☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a turbulent journey on a riverboat to Cuxhaven.
- The crew of the ship is drunk and the helmsman is confused.
- Nevertheless, the journey is portrayed as fun and exciting.
- It is hinted that it doesn't matter if the ship sinks, as there is a desire to ride in a submarine.
- The song ends with a humorous reference to singing underwater.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Everything is fine on the riverboat" by
Udo Lindenberg are about a turbulent journey on a riverboat. The story takes place on a riverboat heading to Cuxhaven. The captain, Zäsar Zechmann, promises that he won't be drunk like last time, when there was almost a shipwreck. However, the crew of the ship is already drunk and the helmsman is confused and doesn't know where to steer.
Despite the dangers and chaos on board, the journey on the riverboat is portrayed as fun and exciting. The passengers drink and party while jazz music plays in the background. The lyrics also describe how the stoker and the stewardess hide in the lifeboat and become intimate there.
The chorus "Everything is fine on the riverboat" shows that despite the chaotic conditions on board, everything seems to be fine. It is implied that it doesn't matter if the ship sinks, as there is a desire to ride in a submarine. The lyrics end with a humorous allusion to the singers singing underwater and imitating the sound of gurgling water.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Everything is fine on the riverboat" by Udo Lindenberg humorously express the turbulent and chaotic atmosphere on board a riverboat. They show that it's not always important to have everything perfect, but that sometimes it's fun to dive into the moment and enjoy life.