☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics tell the story of a father and his son who meet every evening at the train station.
- The father dreams of a snow-white 51 Captain, which could be a symbol of a missed opportunity.
- The son is proud to walk alongside his father and listens to the same story about the 51 Captain every evening.
- One evening, the father arrives with an old Olympia that always has problems, but is good enough for the father.
- The son hopes that there is a heaven where he can see his father again and that they will drive together in a 51 Captain.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song '51er Kapitän' by
Reinhard Mey tell the story of a father and his son who meet every evening at the train station. The father wears a gray coat and a worn-out briefcase. The son is proud to walk beside him. Every night, the father tells the same story: one day they will arrive in a snow-white 51er Kapitän. The son can imagine it vividly and feels like in a dream.
As time goes by, circumstances change and one evening the father actually arrives in a car. It is an ancient Olympia that constantly has problems. But for the father, it is good enough because he is always frugal with himself and his family. He wants to give his son every chance in life.
The lyrics suggest that the father dreams of a snow-white 51er Kapitän, as it could be a symbol of a missed opportunity. Eventually, the father dies and is carried on his final journey in a black Admiral. The son hopes that there is a heaven where he can see his father again and that they will ride together in a snow-white 51er Kapitän.
The lyrics of the song '51er Kapitän' speak of dreams, hopes, and love between father and son. It shows how a simple dream and the desire for a better life strengthen their relationship and how the son keeps his father in good memory.