Das Krokodil – Bilingual Lyrics German/English

• By: AnnenMayKantereit
• Album: AnnenMayKantereit & Freunde

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of AnnenMayKantereit with "Das Krokodil," a song that humorously captures the unique experiences of touring musicians. Learning German through its relatable lyrics will give you a glimpse into authentic expressions and cultural nuances, all delivered with Henning May's distinctive, raspy voice that makes the song truly special.

[English]

Clear out the room by ten

Breakfast is from eight

Coffee, jam, and diluted orange juice

Actually, every evening feels like a long night

Driving, sleeping seated with your head against the window

Toys or one of us sleeping in the back

Sometimes we drive out and take a break

Tomorrow in Munich, and someday we'll be home again

Cigarettes are pre-rolled before every stop at the rest stop

The crocodile smokes too much. Oh yeah?

The crocodile smokes too much. Oh yeah?

The crocodile. The crocodile. The crocodile smokes too much

Glad you're here, about time too

Where were you yesterday? How long have you been on tour?

Dinner's at six

Toilet's down the hall

The coat racks are back there

Third door on the left, then all the way up

We don't have showers, unfortunately

Sorry for the neon light

If you have questions, ask me

And if you ask me, I believe

You’ll definitely make it big someday

Before I forget, there's a no-smoking rule all over the house

The crocodile smokes too much. Oh yeah?

The crocodile. The crocodile. Oh yeah?

The crocodile. The crocodile. The crocodile smokes too much

What does that mean?

No smoking allowed throughout the house?

The crocodile smokes too much. Oh yeah?

The crocodile smokes too much. Oh yeah?

The crocodile.

The crocodile.

The crocodile smokes too much.

...

[German]

Räumen Sie das Zimmer bis um zehn

Frühstück gibt's ab acht

Kaffee, Marmelade und verdünnten Orangensaft

Eigentlich ist jeder Abend eine lange Nacht

Autofahren, im Sitzen schlafen mit dem Kopf am Fenster

Hinten liegen Taschen oder einer von uns pennt da

Manchmal fahren wir raus und machen Pause

Morgen ist München und irgendwann sind wir wieder zu Hause

Die Zigaretten werden vorgedreht vor jedem Raststätten-Halt

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil. Das Krokodil. Das Krokodil raucht zuviel

Schön, dass ihr da seid, wurde auch Zeit

Wo ward ihr gestern? Wie lange seid ihr schon auf Tour?

Essen gibt's um 18 Uhr

Toilette ist auf dem Gang

Dahinten lang sind die Garderoben

Dritte Tür links und dann ganz nach oben

Duschen ham wa leider nicht

Sorry für das Neonröhrenlicht

Wenn ihr Fragen habt, fragt mich

Und wenn ihr mich fragt, ich glaub,

Ihr kommt bestimmt mal ganz groß raus

Bevor ich es vergesse, im ganzen Haus herrscht Rauchverbot

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil. Das Krokodil. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil. Das Krokodil. Das Krokodil raucht zuviel

Was soll das denn heißen?

Im ganzen Haus herrscht Rauchverbot?

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel. Ach ja?

Das Krokodil.

Das Krokodil.

Das Krokodil raucht zu viel.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
räumen /ˈʁɔɪ̯mən/ B1	verb - to clear, to tidy up
frühstück /ˈfʁyːʃtʏk/ A1	noun - breakfast
abend /ˈaːbn̩t/ A1	noun - evening
nacht /naχt/ A1	noun - night
schlafen /ˈʃlaːfn̩/ A1	verb - to sleep
liegen /ˈliːɡən/ A1	verb - to lie, to be located
fahren /ˈfaːʁən/ A1	verb - to drive, to travel
pause /ˈpaʊ̯zə/ A2	noun - break
zigaretten /tsɪɡaˈʁɛtn̩/ A2	noun - cigarettes
rauchen /ˈʁaʊ̯xn̩/ A1	verb - to smoke
krokodil /kʁokoˈdiːl/ B1	noun - crocodile
zeit /tsaɪ̯t/ A1	noun - time
tour /tuːɐ̯/ A2	noun - tour
essen /ˈɛsn̩/ A1	verb - to eat noun - food
fragen /ˈfʁaːɡən/ A1	verb - to ask
vergessen /fɛɐ̯ˈɡɛsn̩/ B1	verb - to forget

Key Grammar Structures

• Räumen Sie das Zimmer bis um zehn

  ➔ Imperative (formal)

  ➔ The verb "räumen" (to tidy up) is conjugated in the imperative form for "Sie" (formal you). This indicates a polite command or instruction.

• Frühstück gibt's ab acht

  ➔ Shortened form of "es gibt" (there is)

  ➔ "gibt's" is a common colloquial contraction of "es gibt" (there is/are). It's used to indicate availability of something.

• Hinten liegen Taschen oder einer von uns pennt da

  ➔ Word order in main clause (verb position)

  ➔ In this sentence, the subject ("Taschen" or "einer von uns") comes *after* the verb "liegen" and "pennt" (to lie/sleep). This is because the sentence starts with an adverbial phrase of place ("Hinten"). When a sentence begins with something other than the subject, the verb often comes before the subject.

• Die Zigaretten werden vorgedreht vor jedem Raststätten-Halt

  ➔ Passive voice (werden + past participle)

  ➔ "werden vorgedreht" is the passive form of "vordrehen" (to pre-roll). The subject "Die Zigaretten" (the cigarettes) is receiving the action, not performing it.

• Schön, dass ihr da seid, wurde auch Zeit

  ➔ "dass" clause (subordinate clause)

  ➔ "dass ihr da seid" is a subordinate clause introduced by "dass" (that). It functions as the subject complement to the adjective "schön" (nice).

• Wo ward ihr gestern?

  ➔ Past tense form of "sein" (to be) - archaic

  ➔ "ward" is an older, less common form of the past tense of the verb "sein" (to be). The more common form would be "wart".

• Dahinten lang sind die Garderoben

  ➔ Inverted word order due to adverbial start.

  ➔ Normally, the sentence would be "Die Garderoben sind dahinten lang". However, starting the sentence with the adverbial phrase "Dahinten lang" (that way back there) causes the subject and verb to invert.

• Wenn ihr Fragen habt, fragt mich

  ➔ Conditional sentence (type 0 or 1)

  ➔ This is a conditional sentence. The "wenn" clause (if you have questions) expresses the condition, and the main clause (ask me) expresses the consequence. In this context, it is most likely a Type 1 conditional, referring to a possible future situation.

• Bevor ich es vergesse, im ganzen Haus herrscht Rauchverbot

  ➔ Word order after a conjunctional adverbial phrase

  ➔ After the phrase "Bevor ich es vergesse" (before I forget), which acts as a conjunctional adverbial, the verb "herrscht" comes before the subject "Rauchverbot". This is due to the initial adverbial element occupying the first position in the sentence.