Learn German with Pop Music with these 23 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Pop
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning German with Pop is a great way to learn German! Learning with music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. So music and song lyrics are a great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning German!
Below are 23 Pop song recommendations to get you started learning German! We have full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs recommended below, so check out all of our resources. We hope you enjoy learning German with Pop!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
1. Lieblingsmensch (Favorite Person)
Namika
Manchmal fühle ich mich hier falsch
Wie ein Segelschiff im All
Aber bist du mit mir an Bord
Bin ich gerne durchgeknallt
Sometimes I feel wrong here
Like a sailing ship in space
But are you with me on board
I'm happily crazy

Lieblingsmensch is Namika’s bright pop love-letter to that one favorite person who turns ordinary moments into little adventures. Whether you feel like a “sailing ship in space,” stuck in traffic on the Autobahn, or sipping terrible gas-station coffee, everything becomes fun, colorful, and slightly crazy the instant this person hops on board. The track bubbles with playful images that show how even the dullest parts of everyday life sparkle when shared with the right companion.

Underneath the catchy beat lies a heartfelt message of gratitude, trust, and authenticity. Namika celebrates the friend or partner who knows every secret (her “Area 51”), forgives fights in minutes, and instantly lifts her mood with just a glance. Time may pass, life may get heavy, but standing side by side makes it all feel light. In short, the song is a warm reminder to cherish the people who let us be exactly who we are—dreamy, weird, and wonderfully real.

2. Mama Hat Gesagt (Mom Said)
SDP, Esther Graf, Sido
Meine Mama hat gesagt
Wenn ich will, kann ich alles werden
Also wurde ich ein bisschen verrückt
Ich war nur in der Schule
My mama said
If I want to, I can be anything
So I went a little crazy
I was only in school

Mama Hat Gesagt is a cheeky celebration of rebellion, self-belief and motherly wisdom. The narrator looks back on his school days, confessing he was there mainly to annoy teachers and classmates, yet all the while hearing his mom’s mantra: “If you want, you can become anything.” Taking this advice literally, he decides to become “a bit crazy,” ignoring traditional careers like police officer or teacher and instead embracing a loud, mischievous path that eventually leads to musical stardom. The chorus flips what could have been a scolding into a sing-along victory lap—now the very people he once irritated are chanting his words.

Rather than preaching perfect behavior, the song highlights how unconditional encouragement can turn youthful chaos into creative success. Mom’s rules are simple: save money, follow your heart, learn from mistakes, and reach for the stars (“Du bist ein Astronaut, greife nach den Sternen”). By trusting those guidelines while refusing to be “normal,” the narrator proves that authenticity can pay off—the walls are now covered in gold records, and Mom beams with pride. Packed with humor, catchy hooks and playful self-deprecation, this track reminds learners that a little craziness, when fueled by genuine support, can turn dreams into reality.

3. Zu Dir (To You)
LEA
Wenn ich sein muss wie ich wirklich bin
Ohne Maske, ohne fakes Grinsen
Ich würd' zu dir gehen
Wenn Träume platzen, die Erde bebt
When I have to be who I really am
Without a mask, without a fake grin
I'd come to you
When dreams shatter, the earth quakes

Zu Dir is a heartfelt anthem about finding that one safe place in a chaotic world. LEA sings of ripping off the mask, ditching the fake smile, and running straight to a person who feels like home. Whether she’s broke and bed-hunting, dancing with joy, or staring down life’s last hour, her instinct is always the same: “I’d come to you.” The song turns every extreme—success, shame, celebration, sorrow—into a compass that points to the same warm address.

Think of it as a love letter to unwavering support. LEA’s lyrics list scene after scene like chapters in a diary, each ending with the same promise: Can I come to you? It’s an invitation that says, “I trust you with my victories, my failures, and everything in between.” The result is a catchy reminder that true connection isn’t seasonal; it’s a 24-hour refuge where we can show up exactly as we are.

4. Spring (Jump)
Wincent Weiss, FOURTY
Ist wie 'n Sprung vom Zehner
Ins eiskalte Wasser
Das war der Tag, an dem du
Dein'n Träum'n endlich Platz machst
It's like a jump off the ten-meter
Into ice-cold water
That was the day when you
Finally make room for your dreams

Spring captures the exhilarating moment just before you jump off a high diving board into icy water: heart racing, nerves buzzing, but excitement winning. Wincent Weiss and FOURTY turn that rush into a life lesson, urging us to breathe in, breathe out, then spring toward our dreams. The chorus’ mantra, “Verschwende keinen Augenblick” (Don’t waste a single moment), reminds us that time only moves forward, so we should make space for our ambitions right now.

Behind the energetic beat, the artists share their own stories of chasing goals without guarantees, collecting scars like trophies, and trusting karma to reward hard work. Their message is clear: one brave step can open new paths, new luck. Whether you are debating a career change, a creative project, or simply trying something new in everyday life, this song is a motivational soundtrack that says, “Feel that tingle in your stomach? That is the start of something amazing. Jump!”

5. Hier Mit Dir (Here With You)
Wincent Weiss
Das Gefühl, wenn wir nachts durch die Straßen zieh'n
Uns nach Ewigkeiten mal wieder seh'n
Wenn der ganze Stress sich in Luft auflöst
Und Euphorie durch die Adern strömt
The feeling when we roam the streets at night
Seeing each other again after ages
When all the stress just dissolves into thin air
And euphoria rushes through our veins

Hier Mit Dir is Wincent Weiss’s warm hug of a song that celebrates the magic of reunion. Picture old friends meeting at night, wandering carefree through familiar streets while the city sleeps. The daily grind melts away, adrenaline and laughter rush through their veins, and suddenly it feels like no time has passed at all. In that sparkling moment, being together is so effortless that nothing else seems to matter.

Even though many friends have scattered to Hamburg, Munich, or Berlin, the bond remains unbreakable. Whenever they manage to reconnect, this shared space becomes “the best place in the world” and “the best time in the world.” The song is a joyful reminder that true closeness can outlast distance and years, and that sometimes the greatest adventure is simply standing right here with the people who know you best.

6. Hast Du Kurz Zeit (Do You Have A Short Time)
Wincent Weiss
Ich seh' uns beide noch im Sommer
Als das mit uns grad erst begonn'n hat
Ich seh' noch deine kleine Wohnung
Mit der Matratze auf dem Boden
I still see us both in summer
When things between us had just begun
I still see your tiny apartment
With the mattress on the floor

Wincent Weiss rewinds the film of his love story, replaying sun-soaked streets, a tiny flat with a mattress on the floor, and winter days that felt like summer. He recalls arguments that ended in Ich liebe dich instead of apologies and realizes he has finally found what he spent so long searching for. Each snapshot shows how ordinary moments—napping side by side, wandering endless roads—quietly built an unshakeable bond.

Faced with the fear that life is too short, the singer blurts out a deceptively simple request: Hast du kurz Zeit? Do you have a moment to share the rest of your life with me? The track is both a spontaneous proposal and a reminder to seize love before doubt creeps in. By wrapping big feelings inside casual words, Wincent Weiss turns everyday memories into a promise of “fifty years—maybe more,” celebrating the courage it takes to ask someone to stay forever.

7. Pauken (Timpani)
LOTTE
Hey!
Hey!
Ich hab' noch nie einen Hurricane erlebt
Doch ich schätze
Hey!
Hey!
I've never been through a hurricane
But I guess

Feel the rush! LOTTE’s “Pauken” drops you straight into the eye of a love-storm, where a simple night out spins into a full-blown Hurricane of heartbeats. The singer compares meeting that special someone to being lifted off the ground, tossed playfully by the wind, and then set back down only to notice that her chest is pounding like kettledrums (the German word Pauken). Every glance, every shared laugh, and every bass line from the bar’s speakers fuses into one dizzying moment in which the outside world pauses, lights dim, and only two people—and one racing heart—remain.

At its core, the song is a celebration of surrendering to pure feeling. LOTTE invites us to crank the volume, forget tomorrow, and toast to the bartender while we dance through the night’s magic spell. “Pauken” reminds learners that sometimes the greatest experiences happen in the smallest instants when you let yourself get swept away, trusting that those thunderous drumbeats in your chest will keep the rhythm of the adventure alive.

8. Auf Beiden Beinen (On Both Legs)
LOTTE
Sorg' dich nicht um mich
Ich krieg' das schon alleine hin
Auch wenn ich noch am Straucheln bin
Mit Schutzanzug im Gepäck
Don't worry about me
I'll handle this on my own
Even if I'm still stumbling
With a protective suit in my bag

Auf Beiden Beinen feels like a heartfelt conversation between a young adventurer and a worried loved one. LOTTE sings with a mix of courage and tenderness, telling the listener: “Don't worry about me, I've got this.” She pictures herself in a protective suit, ready to collect only a few scratches while she learns to fly on her own. The repeated image of being pushed out of the nest but landing “on both feet” captures the exciting leap from dependence to independence, all while carrying the mentor’s rhythm in her heartbeat.

Under the sunny beat of the song, LOTTE reassures that distance does not erase connection. She promises she’ll keep the other person’s smile, advice, and pulse alive inside her, even if she doesn’t call every day. The message is both empowering and comforting: growing up means testing your wings, yet true bonds remain safely tucked in the heart. The track is a lively anthem for anyone setting out on their own path while cherishing the people who helped them get there.

9. Auf Das, Was Da Noch Kommt (On What's To Come)
LOTTE, Max Giesinger
Es geht grad erst los, ich will so viel noch sehen
Will gegen die Wand fahren und wieder aufstehen
Will der größte Optimist sein, wenn es tagelang nur regnet
Will Stunden verschwenden und nicht so viel planen
It's just starting, I still wanna see so much
Wanna crash into the wall and get up again
Wanna be the biggest optimist when it rains for days
Wanna waste hours and not plan so much

Auf das, was da noch kommt is a sparkling toast to the future, a musical high-five to every twist and turn that lies ahead. LOTTE and Max Giesinger sing about jumping headfirst into life: crashing into walls, dusting yourself off, basking in sunshine, and even dancing in the rain. Instead of fearing mistakes, they celebrate each stumble as a stepping-stone that nudges us closer to who we really are. The song’s chorus raises an imaginary glass to optimism, spontaneity, and the thrill of not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

Wrapped in catchy pop hooks, the lyrics sketch a bucket list of joyful rebellion: wasting hours without guilt, getting lost in dreams, moving south to slow life down, and making more room for love. It is an anthem for anyone who wants to swap pessimism for possibility and greet every new day with wide-eyed excitement. Press play, lift your glass, and join the celebration of everything that is still on its way!

10. Halb So Viel (Half As Much)
LEA
Hab' deinen Zweitschlüssel seit März
Und jetzt wird's schon langsam Herbst
Und du musst immer noch klingeln bei mir
Hab' deine Eltern kennengelernt
I've had your spare key since March
And now it's slowly turning to autumn
And you still have to ring my bell
I've met your parents

Halb So Viel paints a bittersweet picture of a couple whose love scales are tipped. LEA, the Australian singer–songwriter, lists all the caring gestures her partner makes: giving her a spare key in March, ringing her doorbell out of politeness, introducing her to his parents, even planning their winter trips. Meanwhile, she can only match that devotion halfway. She knows his friends by heart, but he barely knows the names of hers; he keeps her in his heart while she only holds him in her arms. The chorus repeats her secret wish: “Es wär so schön, wenn ich das Gleiche fühle”“It would be so nice if I felt the same.” Ultimately, the song explores the quiet guilt of loving someone just half as much as they love you.

Instead of pointing fingers, LEA invites listeners to step inside the gentle tension between affection and honesty. The upbeat pop sound masks a vulnerable confession: sometimes our hearts refuse to sync, no matter how hard we try. By the final refrain, the message rings clear: acknowledging mismatched feelings is painful, yet pretending would hurt even more. This track is a melodic reminder that real love also means admitting when you do not feel the same intensity.

11. Alle Märchen Sind Gelogen (All Fairy Tales Are Lied)
Jolle
Alle Märchen sind gelogen
Die Sterne, die wir sehen, sind schon lange tot
Ich schau' trotzdem nur nach oben
Ich find' die Welt sonst oft zu groß
All fairy tales are lies
The stars we see have been dead for ages
Still I only look up
Otherwise I often find the world too big

Alle Märchen sind gelogen invites us into a dream-like free fall where childhood fairy tales crumble and reality pulls like gravity. Jolle looks up at the stars even after admitting they died long ago, capturing that bittersweet mix of wonder and disillusionment we feel when we learn the world is messier than the stories promised. Lines about Rapunzel’s greying hair and Peter Pan finally growing up show how every “happily ever after” can run out of magic, yet the singer keeps searching for a place higher than the sky—a place that may not exist, but still fuels hope.

Rather than surrendering, the song embraces contradiction: floating “two feet above the ground for safety,” lighting up cloud nine while knowing it might burn out, and believing the world isn’t lost even if proof is scarce. It’s a soaring indie-pop anthem for anyone who balances cynicism with a stubborn desire to dream, reminding us that even when fairy tales lie, looking up can still lift us beyond the weight of everyday life.

12. Durch Den Monsun (Through The Monsoon)
Tokio Hotel
Das fenster öffnet sich nicht mehr
Hier drin' ist es voll von dir und leer
Und vor mir geht die letzte kerze aus
Ich warte schon 'ne ewigkeit
The window won't open anymore
In here it's full of you and empty
And the last candle goes out before me
I've been waiting an eternity

🌧️ “Durch Den Monsun” (Through the Monsoon) plunges us into a stormy, almost mythic journey for love. The singer is trapped in a room that feels both full of you and empty, staring at the last candle as black clouds gather outside. He vows to fight through raging winds, pouring rain, and even the edge of time itself to reach the person who anchors his heart. Each image – the half-sinking moon, the roaring hurricane, the abyss-side path – paints devotion as an epic adventure where hope flickers like a stubborn flame.

In the end, the monsoon becomes a metaphor for every obstacle that tries to keep two souls apart. No matter how fierce the storm, the promise glows: “I know I can find you… then everything will be alright.” The song’s driving guitars and urgent vocals mirror that determination, turning a simple love story into a cinematic quest of perseverance, faith, and ultimate reunion. When you sing along, you’re not just braving bad weather – you’re declaring that nothing can stop true connection.

13. 99 Luftballons (99 Balloons)
Nena
Hast du etwas Zeit für mich
Singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von neunundneunzig Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont
Do you have some time for me
I'll sing a song for you
About ninety-nine balloons
On their way to the horizon

Picture this: someone releases 99 bright balloons into a clear sky, a playful act that should spell nothing but fun. Instead, radar screens light up, generals panic, fighter jets roar, and suddenly the world is on the brink of war because those harmless balloons are mistaken for enemy aircraft. Nena’s lyrics walk us through the chain reaction: military brass flexes its muscles, politicians clamor for power, and what began as a child-like gesture spirals into fiery chaos that lasts “99 years.”

Beneath its catchy New-Wave beat, “99 Luftballons” is a sharp Cold War satire warning how fear and overreaction can turn innocence into devastation. The song contrasts the fragility of peace with the heaviness of war, reminding listeners that mistrust can blow small misunderstandings into global catastrophe. When the singer finally finds a lone surviving balloon amid the ruins and lets it float away, it’s a hopeful nod to starting over—and a gentle plea to keep our heads cool when stakes climb sky-high.

14. Spring Nicht (Don't Jump)
Tokio Hotel
Über den dächern
Ist es so kalt und so still
Ich schweig deinen namen
Weil du ihn jetzt, nicht hören willst
Above the rooftops
it's so cold and so quiet
I keep your name silent
because you don't want to hear it now

Tokio Hotel’s “Spring Nicht” (“Don’t Jump”) drops us straight onto a freezing rooftop, where neon lights glitter below and a desperate friend clings to the edge. The singer pleads through the night, begging the other person not to take the leap. City lights may look inviting, but they are “lying,” and every tear gets swallowed by the urban abyss. Instead of giving in to the emptiness, he urges his friend to remember who they are, the bond they share, and the possibility of starting over.

At its core, the song is a raw SOS wrapped in soaring rock guitars and haunting vocals. It paints a vivid picture of depression yet counters it with fierce loyalty: If nothing can pull you back, I’ll jump for you. That final promise transforms despair into solidarity, reminding listeners that even in the darkest moments, someone’s voice can reach out, hold your hand, and pull you back toward life.

15. Guten Tag, Liebes Glück (Good Day, Dear Luck)
Max Raabe
Heute ist ein guter Tag
Um glücklich zu sein
Steht das Glück vor der Tür
Dann lasse ich es rein
Today is a good day
To be happy
If luck's at the door
I'll let it in

“Guten Tag, Liebes Glück” turns happiness into a surprise houseguest. Max Raabe’s narrator opens the door and literally greets Glück, offering coffee or tea and inviting it to stay. The catchy refrain “Heute ist ein guter Tag, um glücklich zu sein” reminds us that joy can arrive any ordinary morning if we simply let it in.

While basking in this cozy visit, the singer suddenly wonders whether it is selfish to keep Glück all to himself—will other people miss it? Yet the temptingly comfortable scene on the couch makes him shrug off the guilt and keep enjoying the moment. With tongue-in-cheek politeness and a touch of old-fashioned charm, the song celebrates seizing a bright mood, acknowledging that happiness is both a guest and a gift we’re allowed to indulge in when it knocks.

16. Das Leben Wieder Lieben (Love Life Again)
Tim Bendzko
Ich halt' es nicht mehr aus
Wir haben uns Ewigkeiten nicht gesehen
Lieb' meine eigenen vier Wände
Aber muss wieder nach draußen gehen
I can't take it anymore
We haven't seen each other in ages
Love my own four walls
But gotta head outside again

“Das Leben Wieder Lieben” is Tim Bendzko’s jubilant reminder that good friends and shared adventures can rekindle our passion for life. After feeling cooped up “in his four walls,” the singer bursts back into the streets of his hometown, soaking up long summer nights, laughter, and the easygoing magic that only old companions can create. The lyrics celebrate the thrill of reunion, where even time apart cannot dim the bond—there is “no sheet of paper” that could slip between them.

At its heart, the song is a feel-good anthem about seizing the present. Rather than chasing souvenirs or rewinding the past, Bendzko urges us to dive into “the best moment,” which is always now. With lingering choruses that echo “Weil wir das Leben wieder lieben” (“Because we love life again”), he paints a picture of optimism: arms linked, skies wide open, and the belief that the greatest days are still ahead. Listeners are invited to step outside, reconnect, and fall in love with life all over again.

17. Morgen (Morning)
Wincent Weiss
Ich träume schon so lang
Von diesem Irgendwann
Dass dieser Tag einmal kommt
Hätte ich selber nicht geglaubt
I've been dreaming so long
About that someday
That this day would come
I wouldn't have believed it myself

Wincent Weiss’ “Morgen” is an anthem of pure anticipation. The German singer paints the feeling we all get on the night before a big adventure: butterflies in the stomach, restless excitement, and the wish that the clock would spin faster. Each line bursts with optimism as he shakes off yesterday’s doubts and shouts, “Los, worauf wart ich noch?” (“Come on, what am I waiting for?”). The song celebrates daring to dream, packing away old worries, and finally believing that the best is yet to come.

Listen closely and you’ll hear a roadmap for turning hope into action:

  • picture the journey in your mind
  • trust that tomorrow holds something amazing
  • stop postponing your plans and just go

“Morgen” is more than a pop track; it is a musical pep talk reminding us that tomorrow is a blank page waiting to be filled with new places, bold choices, and a lighter heart.

18. Zelten Auf Kies (Camping On Gravel)
Tream, treamiboii
Ich hab' damals viel zu oft mein Herz verloren
Das waren die Nächte meines Lebens
Keine Probleme in meinem Kopf, nur das Meer im Ohr
Wir waren die Helden meiner Gegend
Back then I lost my heart way too often
Those were the nights of my life
No problems in my head, just the sea in my ear
We were the heroes of my hood

“Zelten Auf Kies” invites you to roll out a sleeping bag on rough gravel and relive the riotous nights when nothing mattered except friends, first loves, and the next sunrise. The lyrics paint a movie-like montage: sneaking cigarettes, blasting beats from a shaky Bluetooth speaker, demolishing a vending machine for the thrill, and collapsing into each other’s arms under a sky turning pink. It’s the soundtrack of carefree teenage rebellion, where a Marlboro Gold and a bottle of Bacardi felt like passports to freedom, and the local sports field doubled as an endless universe.

At its heart, the song is a bittersweet toast to nostalgia. The singer raises a half-empty glass to memories that still feel “geil” (awesome) and asks the question every adult dreamer knows: How do we get those days back? Though time has turned “forever young” into a collection of stories, the chorus vows the night is “noch lange nicht um” (far from over). In other words, youth may fade, but the spirit of those gravel-camping escapades keeps burning—as long as there’s music to spin and another dawn to chase.

19. Wenn Das Liebe Ist (If That's Love)
Nina Chuba
Ich fühle nichts außer dem Bass
Ich hab' lang nicht nachgedacht
Hab' nicht vor, das jetzt zu ändern
Nur weil du nicht magst, was ich mache
I feel nothing but the bass
I haven't thought in a long time
Don't plan on changing that now
Just 'cause you don't like what I'm doing

Feel the boom of the bass, the glow of neon, and Nina Chuba’s fearless voice cutting through the crowd. In Wenn Das Liebe Ist she calls out a partner who tries to tone her down, from her bold outfits to her late-night dancing. Instead of apologizing, she turns up the volume, declaring that she feels most alive when she’s wild, loud, and unapologetically herself.

The catchy chorus — “Wenn das Liebe ist, dann will ich sie nicht” (If that’s love, I don’t want it) — flips the usual heartbreak story on its head. Rather than shedding tears, Nina grabs her wine, heads outside, and celebrates her own freedom. The song is a glitter-soaked anthem of self-love: if a relationship demands that you shrink, it’s better to dance alone under the strobe lights than stay caged. Confidence, independence, and a killer beat win the night.

20. Ich (I)
PANTHA
Ich hab' eine Liste
Von der ich gern nichts wüsste
Ich hätt gern vollere Lippen
Und 'ne Amy-Winehouse-Stimme
I've got a list
I'd rather not know about
I'd like fuller lips
And an Amy Winehouse voice

**“Ich” dives straight into the restless chatter inside our heads, turning a private list of insecurities into a catchy confession. PANTHA rattles off everything she thinks she lacks—fuller lips, a smoky Amy Winehouse voice, longer legs, encyclopedic knowledge, billionaire money, J.Lo dance moves—then bluntly asks, “Kann ich nicht jemand anders sein?” (Can’t I just be someone else?). The song spotlights how impossible beauty standards, social media envy, and celebrity worship can make us feel like we are never enough.

Yet in the chorus she repeats “Ich bin ich” (I am me), hinting at a stubborn spark of self-acceptance fighting to break through the self-doubt. It is a bittersweet anthem: half playful wishlist, half raw diary entry, reminding listeners that everyone wrestles with the same “list” and that embracing who you already are is the most radical move of all.

21. Wildberry Lillet (Remix Feat. Juju)
Nina Chuba
Ich will Immos, ich will Dollars, ich will fliegen wie bei Marvel
Zum Frühstück Canapés und ein Wildberry-Lillet
Ich will Immos, ich will Dollars, ich will fliegen wie bei Marvel
Ich hab' Hunger, also nehm' ich mir alles vom Buffet
I want property, I want dollars, I wanna fly like in Marvel
For breakfast canapés and a Wildberry Lillet
I want property, I want dollars, I wanna fly like in Marvel
I'm hungry, so I take everything from the buffet

Wildberry Lillet (Remix Feat. Juju) is a champagne-bubbly anthem of wish lists and wild imagination. In the lyrics, German artist Nina Chuba rattles off everything she wants, from "Immos" (real estate) and "Dollars" to a spaceship with a panorama and a private jet parked in the garage. The recurring image of sipping a Wildberry Lillet at breakfast turns luxury into something as casual as a morning coffee. By treating life like an endless buffet, she playfully shows how big dreams can feel tasty, fun, and totally attainable.

Beneath the glitter, the song also reveals what really matters to her: buying a house for her mama on the coast of Catania and making sure all her friends live on the same street. The upbeat beat and Juju’s feature reinforce a message of fearless ambition, loyalty, and self-confidence. It is a catchy reminder that wanting more is not just about money; it is about freedom, family, and sharing the ride with the people you love.

22. Deutsche Bahn
Wise Guys
Meine Damen und Herrn, der ICE nach Frankfurt/Main
Fährt abweichend am Bahnsteig gegenüber ein
Die Abfahrt dieses Zuges war vierzehn Uhr zwei
Obwohl: Das war sie nicht, denn es ist schon halb drei
Ladies and gentlemen, the ICE to Frankfurt/Main
will be arriving at the opposite platform instead
This train was scheduled to leave at two oh two p.m
Though: it wasn't, 'cause it's already half past two

“Deutsche Bahn” is a cheeky musical ride that turns every traveler’s nightmare into a comedy sketch. Over a bouncing a-cappella groove, the Wise Guys slip into the role of an on-board announcer who apologizes for one absurd mishap after another: cars coupled the wrong way around, a half-hour delay that no one admits, a cow blocking the tracks, and toilets so questionable you should bring your own disinfectant. Each apology is followed by a hilariously accented “Senk ju for träveling wis Deutsche Bahn!” – a playful jab at the rail company’s attempts to sound international while the service itself feels anything but.

Beneath the jokes lies a lighthearted critique of Germany’s once state-run railway: technical glitches, broken heating in winter, useless air-conditioning in summer, and prices that climb as steeply as the frustration of its passengers. By exaggerating every inconvenience, the song invites listeners to laugh at the shared experience of imperfect public transport, reminding us that sometimes the only ticket we really need is a sense of humor.

23. Der Perfekte Moment… Wird Heut Verpennt (The Perfect Moment... Will Be Missed Today)
Max Raabe
Heut' mache ich gar nichts
Keinen Finger krumm
Ich bleib' zu Haus'
Und liege hier einfach nur so rum
Today I'm doing nothing at all
Not lifting a finger
I'm staying home
And just lying around here

Max Raabe’s “Der Perfekte Moment… Wird Heut Verpennt” is a cheeky love-letter to total laziness. The singer decides that today is strictly for staying in bed, ignoring calls, and doing nothing more ambitious than opening and closing the fridge. While the sun shines and the clouds drift by, he pulls the covers up, confident that the “perfect moment” outside can wait.

Rather than chasing productivity, Raabe celebrates the art of slowing down. His playful lyrics remind us that sometimes the healthiest choice is to unplug, shut the world out, and revel in life’s simplest comforts. The song turns idleness into a small act of rebellion—inviting listeners to savor a guilt-free day of rest and to discover that “having everything you need” can be as easy as closing your eyes again.