☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics describe a loving and adventurous relationship between the singer and Johnny, who owns a red rubber boat.
- The comparison of Johnny with famous sailors symbolizes his bravery and pride, while the simple rubber boat shows their modest circumstances.
- 'Kissing on board is forbidden' is understood as a metaphor for the dangers and difficulties in a relationship. However, Johnny is willing to patch the 'leak' in their boat, showing his willingness to solve problems in the relationship.
- The repeated lines 'He has a bright red rubber boat' and 'With this rubber boat, we sail out' convey a sense of freedom and adventure that both experience in the relationship.
- The return at sunset could indicate that they spend the whole day together and enjoy every moment with each other.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Er hat ein knallrotes Gummiboot' are about a man named Johnny who owns a red rubber boat, and the singer who goes on adventure rides with him. She describes him as brave and proud, comparing him to Christopher Columbus and Lord Nelson, famous sailors from history.
However, their 'ship' is just a simple rubber boat, without sails or a motor. It is not equipped for stormy seas or long journeys, but they don't care. They rock towards happiness with love and a lot of humor. This could mean that despite the simple and modest means, they are happy and content.
'Kissing on board is forbidden' because the boat could tip over. This could be a metaphor for the difficulties and dangers in a relationship. But even if the boat loses air, Johnny is ready to pump it up again with a bicycle pump. This could symbolize his willingness to address and solve problems to continue their 'ride', that is, their relationship.
The repeated line 'Er hat ein knallrotes Gummiboot' and 'Mit diesem Gummiboot fahrn wir hinaus' could represent a sense of adventure and freedom that they both feel on their journey. They only come home at sunset, which could indicate that they spend the whole day together and enjoy their time together.
Overall, the song can be seen as a metaphor for a loving and adventurous relationship in which both stick together and are happy despite all adversities.