Lyrics & Translation
Dive into the heartfelt narrative of Emilio's "Roter Sand" to enrich your German language learning. This pop song is special for its deeply personal story—a tribute to his mother's arduous journey—offering not just rich vocabulary and authentic expressions but also a profound emotional connection that makes learning both engaging and memorable. Discover how music can tell powerful stories and help you grasp the nuances of German culture and emotion.
So much fear and only one chance
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Your shoes felt like they were made of concrete
But you wanted to dance to loud songs
The freedom you long for
Was in a foreign land
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
Mama, Mama, your journey took an eternity
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
You don't know anyone here, you're all alone
You get nothing for free, but you love to share
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Maybe you haven't arrived yet
But don't forget how far you've already come
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
Mama, Mama, your journey took an eternity
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
Mama, Mama, your journey took an eternity
Three thousand kilometers through red sand
Mama, Mama, you were so young, but your soul was old
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Yallah, yallah, yallah, let's go
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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Angst /aŋst/ B1 |
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Chance /ˈʃɑːnsə/ A2 |
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rot /ʁoːt/ A1 |
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Sand /zant/ A1 |
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Schuhe /ˈʃuːə/ A1 |
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Beton /beˈtoːn/ A2 |
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tanzen /ˈtant͡sn̩/ A1 |
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laut /laʊ̯t/ A2 |
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Song /zɔŋ/ A1 |
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Freiheit /ˈfʁaɪ̯haɪ̯t/ B1 |
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Land /lant/ A1 |
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jung /jʊŋ/ A1 |
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Seele /ˈzeːlə/ B1 |
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alt /alt/ A1 |
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Reise /ˈʁaɪ̯zə/ A2 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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So weit gegangen und so weit gekommen
➔ Past participle used with 'sein' (to be) to form the present perfect tense.
➔ This phrase uses the **past participle** 'gegangen' (gone) with **'sein'** to form the **present perfect** tense, indicating an action completed in the past with relevance to the present.
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Dreitausend Kilometer durch roten Sand
➔ Use of preposition 'durch' to indicate movement through a place; also, the cardinal number 'dreitausend' to specify distance.
➔ The preposition **'durch'** expresses movement **through** or **across** a space, and **'dreitausend'** is a cardinal number indicating **three thousand** kilometers, emphasizing the extent of travel.
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Mama, Mama, warst so jung, doch deine Seele alt
➔ Use of past tense 'warst' (you were); conjunction 'doch' (but) to contrast clauses; possessive 'deine' (your).
➔ The **past tense** '**warst**' indicates a completed state in the past; '**doch**' is a coordinating conjunction meaning 'but', used here to contrast youth and age; '**deine**' is a **possessive pronoun** indicating ownership of 'soul'.
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Yallah, yallah, yallah sarbi daghya
➔ Imperative form with repetition for emphasis; use of Arabic dialect phrases 'Yallah' (let's go / hurry).
➔ The phrase **'Yallah'** is an **imperative** in Arabic meaning **'let's go'** or **'hurry'**, repeated here for emphasis, creating urgency or encouragement.
Album: BLESSINGS
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