Ich war noch niemals in New York

Jürgen Udo Bockelmann, generally known as Udo Jürgens, was an Austrian composer and singer of popular music whose career spanned over 50 years. He was born in Austria in 1934 and died in 2014. He composed close to 1,000 songs, and sold over 104 million records. He holds the all-time worldwide record for the longest presence on the charts–nonstop from 1958 to 2015. 

“Ich war noch niemals in New York”

Udo Jürgens ‧ 1982

Und nach dem Abendessen sagte er
„Lass mich noch eben Zigaretten holen gehen“
Sie rief ihm nach: „Nimm dir die Schlüssel mit
Ich werd' inzwischen nach der Kleinen sehen“

Er zog die Tür zu, ging stumm hinaus
Ins neon-helle Treppenhaus
Es roch nach Bohnerwachs und Spießigkeit
Und auf der Treppe dachte er
Wie wenn das jetzt ein Aufbruch wär'
Ich müsste einfach gehen für alle Zeit
Für alle Zeit

Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals auf Hawaii
Ging nie durch San Francisco in zerrissenen Jeans
Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals richtig frei
Einmal verrückt sein und aus allen Zwängen fliehen

Und als er draußen auf der Straße stand
Fiel ihm ein, dass er fast alles bei sich trug
Den Pass, die Euro checks und etwas Geld
Vielleicht ging heute Abend noch ein Flug

Er könnt' ein Taxi nehmen dort am Eck
Oder Autostop und einfach weg
Die Sehnsucht in ihm wurde wieder wach
Noch einmal voll von Träumen sein,

sich aus der Enge hier befreien
Er dachte über seinen Aufbruch nach
Seinen Aufbruch nach

Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals auf Hawaii
Ging nie durch San Francisco in zerrissenen Jeans
Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals richtig frei
Einmal verrückt sein und aus allen Zwängen fliehen

Dann steckte er die Zigaretten ein
Und ging wie selbstverständlich heim
Durchs Treppenhaus mit Bohnerwachs und Spießigkeit
Die Frau rief Mann, wo bleibst du bloß
Dalli Dalli* geht gleich los
Sie fragte war was?
Nein, was soll schon sein

Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals auf Hawaii
Ging nie durch San Francisco in zerrissenen Jeans
Ich war noch niemals in New York,

ich war noch niemals richtig frei
Einmal verrückt sein und aus allen Zwängen fliehen

La la la lala lala la
La la la lala lala la
La la la lala lala la
Lala la la
La la la lala lala la

*Dalli Dalli was a very popular TV game show in Germany from 1971-1987

"Ich war noch niemals in New York" is very popular and is also the name of a musical based on his songs. It opened in Hamburg in  2007. It followed the formula pioneered by ABBA with Mama Mia in 1999–a so-called Jukebox musical.  The musical tells a story of a successful TV presenter who embarks on an unforgettable journey after her mother, suffering from amnesia, can only remember she's never been to New York. 

"I've Never Been to New York"

And after dinner he said

Let me just go get some cigarettes

She called after him: “take the keys

I’ll look after the little one in the meantime”

He pulled the door closed,

Went out silently into the neon-bright stairwell

It smelled of floorwax and stuffiness

And on the steps he thought

What if this were a departure

I would just have to go forever

Forever

I have never been to New York

I have never been to Hawaii

I’ve never gone through San Francisco in torn jeans

I have never been to New York

I have never been truly free

To be crazy for once and to escape from all constraints

And as he stood outside on the street

It occurred to him that he carried almost everything with him

The passport, the euro checks and some money

Maybe there’s still another flight tonight

He could take a taxi on the corner

Or hitchhike and simply go

The longing woke up again

To be once again full of dreams

To free himself from confinement here

He thought about his departure

His departure

I have never been to New York

I have never been to Hawaii

I’ve only gone through San Francisco in torn jeans

I have never been to New York

I have never been truly free

To be crazy once to escape from all constraints

Then he put the cigarettes away

And went home of course

Through the stairwell with floorwax and stuffiness

The wife called to the man, where are you

Quickly, quickly starts right away

She asked was something wrong?

No, what could be wrong

I have never been to New York

I have never been to Hawaii

I’ve only gone through San Francisco in torn jeans

I have never been to New York

I have never been truly free

To be crazy once and escape from all constraints

La la la lala lala la

La la la lala lala la

La la la lala la

Lala la la

La la la lala lala la

A revival of the musical is planned for Berlin in 2025-2026.  There is also a movie with the same name.

I warn you….this song will get stuck in your head!

"I've Never Been to New York"

After eating dinner he said to her

“I’m going out now to get some cigarettes”

She called to him “take the keys along

I’ll watch our kid while you are gone”.

He closed the door, went into the hall

All bright with garish neon light,

It smelled of bourgeois stuffiness and wax

He stopped and felt it wasn’t right

This could be my final flight

I could go forever and not look back

Not look back

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever in Hawaii

Never been through San Francisco  in my torn-up jeans

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever truly free

I have so much to do and still so much to see

And as he stood on the street outside 

He felt he had all that he would need

His  passport, checks and a little cash

Maybe tonight there’s still another flight

A taxi’s parked across the street

Or thumb a ride–and use his feet

The yearning woke in him again

He could be free to dream once more 

To escape from all his limits here

He  wished that he had the will to go

The will to go

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever in Hawaii

Never been through San Francisco in my torn-up jeans

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever truly free

I have so much to do and still so much to see

He tucked the cigarettes away

And went back home, of course, to stay

Through the floor-waxed hall and stuffiness

His wife called out where have you been

Quick our show is starting soon

She asked was something wrong?

No, I’m all right now

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever in Hawaii

Never been through San Francisco in my torn-up jeans

I was not ever in New York

I was not ever truly free

I had so much to do and still so much to see

La la la lala lala la
La la la lala lala la
La la la lala lala la
Lala la la
La la la lala lala la