Udo Jürgens (born Udo Jürgen Bockelmann, 30 September 1934, Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria, is an Austrian composer and singer of popular music whose career spans over fifty years. He has written more than 800 songs and sold over 100 million records.
He is credited with broadening German-language pop music beyond the traditional postwar ‘schlager’ in the 1960s by infusing it with a modern pop appeal. His exceptionally tuneful compositions and sophisticated arrangements attract fans of all ages, and even in his 70s he continues to fill the largest concert venues in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The song ‘Griechischer Wein’ is a reflection on the life of the Greek guest workers who came to Germany in the 1950s to help rebuild the economy. Many of them went back to Greece after a few years, but a considerable number stayed in Germany and then brought their families over.
Click below to listen to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lRkongtKCY
Udo Jürgens: Griechischer Wein
Es war schon dunkel, als ich durch Vorstadtstraßen heimwärts ging.
Da war ein Wirtshaus, aus dem das Licht noch auf den Gehsteig schien.
Ich hatte Zeit und mir war kalt, drum trat ich ein.
The streets were dark when I walked home on suburban streets. There was an inn from which the light shone onto the pavement. I had some time and I was cold, so I went in.
Da saßen Männer mit braunen Augen und mit schwarzem Haar,
und aus der Jukebox erklang Musik, die fremd und südlich war.
Als man mich sah, stand einer auf und lud mich ein.
There were men with brown eyes and black hair, and from the juke box there came music that sounded foreign and southern. When they saw me, one of them stood up and invited me.
Griechischer Wein ist so wie das Blut der Erde.
Komm', schenk dir ein und wenn ich dann traurig werde, liegt es daran,
daß ich immer träume von daheim; du mußt verzeih'n.
Griechischer Wein, und die altvertrauten Lieder.
Schenk' nochmal ein! Denn ich fühl' die Sehnsucht wieder;
in dieser Stadt werd' ich immer nur ein Fremder sein, und allein.
Greek Wine is just like the blood of the earth. Come, have a drink, and when I get sad later on it is only because I keep on dreaming of home; please forgive me. Greek Wine, and the old and familiar songs, pour once again! Because I can feel the longing again; in this town I will always be a stranger, and alone. [Refrain]
Und dann erzählten sie mir von grünen Hügeln, Meer und Wind,
von alten Häusern und jungen Frauen, die alleine sind,
und von dem Kind, das seinen Vater noch nie sah.
And then they told me of green hills, the sea and the wind, of old houses and young women who are alone; and of the child that has never seen his father.
Sie sagten sich immer wieder: Irgendwann geht es zurück.
Und das Ersparte genügt zu Hause für ein kleines Glück.
Und bald denkt keiner mehr daran, wie es hier war.
They always told themselves: One day we will go back. And the savings will be enough for a little happiness back home. And soon nobody will remember what it was like over here.
Griechischer Wein ist so wie das Blut der Erde … [Refrain]
Greek Wine is just like the blood the earth … [Refrain]
