Originally Posted by
elebl
I've just recently discovered Tele, a pop-rock group from Freiburg. The way this song sounds makes me think of Maroon 5--especially the English chorus. It's funky and fantastic!
My German's a bit rusty at the moment, so I'd love some help with the trickier lines of the song. I've marked them with an asterisk (*).
Thanks for your help!
---
Ich kam um sieben mit dem Nachtzug
I came around seven on the night train.
* ohne Geld, ohne Plan, ich bin gerannt bis zum Gleis und gefahr'n
Without money, without [a] plan, I'd run until the platform and ridden [along].
WITHOUT MONEY, WITHOUT PLAN, I RAN AND JUMPED ABOARD
Lissabon im Dezember,
Lisbon in December.
es ist kühl aber nicht wie Berlin, ich bin glücklich und frei
It's chilly, but unlike [in] Berlin, I'm happy and free.
* Wie ein Schock, wo du durchmusst,
What a shock, where you must go through. [I couldn't figure out "durchmusst," so I put what was obvious!]
ASHOCK YOU HAVE TO TAKE
deine Wohnung ist riesig, der Mann, der sie zahlt, ist berühmt
Your apartment is gigantic; the man you pay is famous. [I think the intention of the line is "the man you pay [rent to] is famous."]
Wie in Gottes Namen kannst du?
How in God's name can you [do that]?
Keine Ahnung, ich hatte einen Traum und wir waren zusamm'n
No idea; I had a dream, and we were together.
Oh, es ist alles so einfach
Oh, it's all so easy.
Gib' mir deine Hand
Give me your hand.
Oh, oh, I'm waiting for your call
Oh, oh, longing for your key
Paris - Wien mit dem Taxi,
Paris [to] Vienna in a taxi.
Als ich aussteige, lüge ich, mein Geldbeutel liegt in Berlin.
As I disembark, I lie, "My wallet is in Berlin."
Mit der Gitarre ins leere Chelsea,
With [my] guitar in empty Chelsea
* und spät nachts noch nach Liesing, du wohnst zwischen Hofer und den Schienen
and late at night still [heading] towards Liesing, you live between Hofer (ALDI) and Schienen. [I'm not sure what Schienen is, but I'm guessing it's a place.]
"SCHIENEN" MEANS "RAILS", before it "den" can't be a place!!
Es ist gut, dass du kommst, sagst du
"It's nice that you've come," you say.
* aber wie lange ich denn bleib, fragst du
"But how long am I to stay?" you ask.
weil dein Bett ist zu klein, deine Oma nebenan und dein Sofa is verlieh'n, du musst
Because your bed is too small, your grandma's next door, and your sofa is lent out,
aufsteh'n um sieben
you must get up at seven.
Oh, es ist alles so einfach
Oh, it's all so easy.
Gib' mir deine Hand
Give me your hand.
Oh...
Oh, oh, I'm waiting for your call
Oh, oh, longing for your key
Oh, oh, I'm waiting for your call
Oh, oh, longing for your key
Was soll man machen, wenn man traurig ist, wie ich es war?
What should you do if you're sad like I was?
Aus jedem winzigen Problem wird eine Wissenschaft
From every tiny problem comes a science. ["Every tiny problem merits its own scientific discipline" is the highly subjective translation!]
Ich war beim Arzt, er hat gesagt, dass ich nicht lügen darf
I was at the doctor's; he said that I shouldn't lie.
Ich sollte irgendwohin, wo's warm ist, in den Süden fahr'n
I should go somewhere in the south where it's warm.
Ich geh' am Bahnhof auf und ab und schau' den Zügen nach
I pace up and down the train station and look [ahead] at the trains,
* Stell' mir vor, sie hätten Dampf, so wie es früher war
imagine they have steam, as if it were old times.
Ich geh' heim, stell' mir drei Töpfe Wasser aufs Feuer
I go home, place three pots of water on the stove,
Zieh' mich aus, dreh' auf - und wart' auf den Nebel
undress, turn up the heat, and wait for the mist.
Oh, oh, I'm waiting for your call
Oh, oh, longing for your key
Don't keep me hanging on like this
Oh, oh, I'm waiting for your call
Oh, oh, longing for your key
Don't keep me hanging on like this
'Cause you know, I love you
(I don't like you)
And you know, I need you
(I don't want you)
You know, I love you
(I don't like you)
'Cause you know, I need you
Tele - Waiting For Your Call
HI! Don't see many mistakes "Hofer und den Schienen" is strange, as I don't know what Hofer means. Ein Hof has plural Höfer. Could it be a printmistake?