Tommi, ich glaub’, ich hab’ Heimweh
Tommi, I think I'm homesick – "Tommi" by AnnenMayKantereit
Helau! Today, February 27, is known as Weiberfastnacht in many parts of Germany, marking the beginning of five full days of Karneval celebrations. Somewhat comparable to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Karneval, also known as Fasching, is a giant Volksfest filled with costumes, parades, dancing, drinking, and general merry-making before the Lenten Fastenzeit, which begins on Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday).
While lively Karneval celebrations can be found throughout Germany, a few areas are especially renowned for their festivities. One such Stadt is Cologne, where the first Rosenmontag (Shrove Monday) parade took place in 1823. Today, Köln is still a major hotspot for Karneval activity, with millions of visitors making their way there to party in the streets each year.
In 2022, German indie rock band AnnenMayKantereit (made up of three former street musicians from Cologne) was invited to kick off the official Karneval season in Köln with their song “Tommi”, a sentimental ode to their beloved Heimatstadt (hometown). Check out the video below for a taste of the colorful festivities, complete with the band’s performance in costume and wigs:
Tommi, ich glaub', ich hab’ Heimweh
Tommi, I think I'm homesick
Ich will mal wieder am Rhein stehen
I want to stand by the Rhine again
Einfach hineinsehen
Just look in
Zuschauen, wie Schiffe vorbeiziehen
Watch the ships go byTommi, ich glaub', ich hab' Heimweh
Tommi, I think I'm homesick
Vielleicht liegt es am Licht und wie's sich grade bricht
Maybe it's the light and the way it's refracted
Oder daran, dass man
Or the fact that
Hier in der Bahn die Spree sehen kann
You can see the Spree (river) here in the train
The text of “Tommi” makes clear the band’s affection for Köln, as well as the homesickness (das Heimweh) they often feel while away. Additionally, the song’s refrain is written and sung in Cologne’s Kölsch regional dialect. Can you spot the similarities and differences to Hochdeutsch?
Da, wo mer zosamme groß jeworde sin
There, where we grew up together
Do zieh’n mer alle irgendwann wieder hin
We'll all move back there one day
Damit die Kinder, die mer krieje könn
So that the children we have
Alle in Kölle jebore sin
Are all born in Cologne
Will you be celebrating some version of Karneval this weekend?
Liebe Grüße und bis nächste Woche 🎉
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 🎵
You can find more great music by AnnenMayKantereit in the Sprachmelodie Archives, as well as more songs with connections to German culture.
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