☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man who is attracted to the Reeperbahn because it is a place of freedom and pleasure for him.
- He is looking for a place where he can feel at home and leave his sadness behind.
- The Reeperbahn symbolizes this longing for him and he finds the pleasure and freedom he is looking for there.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Reeperbahn - ich komm an" by
Udo Lindenberg are about a man who has traveled a lot around the world and visited many different places. Although he has been to many exciting and exotic places, he often feels sad. No matter if he is in Istanbul, New York, Athens, Rio or Cairo, he can't shake off his sadness. Even in Munich or Bayreuth, where he listens to operas, he doesn't feel happy. He wonders why he is not truly happy and after a while, he finds the answer: he is drawn to the Reeperbahn.
The Reeperbahn is a famous street in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg, known for its nightlife and entertainment offerings. The protagonist is attracted to the Reeperbahn because it is a place of freedom and pleasure for him. He visits different places on the Reeperbahn like the Davidswache, Schmidt's Tivoli or Cafe Keese.
At the end of the song, he expresses that the Reeperbahn has risen again for him and he returns with joy and enthusiasm. It is a comeback for him and he is surprised how the Reeperbahn has changed. He calls it an "old gangster bride" that is back.
The lyrics of the song convey the protagonist's longing for a place where he can feel at home and leave his sadness behind. The Reeperbahn symbolizes that longing for him and he finds pleasure and freedom there.