty Dog, a cocktail made with gin or vodka and grapefruit juice, to further reminisce about his past travels with his crew.
und ich sauf auf die alten Jungs die mit mir gefahren sind
The artist drinks to honor his former crewmates and the journeys they experienced together.
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Christian
Wie einfach die Videos waren , der Song kommt da voll durch !
The Uschi Obermaier Experience
Die Lindenberg Alben "Rock Revue" und "Der Detektiv" waren seinerzeit eh ganz grosses Tennis !
Hut ab !
Ania Amok 65
Love it still!!!
varixclub
Da gab's bestimmt 'ne menge Spaß beim Dreh, trotz der traurigen Lyrics! Die Szene im sturmgepeitschten Boot mit der Buddel ist jedenfalls der Knüller... :-)
PinkPanthress
Gestern noch diesen Auftritt auf Plattenküche (-Nacht) gesehen... haha, so Geiel!!!
Rocky Balboa
Unglaublich, Lautstärke übersteuert und auch noch mittendrin zu Ende?!
Arezoo Talebi
Das wichtigste, der Schluss, ist ja abgeschnitten!
Jodokusable
ja leider. „Ja, Mann, das glaubste zwar nich', Aber das is' echt passiert“
meavaila
futuristic
Michael Arno Stephan
super interpretiert besser als das orginal