February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän

Karan

Errol

Download this MP3 Directly

Tagged As:

weirdo german electronic synth pop

Challenges:

Week 1: Jobs

Liner Notes:

Karan:
This one is for Errol, who recklessly promised me to sing a song in German. Well, here are his lyrics - and, of course, he is in for a little surprise: I decided to go for this week's challenge as well and managed to dig out the longest occupational descriptions I could possible find....

Go, Errol, go! (I can't wait...)

Errol:
Everytime I see these lyrics, I can't keep a smile from my face. Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into?
...
Ok it's done. Remember guys, I don't speak German. So the pronunciation is way off even though Karan SENT me an MP3 on how to pronounce it. It was HARD... but I had a lot of fun though. *laugh* It still makes me smile SEEING the words, let alone singing them.
....

Karan:
Errol, you ROCK. BIG time!
Ich bin glücklich.

Lyrics:

Willst du gern wissen, womit ich mein Geld verdiene?
Ich stehe nicht an einer Rotationsmaschine,
und ich bin auch kein Streichholzschächtelchenverpacker,
fahr' keine Tandemscharschälpflüge übern Acker.

Nun überleg' nur her und hin,
vielleicht kommt es dir in den Sinn -
ich bin so glücklich, denn ich bin

Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän,
ganz mondän und souverän,
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän,
ganz mondän und souverän.

Bin kein Verkehrsrechtsschutzversicherungsvertreter,
kein Spezialist für Hochbelastungsparameter,
und auch ein Schornsteinfegermeister bin ich nicht,
sonst hätte ich ja dauernd Ruß auf dem Gesicht.

Nun überleg' nur her und hin,
vielleicht kommt es dir in den Sinn -
ich bin so glücklich, denn ich bin

Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän,
ganz mondän und souverän,
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän,
ganz mondän und souverän.

*********
VERSE1:
Would you like to know how I earn my money?
I do not operate a rotary machine,
and I do not pack little matchboxes,
nor do I drive tandem skin ploughs across the field.

Pre-Chorus
Now mull it over,
perhaps it will leap into your mind -
I am so happy, because I am a

Chorus
Danube steamship company captain,
all glamorous and poised,
Danube steamship company captain,
all glamorous and poised.

Verse2
I do not sell motoring legal protection insurances,
and I am no specialist for high pressure parameters
and also not a master chimney sweep,
then I would always have soot on my face.

(Pre-chorus)

(Chorus)

Feedback:

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Stephen Wordsmith 2 weeks ago

This song reminds me of a section of a Horrible Science textbook dealing with statistics, in which one was encouraged to calculate the average length of words used by an author in a sentence, and then formulate a judgment on the writer's intellect (and the sound made when their head was tapped). The penultimate category was "WARNING: Do not under any circumstances tap this person's head, as it is so jammed full of brains it is likely to explode with slight provocation", and the final one was "Probably no brains at all as this person fails to realise that you have to put spaces between words".

This song places the author squarely in the former. Congratulations.

Errol: Very convincing.
marklberry 2 weeks ago

Farfignuggen!
Cheers! MLB
$Kramer\'s Dog - kramersdog$ Kramer's Dog 2 weeks ago

I'm mostly German and always wanted to learn how to speak it. I think I'll use that goal as an excuse to listen to this song over and over again.
The lyrics are awesome. I love the line "Nor do I drive tandem skin ploughs across the field."
ofishell 2 weeks ago

I actually do speak German, and Errol, your pronunciation is damned good for someone who doesn't. Karan, dieses Song ist ein Tophit! Vielleicht wäre es auch gut ein Song mit dem Wort „Tabakwarenvertriebsgesellschaft“ zu schreiben, oder?
Roy Estel Hughes 2 weeks ago

I don't speak a word of German, but I have to say... for a non-German, Errol, you are convincing! Whether the pronunciation was right or not, this song was great fun to listen to. And... Karan, really, where *do* you get such bizarre job descriptions from?

Great, enjoyable stuff!
The Das Binky Recording Collective 3 weeks ago

I am really curious as to the method Karan took to find occupations like "motoring legal protection insurances."

Also, this is awesome!
The Cow Exchange 3 weeks ago

Choo chooo! Or whatever steamships say. I want to sing along, but I don't know how!
Ben Carroll 3 weeks ago

this is amazing
Greg Landgraf 3 weeks ago

Just fantastic. "Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän" is going to have to make it into my lexicographical rotation.
Marie Tueje 3 weeks ago

1. Very brave
2. I don't know any German
3. Errol, are you sure you're not German?
4. Does Germany have it's Eurovision entry yet?
Phil Norman 3 weeks ago

Errol, If I close my eyes, I picture you
in your Danube steamship company captain's uniform
all glamorous and poised.

With lots and lots of tassels, and very tight pants.

This is fantastic, you two.
MAX VANREMMERDEN 3 weeks ago

Errol on xtc?

Amazing job. One of the funniest collabs I've ever heard.
Your pronunciation gets very close Errol, really.
Scott Lake 3 weeks ago

Errol/Karan - das war viel Spaß!!!

Now, believe it or not, what it made me think of was Schnappi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe3FG4EOgyU
hbusse 3 weeks ago

This is EXCELLENT.
Michael Gutierrez-May 3 weeks ago

This was wonderful, great job Errol. If anyone asks me what a Danube steamship company captain is in German, I will reply with this song. Actually, I will give them the links to yours.
Donna 4 weeks ago

This is just insane. Absolutely wonderful.
One of the things I loved about living in Germany was all the long words.
They used to crack me up.
Jinx 4 weeks ago

Amazing. AMAZING. I think I have to give this five stars. The tune is so fun, the lyrics made me laugh even before I looked at the translation to find out what all those occupations I didn't know were, and Errol deserves a medal for tackling this.
mike skliar 4 weeks ago

Wow, this is .. amazing! and I bet not easy to sing! great job!
AquaMunkee 1 month ago

LOL! This is so much fun - I love the collaboration of two of my FAWM favorites!

I can't believe anyone would describe Errol as reckless, he seems so careful and controlled. (That was sarcasm - I love his reckless / carefree approach to songwriting!)

The final line is hilarious - "I am so lucky."
Frances 1 month ago

Fantabulous! I am five-starring this song and learning how to speak German! Great contrast between the long phrases and the fun electronic sounds!! Great lyrics Karan! I now want to become a glamorous Danuabe company captain!
cashmoney 1 month ago

Ok, so my german teacher in high school would remind us of this word once a week just so we would realize how cool german was, or something. For that and other reasons, this is my new favorite song ever.
squirt 1 month ago

I love everything about this... I've always found the German tendency to just lump words together to form huge, long and (for me) impossible to say/remember words, so it's amusing for that reason. I love the upbeat, synthiness, the bridge... the occupations which Karan chose to use (they are *so* much cooler in German than in English).
Billy Sea 1 month ago

Wow, totally fun stuff. Love the lyrics (and appreciate the translation too) but the german has a fun sound to it....or it just may be the way Errol sings it.

Errol, you wrote this music? Very awesome
Helen 1 month ago

Awesome. So catchy.
Russia Saturn 1 month ago

This will be my go-to song when I'm having a bad day. It's epic.
Dennis Jernberg 1 month ago

The first synth pop tune I hear from the almighty Errol, and he sings it in German! Karan throws all these long compound jawbreakers at him, and mighty Errol rises to the challenge! FAWM's resident geekpop-king scores auf Deutsch too! Wunderbar! (Aqua meet Kraftwerk in Marvel-DC-like amalgam? Interesting way of putting it. )

This gets me thinking: maybe I should recklessly promise to sing something in German (perfect excuse to relearn the language)...
dylansdemise 1 month ago

I used to date a Danube steamship company captain...but that was in a past life. These days I usually have soot on my face

Groovy song, most excellent job for both of you!
Whispered Candles 1 month ago

Very nice. The music sounds like video game music, haha.
Billy Chase 1 month ago

Errol, I love your quirky style. This sounds like a hit to me.
Chasing Andromeda 1 month ago

"tandem skin ploughs" - uh.....what?? Fun, pop electronic madness. Definitely will be back for more listens!
lgilbert 1 month ago

Awesome. I wonder how many times you had to sing this before you got it so perfect.

I LOVE it! You two did a wonderful job piecing this together!
Dan Fors 1 month ago

Haha! FANTASTIC! Now I will dissect the lyrics:
or....maybe not.
Linzi 1 month ago

Ooo Errol/Karan, I like it hehehee
I'm glad the English is there as I have NO idea what you're saying!
Funky lil' tune, well done.
Scott McBride 1 month ago

I'm fairly sure this could be a hit on German radio.
sherrycanary 1 month ago

Can't stop laughing!
Can't believe these words are real
chrishensongs 1 month ago

Lordy, I love this!!! Awesome production. Killer tune. Total package!!! Well done!
Debs 1 month ago

LOL, this is such Errol music. This makes me giggle, it's so bouncy-hyper. I've sung German in choir before and it was never, never this much fun! Errol, you did a great job with the pronunciation (from my limited knowledge of German) and Karan, the lyrics so, so cute!
captainquirk 1 month ago

Does "Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz" fit on a business card?
captainquirk 1 month ago

This is such LOLs. The music is so hyper.

And you actually do the pronunciations really well, as far as I can tell!
Lara 1 month ago

you guys so rock. This definitely lives up to expectations- good stuff.
oddbod 1 month ago

this is mental Errol. Great pop silliness
Love all those blippy synth arps and the drums.
like the bastard child of Aqua and Kraftwerk
theconsumption 1 month ago

OH. The demo, it must come soon! You just wave your arms around when the demo comes out and the Errol faithful will flock.
Maeflower 1 month ago

Oh I am quivering with anticipation!!
Taylor Tay 1 month ago

I don't think I'll get much sleep until I hear this track! xD
expendablefriend 1 month ago

Awesome lyrics. I am SO coming back to listen to this when there's audio.
dougdog nye 1 month ago

Standing both in awe and on the edge of my seat awaiting the audio.Yah
cts 1 month ago

Yep, definitely rubbing my chin to hear how this turns out. Should be fun.
songsville 1 month ago

You are mean! I think there is a whole song to be had out of Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz -- I'd have a go but I'm vegetarian! That's my excuse ...
Jocelyn 1 month ago

I cannot wait to hear this.
Benjamin Nolan 1 month ago

Das röffel.

Those are up there with hottentottensoldatententententoonstellingenmeester and its ilk.

I don't suppose you could write me a track in German?
G Slade 1 month ago

lololololol @ "and I am no specialist for high pressure parameters
and also not a master chimney sweep,"....this should be good once it's demo'd
Karan 1 month ago

One of the longest German words ever is Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz (beef labeling regulation and delegation of supervision law). And yes, it is for real. We are crazy.
Helen 1 month ago

Yay! This is a great exercise in torturing Errol

My german penfriend when I was at school told me of the word for the hat belonging to the man who rows the boat across lake Constance. I don't remember it, I'm afraid.