☝️ Key Points
- The song is about longing, love, and hope
- The lyrical subject is a girl from Piraeus waiting for her love's return from the ships
- The ships represent a distant world and promise the arrival of the beloved
- The beloved is for the girl the embodiment of happiness and fulfillment
- The story ends with the long-awaited reunion and the fulfillment of her longing and hope
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Ein Schiff wird kommen" by
Lale Andersen are about longing, love, and hope. The lyrical subject, a girl from Piraeus (a port in Greece), loves the harbor, the ships, and the sea. She is fascinated by the vast world represented by the foreign ships from different countries.
The girl spends her evenings waiting for the arrival of these ships. Her hope lies in the arrival of a particular ship that will bring her the beloved one she desires so much. This man is, for her, the embodiment of happiness and fulfillment. The chorus "Ein Schiff wird kommen und das bringt mir den einen, den ich so lieb' wie keinen, und der mich glücklich macht" speaks of this hope and deep longing.
In the last part of the song, the girl finally has her beloved one in her arms. They enjoy together the moment and the atmosphere of the harbor with its colorful lights and the music from the bar. This scene is the long-awaited happiness for the girl. Therefore, the lyrics of the song tell a story of unwavering hope and the power of love that can overcome distances and waiting times.