☝️ Key Points
- The story of the song tells about a man who fell in love with a cellist without being loved in return and watched her play.
- Years later, he nostalgically remembers those times and wishes she would play again like she used to.
- The chorus repeats the central theme of unrequited love and the longing of the protagonist.
- The line 'Even in Chicago. I was there. You were there. We were there' creates a sense of belonging, even though they were never together.
- The song 'Cello' is a nostalgic look back at youthful love and the associated unfulfilled desires.
Interpretation
The lyrics to 'Cello' by
Udo Lindenberg tell a melancholic story of unrequited love and past times. The protagonist of the song is a man who falls in love with a cellist. He tells how he used to always watch her when she played the cello: 'You played cello. In every hall in our area. I always sat in the front row and I found you so exciting'. She was a goddess to him and he was always there, hoping she would notice him. But she never really acknowledged him and the relationship he dreamed of with her never happened.
Years later, he remembers those times and wishes she would unpack her cello and play like she used to: 'And today you live somewhere and your cello is in the basement. Come on, unpack that thing and play as beautifully as before'. The chorus repeats and reminds the listener of the central theme of the song - his unfulfilled love for the cellist.
The line 'Egal auch in Chicago. Ich war dabei. Du bist dabei. Wir sind dabei' suggests a sense of belonging, even though they were never really together.
Overall, the song 'Cello' is a nostalgic reflection on youth and the associated unfulfilled love longings. It is a story of desire, loss, and longing for past times.