Was wär ich nur ohne dich?
What would I be without you? – "Ich & Du" by Anna Depenbusch and Mark Forster
Happy February, and happy 2025! Sprachmelodie’s holiday break lasted ein bisschen länger than originally planned, but we’re back this week mit einem Liebeslied (with a love song), just in time for Valentinstag.
Valentine’s Day is gradually becoming a more widely-recognized and commercialized holiday in Germany, though the focus here seems mostly limited to romantic couples. (Growing up in the United States, Valentine’s Day was also widely celebrated by children, with school parties, exchanged cards, and lots of candy.) Regardless of your country, age, or relationship status, Valentinstag remains a good opportunity to celebrate the love in our lives, in all the many forms it may take.
“Ich & Du” (me and you), a sweet 2012 duet from German musicians Anna Depenbusch and Mark Forster, celebrates love’s ability to give us strength and support in the midst of life’s difficulties, and to remind us that we are not alone in the world.
Wenn es dunkel um dich ist
When it's dark around you
Und du da draußen einsam bist
And you're lonely out there
Nimm meine Hand und halt dich fest
Take my hand and hold on tight
Damit der Mut dich nicht verlässt
So that your courage won't leave youUnd wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt
And when you don't know what to do
Und du drehst nur im Kreis
And you're just going round in circles
Stell ich mich mit dir in den Wind
I'll stand with you in the wind
Weil wir zusammen stärker sind
Because we're stronger together
Ich und du…
Me and you…
As the song’s text is directly addressing a loved one, we hear the German pronoun “du” quite a bit. Technically categorized as the second-person informal singular pronoun in the nominative case, du is German’s equivalent to the English pronoun “you” when used in an informal context or directed towards someone familiar. “Ich & Du” is filled with examples of German verbs conjugated for du in the present tense:
Wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt
When you don't know what to do
(wissen = to know)Und du drehst nur im Kreis
And you just go round in circles
(drehen = to turn)Fühlst du dich wie im Labyrinth
You feel like you're in a labyrinth
(fühlen = to feel)Du bist der Stern am Firmament
You are the star in the firmament
(sein = to be)Immer wenn du meinen Namen rufst
Whenever you call my name
(rufen = to call)Immer wenn du einen Vertrauten suchst
Whenever you look for a confidant
(suchen = to search)Immer wenn du keine Kraft mehr hast
Whenever you have no more strength
(haben = to have)Immer wenn du nicht mehr weiter schaffst
Whenever you can't go on
(schaffen = to create or to achieve something)
Interestingly, Mark Forster released another song in 2012 called Du und Ich, which could also be seen as a sort of love song, with more of a “us against the world” focus.
Liebe Grüße und Schönen Valentinstag! 💕
Jessica
P.S. – If you enjoyed this post, please consider clicking “like” and/or sharing it with someone else who may be interested in German music, language, and culture! Ganz lieben Dank!
From the Sprachmelodie Archives 🎵
If you’re looking for more German love songs this Valentine’s Day, here are a few that have been previously featured on Sprachmelodie:
“Geschlossene Augen” by SANTOS and Sido
"Wenn Du mich lässt" by LEA
"Vermisse gar nichts" by Madeline Juno
"Julia" by JEREMIAS
"Ich bin dein Mann" by Max Raabe
“Übermorgen” by Mark Forster
Discover more German Music and Language
Check out Sprachmelodie's Spotify and Youtube accounts for playlists of all songs featured so far on the blog.