Mein Ding English translation
von Udo Lindenberg

When I was a young man,
one time I sat casually
on the lawn in front of the hotel Kempinski.
Drum sticks in my pocket
In my hand a bottle of cognac
and an autograph from Klaus Kinski (1)

I looked up to the white castle
or I worked hard at Blohm & Voss (2)
Somehow, that was clear,
at some point, that's where I will live:
In the presidential suite
Where it doesn't rain in and where no drafts are
And what do I order then?
Canned beer and caviar


And I'm doing my thing
No matter what the others say
I'm going my way
It doesn't matter whether straight or at an angle
I'm doing my thing
No matter what the others babble
What the idiots advise you so,
It doesn't matter
I'm doing my thing...

And now you come from the provinces
And even if everyone says you're crazy
You can achieve the same
Do it the charming way
Sometimes the elastic way
Sometimes the hard way
Sometimes you have to force luck
Later, Wilhelm Wieben is speaking (3)
He has always remained true to himself
The fashion came the fashion leaves
You were still the king.

Yes I'm doing my thing
No matter what the others say
You're going your way
whether straight or at an angle
that doesn't matter


You're doing your thing
No matter what the others babble
What the idiots advise you so,
It doesn't matter

And then you have always remained true to yourself
And room service is written with U and H (4)

And I'm doing my thing
No matter what the others say
I'm going my way
It doesn't matter whether straight or at an angle
I'm doing my thing
No matter what the others babble
What the idiots advise you so,
It doesn't matter
I'm doing my thing!

(1) Klaus Kinski: famous german actor
(2) Blohm & Voss: Shipyard in Hamburg
(3) Wilhelm Wieben: german news reporter
(4) room service with U and H: "ruhm" is the german word for fame, but
sounds the same as "room" in english