☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the natural process of aging and the inevitability of letting go
- The first verse describes a conversation between a father and daughter, where the little girl asks a question about the fate of a small fish
- The chorus is a simple image of growing up and the independence that comes with it
- The second verse reflects on the inevitability of aging and changes
- Overall, the song is a commentary on the inevitability of aging, the need to let go, and the sweet melancholy fathers feel when they see their children grow into independent adults
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Kleine Fische werden groß' by
Eberhard Hertel are about the natural process of aging and the inevitability of letting go.
The first verse describes a conversation between a father and daughter, in which the little girl asks a question about the fate of a small fish. The father takes this opportunity to teach a life lesson.
'Kleine Fische werden groß, I said and just thought, and then they swim out, out into the wide world.' This chorus is a simple image of growing up and the independence that comes with it. The father explains that little fish (and also little girls) eventually grow up and go their own way.
In the second verse, the father reflects on the inevitability of aging and the changes it brings. He recognizes that his daughter, as she grows older, will meet other men and eventually say goodbye to home.
This realization makes him think and he is aware that it will make him sad to see her go. The chorus repeats and emphasizes once again the message that children grow up and must go their own way.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the inevitability of aging, the need to let go, and the sweet melancholy that fathers feel when they see their children grow into independent adults.