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.
Sandmännchen
Udo Lindenberg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
um sich den Sand abzuholen
sie taten das nun schon jahrtausendelang
allmählich sind die Strände leer und blank
Da ist nicht mehr viel zu streuen da
Dünen, ganz mickrig und nur noch 'n paar
am besten weicht man aus auf die Sahara
Der Deichgraf Hauke Wattenschlick
und ein Kurvater namens Mövenbig
schrieben 'n Protestbrief nach Bremervörde
an die Deutsche Schlafbehörde
Sie schlugen vor, daß man sich so arrangiert
für die Kleinen werden noch 'n paar Dünen reserviert
für die Älteren aber,
sind sie nachts noch zu munter
heißt es: Ausziehen, hinlegen,
Reizwäsche runter...
Refrain:
Hallo Süße, hör mal her
es gibt ja nun in Deutschland
keine Sandmännchen mehr
wir müssen jetzt schmusen, bis die Poofe kracht
ich muß ja irgendwas tun, was dich müde macht
ich werd dich jetzt erschöpfen, aber auf die nette
du brauchst auch keine Schlaftablette
komm, nimm mich, und dann heben wir ab
und nachher sind wir so richtig schön schlapp
Ja, früher war das so geregelt
da kam so'n Sandsack angesegelt
er streut dir das Zeug ins Auge rein
und schon buchst du ins Meer der Träume ein
Doch dann gabs diesen Riesenputz
mit den Leuten vom Küstenschutz
man entzog den Sandmännern die Lizenz
ja, was machen wir denn jetzt bloß
wenn du nicht pennst?
The lyrics of Udo Lindenberg's song Sandmännchen describe the gradual disappearance of the Sandmännchen, the mythological figures that bring children to sleep by sprinkling sand into their eyes. The song states that this has been going on for thousands of years, but now the beaches are empty and barren, and there is no more sand left to sprinkle. Therefore, the Sandmännchen are running out of resources and options. The song describes the movement of the Sandmännchen to the Sahara, where they can find more sand to continue their work. The lyrics also depict a protest by a Deichgraf and a Kurvater who suggest that only a few dunes be reserved for the younger children and the older children need to resort to other means to sleep.
The song satirically reflects on the drastic change in the way sleep is induced and how the modern world may have rendered the traditional methods of the Sandmännchen ineffective. Lindenberg remarks that in the past, the Sandmännchen could readily put children to sleep by sprinkling sand in their eyes but now, the situation has changed, and traditional methods are no longer effective on modern children. The song's chorus is a satirical reflection of this reality, as Lindenberg suggests that there is no longer a need for Sandmännchen, as he will be able to put his lover to sleep by other means.
Line by Line Meaning
Die Sandmännchen kamen auf leisen Sohlen
The Sandmen came quietly
um sich den Sand abzuholen
to collect the sand
sie taten das nun schon jahrtausendelang
they've been doing it for thousands of years
allmählich sind die Strände leer und blank
gradually, the beaches are empty and bare
Da ist nicht mehr viel zu streuen da
There's not much left to spread
Dünen, ganz mickrig und nur noch 'n paar
Dunes, tiny and only a few left
am besten weicht man aus auf die Sahara
It's best to go to the Sahara instead
denn der Strand an unserem Meer gibt nicht mehr viel her
Because the beach at our sea doesn't have much to offer anymore
Der Deichgraf Hauke Wattenschlick
The dike count Hauke Wattenschlick
und ein Kurvater namens Mövenbig
And a spa doctor named Mövenbig
schrieben 'n Protestbrief nach Bremervörde
Wrote a protest letter to Bremervörde
an die Deutsche Schlafbehörde
To the German sleep authority
Sie schlugen vor, daß man sich so arrangiert
They suggested that we arrange it
für die Kleinen werden noch 'n paar Dünen reserviert
A few dunes are reserved for the little ones
für die Älteren aber,
For the older ones,
sind sie nachts noch zu munter
if they're still too lively at night
heißt es: Ausziehen, hinlegen, Reizwäsche runter...
It means: undress, lie down, take off the sexy underwear ...
Refrain:
Chorus:
Hallo Süße, hör mal her
Hey sweetie, listen
es gibt ja nun in Deutschland keine Sandmännchen mehr
There are no more Sandmen in Germany now
wir müssen jetzt schmusen, bis die Poofe kracht
We have to cuddle until we're exhausted
ich muß ja irgendwas tun, was dich müde macht
I have to do something to make you tired
ich werd dich jetzt erschöpfen, aber auf die nette
I'll exhaust you now, but in a nice way
du brauchst auch keine Schlaftablette
You don't need a sleeping pill either
komm, nimm mich, und dann heben wir ab
Come on, take me, and then we'll take off
und nachher sind wir so richtig schön schlapp
And afterwards we'll be really tired
Ja, früher war das so geregelt
Yes, it used to be regulated
da kam so'n Sandsack angesegelt
Then a sandbag sailed over
er streut dir das Zeug ins Auge rein
He sprinkles the stuff in your eyes
und schon buchst du ins Meer der Träume ein
And you're already in the sea of dreams
Doch dann gabs diesen Riesenputz
But then there was this huge fuss
mit den Leuten vom Küstenschutz
With the people from the coastal protection
man entzog den Sandmännern die Lizenz
They revoked the Sandmen's license
ja, was machen wir denn jetzt bloß
Yeah, what are we supposed to do now?
wenn du nicht pennst?
If you're not sleeping?
Contributed by Muhammad H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Karin Kock
Oh wie schön 😘😘 Ich liebe diesen Song! Der Song geht echt mitten ins Herz! 😘😘🤗😰👍👍🤘🖤🤘🎤🎶🎵🔉
Martin Wolf
Einfach nur Geil! 👍👍👍
grit
Die alten Lieder sind genial...... 👍👍👍
ilyemsta
Die neuen aber auch ach es sind alle toll
Mathias Altmann
Nur Geil. Udo gibt's nur einmal.
Nichts ist cooler.
Christian
Super !!
Marcel Rubbel
Udo for ever ....mein Messias :-)
Mauro Schatz
Geil! :D
Catrin Reinders
🖖👍😎🎩🎸🎼
Harald Stenglin
ich mag unsern udo