☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics describe a passionate love for an unconventional man named Waldemar.
- Waldemar does not fit the idealized man - he is not a hero and cannot provide luxury to the singer.
- Despite Waldemar's imperfections, the singer loves him deeply and names everything in her life after him.
- The relationship between the singer and Waldemar is complicated, she goes through times of wanting to escape and almost brings her to ruin.
- The song is an ode to love for an imperfect man who does not meet societal ideals, but is still loved.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Er heißt Waldemar' by
Zarah Leander describe a passionate, albeit unconventional, love for a man named Waldemar.
At the beginning of the song, there is a dream of an idealized man, tall, blond, and a hero - a man who comes from a fairy tale land and could break the singer with his strong hand. However, reality is different.
The real man the singer loves is Waldemar. He is not blond or a hero, he is not proud or bold. He has black hair, is not a star, and comes from humble Berlin. Moreover, he has little money, which means he cannot offer her luxuries, like a ermine coat.
But despite all these contradictions, the singer loves Waldemar. She cannot understand it and finds her own behavior strange, but at the same time, she doesn't care. Waldemar is present in her life, so much so that she names everything around her in his honor - her car, her dog, and even her chauffeur.
It's a complicated relationship, sometimes she wants to flee from him, sometimes he almost ruins her, but she loves him nonetheless. She falls asleep with his name and wakes up with him.
Overall, the song 'Er heißt Waldemar' is an ode to love for an imperfect man who doesn't fit the usual societal ideals, but is loved just as he is.