Song Lyrics in German and English
Udo Lindenberg: “Sonderzug nach Pankow”
NOTE: The German song lyrics below are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. - Also see the English translation of these lyrics.
SONG BACKGROUND
There's much more to Udo's German version of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (originally by Harry Warren, 1941) than meets the eye. "Sonderzug nach Pankow" was first released in 1983 on Lindenberg's "Odyssee" album. It was a musical plea to East German authorities to allow the rock star to cross the Berlin Wall to perform in the GDR (DDR, East Germany). He wants to take the "special train to Pankow," a district in Berlin's north that was then in East Berlin. During DDR times Pankow was home to the communist elite and largely off-limits to the average East German. Ironically, Lindenberg was invited to perform briefly at a special concert in the Palast der Republik in East Berlin on October 25, 1983. Twenty years later, on Germany's new national holiday — October 3, 2003 — there was for the first time a real "Sonderzug nach Pankow" with 13 cars (for the 13 years since reunification) decorated by Lindenberg (see photo 1, photo 2 [Web links]) that went from Berlin to Magdeburg (not really to Pankow).
Sonderzug nach Pankow
Entschuldigen Sie, ist das der Sonderzug nach Pankow?
Ich muss mal eben da hin,
mal eben nach Ost-Berlin.
Ich muss da was klärn
mit Eurem Oberindianer:
Ich bin ein Jodeltalent
und will da spieln mit 'ner Band.
Ich hab' 'n Fläschchen Kognak mit
und das schmeckt sehr lecker.
Das schlürf' ich dann ganz locker
mit dem Erich Honecker,
und ich sag': Hey, Honey,
ich sing' für wenig money
im Republikpalast,
wenn Ihr mich lasst!
All die ganzen Schlageraffen dürfen da singen,
dürfen ihren ganzen Schrott zum Vortrage bringen.
Nur der kleine Udo,
nur der kleine Udo,
der darf das nicht,
und das versteh'n wir nicht.
Ich weiß genau,
ich habe furchtbar viele Freunde
in der DDR,
und stündlich werden es mehr!
Erich, hey,
bist Du denn wirklich so ein sturer Schrat?
Warum lässt Du mich nicht singen
im Arbeiter-und-Bauern-Staat?
Hallo, Erich, kannst mich hören?
Hallololöchen, hallo!
[Russische Worte...]*
ENGLISH > English Translation of this song
*The words in Russian at the end of the song are a Soviet official saying: "Comrade Erich, the Soviets have nothing against Mr. Lindenberg performing in the GDR (East Germany)."
Downloading German Songs from iTunes
A guide to finding and getting German music from Apple's iTunes. Some of Lindenberg's songs are available from the US iTunes Store.
WEB > Hear cuts from the album at Musicline.de (requires RealAudio)
Songs include "Horizont" and "Sonderzug nach Pankow" (Chattanooga Choo Choo)
BACK > More Lindenberg Songs
MORE > German Popular Music - More song lyrics
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