“Vorbei” is a 2022 non-album single by German singer Pietro Lombardi. It reached number 4 on the German singles chart.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

auch wenn – This phrase carries its literal meanings of even if, even though or even when.

Zeit brauchen – This phrase means to take time. It translates literally as to use up/consume time.

immer wenn – This phrase means every time or whenever. It translates literally as always when.

zwar – This term is difficult to translate on it’s own. It is meant to signal to the reader or lister that, despite a statement being made, information is coming that will put parameters or limits on what is being stated. Zwar always appears in a first statement, and will be followed by a second statement containing a rebuttal or a qualification of the first statement. The rebuttal statement will usually start with an adversative or concessive adverb. Most often this will be aber (but), doch (but, however), or jedoch (but, however), but adverbs such as dennoch (anyway, regardless), trotzdem (still, regardless, nevertheless), allerdings (however, though), or immerhin (at least) can also be used.

schon wieder – This phrase means yet again, again or already. It would translate literally as already again or yet again.

Activities

We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv

[Intro]
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Undundand | conj wennwennwhen, if | conj esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc hunderthundertone hundred | adj JahreJahr (Jahre)year | noun | neut pl dauertdauernto last, go on; take a while, take a long time | verb, reg | third pers sing pres
Vielleichtvielleichtmaybe, perhaps; about, approximately | adv brauchtbrauchento need, require; have to; use; use up, consume | verb, reg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres | Zeit brauchen = take time esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc seineseinhis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | nom and acc fem sing and pl ZeitZeit (pl Zeiten)time; time of day; moment; period, era | noun | fem sing | Zeit brauchen = take time

[Verse 1]
Esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc istseinto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres nichtnichtnot | adv leichtleichtlight, lightweight; easy | adj
Dichdichyou, yourself | pron | acc of du (sec pers sing) zuzuto | part | used with verb infinitives vergessenvergessento forget; to leave behind | verb, irreg | pp
Werwerwho | pron | interr or rel weiß?wissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres Vielleichtvielleichtmaybe, perhaps; about, approximately | adv
Istseinto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc sososo; as; like this/that | adv aman demon the | prep + def art | dat masc or neut bestenbestebest | adj
Bittebitteplease | interj sagsagento say, tell | verb, reg | sec pers sing impera mirmirme, to me | pron | dat of ich (first pers sing) nur,nuronly, just | adv wiewieas, how, like | adv langlanglong; far | adj esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc brauchtbrauchento need, require; have to; use; use up, consume | verb, reg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres
Bisbisuntil | conj dasdasthe | art, def | nom and acc neut sing allerletzteallerletztevery last, very latest; most awful | adj BildBild (pl Bilder)picture, photo; drawing, painting; image | noun | neut sing verstaubtverstaubento get dusty, gather dust | verb, reg | pp
Esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc istseinto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres nichtnichtnot | adv leichtleichtlight, lightweight; easy | adj
Dochdochbut, however, yet | conj ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom weißwissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres

[Chorus]
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres (spüre)
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Undundand | conj wennwennwhen, if | conj esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc hunderthundertone hundred | adj JahreJahr (Jahre)year | noun | neut pl dauertdauernto last, go on; take a while, take a long time | verb, reg | third pers sing pres
Vielleichtvielleichtmaybe, perhaps; about, approximately | adv brauchtbrauchento need, require; have to; use; use up, consume | verb, reg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres | Zeit brauchen = take time esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc seineseinhis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | nom and acc fem sing and pl ZeitZeit (pl Zeiten)time; time of day; moment; period, era | noun | fem sing | Zeit brauchen = take time
Dochdochbut, however, yet | conj ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom weiß,wissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres dassdassthat, so that | conj ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv
Überüberover, above; across; about | prep | triggers acc or dat allallall; every | adj dasdasthe | art, def | nom and acc neut sing lachenlachento laugh | verb, reg | infin kannkönnenbe able to do, know how to do; be allowed to | verb, mod | third pers sing pres
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres (spüre)
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv

[Post-Chorus]
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv

[Verse 2]
IchichI | pron | first pers sing, nom hab’habento have, to get | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres (habe) | aux verb used with pp to form perf gelerntlernento learn, study | verb, reg | infin
Seitdemseitdemsince | conj duduyou | pron | sec pers sing inform, nom wegwegfar away, far off; gone | adv bistseinto be | verb, irreg | sec pers sing pres
Esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc tutwehtunto hurt | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres nurnuronly, just | adv wehwehtunto hurt | verb, irreg | prefix of sep verb
Wennwennwhen, if | conj etwasetwassomething; anything; some; any | pron | indefinite echtechtreal, genuine, authentic, original; true | adj istseinto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres
Immerimmeralways, constantly, all the time | adv | | immer wenn = every time, whenever wennwennwhen, if | conj | | immer wenn = every time, whenever ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom grauegraugrey; plain, boring | adj WolkenWolke (pl Wolken)cloud; flaw | noun | fem pl seh’sehento see, look at; watch; recognize; notice; meet; know | verb, irreg | first pers sing pres (sehe)
Fängtanfangento begin, start | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres derderthe | art, def | nom masc, gen and dat fem, gen pl HimmelHimmel (pl Himmel)sky; heaven | noun | masc sing wiederwiederagain | adv ananfangento begin, start | verb, irreg | prefix of sep verb zuzuto | part | used with verb infinitives wein’nweinento cry | verb, reg | infin
IchichI | pron | first pers sing, nom weißwissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres zwarzwarsignals a following contrary clause | adv nicht,nichtnot | adv wiewieas, how, like | adv esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc mirmirme, to me | pron | dat of ich (first pers sing) morgenmorgentomorrow | adv gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres
Aberaberbut, however | conj diediethe | art, def | nom and acc fem sing and pl SonneSonne (pl Sonnen)sun; sunlight | noun | fem sing wirdwerdento get, become | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with infin to form fut schonschonalready, yet | adv | | schon wieder = yet again, again; already wiederwiederagain | adv | | schon wieder = yet again, again; already schein’nscheinento shine; to seem, appear | verb, irreg | infin

[Pre-Chorus]
IchichI | pron | first pers sing, nom weiß,wissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres wirwirwe | pron | first pers pl, nom habenhabento have, to get | verb, irreg | first & third pers pl pres allesallesall, everything, anything; everyone | pron | indefinite versuchtversuchento try, attempt; to temp | verb, reg | pp
Dochdochbut, however, yet | conj aman demon the | prep + def art | dat masc or neut EndeEnde (pl Enden)end; outcome, result; point | noun | neut sing wirdwerdento get, become | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres allesallesall, everything, anything; everyone | pron | indefinite gutgutgood, ok, all right | adj

[Chorus]
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres (spüre)
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Undundand | conj wennwennwhen, if | conj esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc hunderthundertone hundred | adj JahreJahr (Jahre)year | noun | neut pl dauertdauernto last, go on; take a while, take a long time | verb, reg | third pers sing pres
Vielleichtvielleichtmaybe, perhaps; about, approximately | adv brauchtbrauchento need, require; have to; use; use up, consume | verb, reg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres | Zeit brauchen = take time esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc seineseinhis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | nom and acc fem sing and pl ZeitZeit (pl Zeiten)time; time of day; moment; period, era | noun | fem sing | Zeit brauchen = take time
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres (spüre)
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Undundand | conj wennwennwhen, if | conj esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc hunderthundertone hundred | adj JahreJahr (Jahre)year | noun | neut pl dauertdauernto last, go on; take a while, take a long time | verb, reg | third pers sing pres
Vielleichtvielleichtmaybe, perhaps; about, approximately | adv brauchtbrauchento need, require; have to; use; use up, consume | verb, reg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres | Zeit brauchen = take time esesit, he, she, him, her | pron | third pers sing neut or impers, nom or acc seineseinhis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | nom and acc fem sing and pl ZeitZeit (pl Zeiten)time; time of day; moment; period, era | noun | fem sing | Zeit brauchen = take time
Dochdochbut, however, yet | conj ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom weiß,wissento know; be aware of | verb, irreg | first and third pers sing pres dassdassthat, so that | conj ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv
Überüberover, above; across; about | prep | triggers acc or dat allallall; every | adj dasdasthe | art, def | nom and acc neut sing lachenlachento laugh | verb, reg | infin kannkönnenbe able to do, know how to do; be allowed to | verb, mod | third pers sing pres
Auchauchalso, even, really | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when wennwennwhen, if | conj | | auch wenn = even if, even though, even when ichichI | pron | first pers sing, nom denderthe | art, def | acc masc sing, dat pl SchmerzSchmerz (pl Schmerzen)pain, grief | noun | masc sing jetztjetztnow | adv spür’spürento feel, sense | verb, reg | first pers sing pres (spüre)
Gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom irgendwannirgendwannsometime, someday | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv

[Outro]
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv
Vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv vorbei,vorbeipast, over | adv ererhe, it | pron | third pers sing, nom gehtgehenwalk; feel, do well; be possible; go; work; be about | verb, irreg | third pers sing and sec pers pl pres vorbeivorbeipast, over | adv

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Vorbei
Over

[Intro]
Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
Even though I feel the pain now
Geht er irgendwann vorbei
Will it ever be over?
Und wenn es hundert Jahre dauert
And if it lasts a hundred years
Vielleicht braucht es seine Zeit
Maybe it takes its time

[Verse 1]
Es ist nicht leicht
It’s not easy
Dich zu vergessen
To forget you
Wer weiß? Vielleicht
Who knows? Maybe
Ist es so am besten
Is it for the best
Bitte sag mir nur, wie lang es braucht
Please just tell me how long it takes
Bis das allerletzte Bild verstaubt
Until the very last picture gets dusty
Es ist nicht leicht
It’s not easy
Doch ich weiß
But I know

[Chorus]
Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
Even though I feel the pain now
Geht er irgendwann vorbei
Will it ever be over?
Und wenn es hundert Jahre dauert
And if it lasts a hundred years
Vielleicht braucht es seine Zeit
Maybe it takes its time
Doch ich weiß, dass ich irgendwann
But I know that someday I
Über all das lachen kann
Can laugh at all this
Even though I feel the pain now
Geht er irgendwann vorbei, vorbei
Will it ever be over, over

[Post-Chorus]
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, vorbei
Over, over, over, over
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, er geht vorbei
Over, over, over, it will be over

[Verse 2]
Ich hab’ gelernt
I’ve learned
Seitdem du weg bist
Since you’ve been gone
Es tut nur weh
It only hurts
Wenn etwas echt ist
When something is real
Immer wenn ich graue Wolken seh’
Whenever I see grey clouds
Fängt der Himmel wieder an zu wein’n
The sky starts to cry again
Ich weiß zwar nicht, wie es mir morgen geht
Although I don’t know how I’ll be tomorrow
Aber die Sonne wird schon wieder schein’n
But the sun will shine yet again

[Pre-Chorus]
Ich weiß, wir haben alles versucht
I know we tried everything
Doch am Ende wird alles gut
But in the end everything will be all right

[Chorus]
Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
Even though I feel the pain now
Geht er irgendwann vorbei
Will it ever be over?
Und wenn es hundert Jahre dauert
And if it lasts a hundred years
Vielleicht braucht es seine Zeit
Maybe it takes its time
Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
Even though I feel the pain now
Geht er irgendwann vorbei
Will it ever be over?
Und wenn es hundert Jahre dauert
And if it lasts a hundred years
Vielleicht braucht es seine Zeit
Maybe it takes its time
Doch ich weiß, dass ich irgendwann
But I know that someday I
Über all das lachen kann
Can laugh at all this
Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
Even though I feel the pain now

[Post-Chorus]
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, vorbei
Over, over, over, over
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, er geht vorbei
Over, over, over, it will be over
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, vorbei
Over, over, over, over
Vorbei, vorbei, vorbei, er geht vorbei
Over, over, over, it will be over

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Vielleicht braucht es seine Zeit

• Accusative:
  • Auch wenn ich den Schmerz jetzt spür’
  • Dich zu vergessen
  • Immer wenn ich graue Wolken seh’

• Dative:
  • Ist es so am besten
  • Bitte sag mir nur, wie lang es braucht
  • Ich weiß zwar nicht, wie es mir morgen geht
  • Doch am Ende wird alles gut

• Irregular: wird
  • sein:
    • Es ist nicht leicht
    • Ist es so am besten
    • Wenn etwas echt ist
    • Seitdem du weg bist
  • wissen:
    • Wer weiß?
    • Doch ich weiß
    • Doch ich weiß, dass ich irgendwann
    • Ich weiß zwar nicht, wie es mir morgen geht
    • Ich weiß, wir haben alles versucht
  • anfangen:
    • Fängt der Himmel wieder an zu wein’n
  • sehen:
    • Immer wenn ich graue Wolken seh’ (sehe)
  • haben:
    • Ich hab’ (habe) gelernt
    • Ich weiß, wir haben alles versucht
  • werden:
    • Aber die Sonne wird schon wieder schein’n
    • Doch am Ende wird alles gut
• Modal:
  • können:
    • Über all das lachen kann

• Separable Verbs:
  • Es tut nur weh
  • Fängt der Himmel wieder an zu wein’n

• Imperative:
  • Bitte sag mir nur, wie lang es braucht

• Perfekt Tense:
  • Ich hab’ (habe) gelernt
  • Ich weiß, wir haben alles versucht
• Past Participle:
  • Bis das allerletzte Bild verstaubt

• Future:
  • Aber die Sonne wird schon wieder schein’n