Dear visitor,

Thank you
Gerd Schinkel


La Garangeoire Anthem

Blossom Dreams                   "Blütenträume" Gerd Schinkel

Blossom dreams fade in the shade and lose their smell of greed.
What once for us seemed full of heat now no one seems to need.
You’d like your fire burn a long time – well, look for some wood.
find a storage battery for your love and do the best you could.

How many years have passed away. It’s hard for us to count.
First there was nothing more to need and nothing to be found.
Just like the bottom of a barrel dries when there’s no drop inside,
look for a pipe to fill some more. Keep your heart deep and wide.

The rope we both had in our hands to pull it just one way,
is it still there and we are strong enough at least to stay.
Are we still willing and prepared to compensate our strength
enough for love or just to live a life of such a length.

Now we’re so smart. You know, we are. And we’ve been so naive.
Our dreams it seems are all forgotten, nothing to achieve.
But if we see a destination, come along with me.
We leave that boredom day by day. There’s so much love to see...

Epitaph for Phil Ochs                     "Epitaph für Phil Ochs" Gerd Schinkel

The news a friend had told me just fell out from the grey.
He spoke about your journey. You had no way to stay.
You closed the barrier, blocked the door to find a final end
and sawed the plank you’ve crossed to leave a life you could not stand.

How could that happen? Who’s to blame? And don’t try to excuse.
No challenge there you would not face. You were not bound to lose.
Who stole your voice out of your throat? Who took your breath away?
Who drained the well once full of life? Who made the sky turn grey?

What are you doing now that you’ve gone. You’ve left so much behind.
We have to face it while we live with no one like you to find.

I don’t know if I knew you well. Your path I never crossed.
I’ve read about you, dreamed to meet you, never thought you might get lost.
And when I sang a song you wrote, I would have loved to know,
if you liked what you heard and if you liked my show

Why did your courage fade away and could no longer stay.
The future’s always in our hands. That’s what you’ve said the other day.
There’s so much rotten in this world. Look for a better one to find
and changes will come, we will see, when at least no one resigned

For A While                      "Stück des Wegs" Gerd Schinkel

Just let me walk with you for a while.
How long? Let’s wait and see with a smile.
When paths get narrow, okay -
we can walk closer.

Please let me laugh with you just a bit.
You know I like a joke and some wit.
When times get serious, okay -
I know how to listen.

I want to be angry when you’re in a rage.
Swallowed fury is a very bad wage.
Come here, sound off at me -
and you’ll feel better.

I’d like to cry with you when you cry,
when pain and tears combine in your eye.
When life’s so hard - be brave,
we’ll stick at nothing.

You lean on me and I’ll lean on you.
We’ll enjoy our luck and make it come true,
if we just want it, you’ll see -
we’ll be getting stronger.

Just let me walk with you for a while.
How long? Let’s wait and see with a smile.
When paths get narrow, okay -
we can walk closer.

Keep Your Patience                     "Hab doch noch Geduld" Gerd Schinkel

What’s that you get for loving me, you ask,
when I’m far away and you are left alone.
Your loneliness is like a heavy load,
feeling lost in a desert made of stone.

All that I can say is
keep your patience, though it’s hard -
time goes by, and that’s our part.

Where do I spend my time, you want to know,
when you call and I’m not waiting at the phone.
And it’s the sense of our love you doubt
and this doubt might crumble every single bone.

All that I can say is
keep your patience, though it’s hard -
time goes by and that’s our part.

You want to know now what I feel for you,
‘cause you see I know how to live without you here
It’s not that easy as it seems to be -
it’s this emptiness without you that I fear.

Well, I know, I’ll have
to keep my patience, though it’s hard -
the time before us is our part.

You ask yourself now how things might go on,
‘cause the future is a riddle in the fog.
As long as we’re together, you will see,
we’ll get never lost and rotten in life’s bog.

We both know for sure
why it’s worthwhile to bear the grief -
there’s so much love we will achieve.

Let’s Go Into The Park                "Komm mit in den Park" Gerd Schinkel

Let’s go into the park, the sun is shining - why should we wait?
Is the hour too early? The grass too wet? Try our luck, don’t hesitate.
You’ve got a blanket. Feel my loving heart. The beat runs through my breast.
We’ll find a place where we’re on our own - there we’ll take a rest.

Lay down in the meadow. Look into my eyes - there’s nothing to regret.
Don’t watch too close, ‘cause without a shirt, I know I am too fat.
Hours and hours I’d like to spend just to explore your skin.
The jogger on the edge of the wood’s so far. He’s not the next of kin.

Clouds block the sun, giving you the creeps, pushing shadows ‘cross the grass.
Button up your blouse and mind it’s smooth. One more kiss will come to pass.
When the blanket’s back in the basket still the day has not passed by,
but a few lovely hours we’ve enjoyed - made us feel so high.

Life                            "Leben" Gerd Schinkel

The skin is tanned and wind hits the face.
He thrusts ahead with pressure, but still you keep the place.
The shirt is splashed by rain and by sweat.
Cold as ice it sticks to the back - but there’s fire inside you’ll get.

The years go by and life is pushing
to give way all the time for peace.
But to remain a human being
you have to be tough at least.

Your eyes dried up – no tears you could share.
The iris is veined red, but there’s no reason you should care.
Defiance’s flashing beneath eyebrows turned grey.
As long as it is stirring you can trust your eyes all day.

The years go by and life is straining
to give way all the time for peace.
But to remain a human being
you have to be tough at least.

The storm exerts every single nerve
but still we feel our pulse and stand the pressure with our verve.
In every fight there’s new strength to arise
that keeps us going strong enough to look with open eyes.

To give way all the time for peace
is too much - sometimes you’ll fight.
And to feel the wind is changing
you’ll have to stand upright.

Teardrop In My Eye                     "Träne in meinem Auge" Gerd Schinkel

With questioning eyes you look into my face
to find an answer clearing up the haze.
And your eyes might read - I’m sure they will -
my love for you, now and forever keeping the thrill...

If you were a teardrop and you were in my eyes -
just to keep you in my life, Babe, I would never cry...

Your arms might hold me close, so strong, so tight,
I could not stumble, you’ll back me upright.
And your arms might feel - I’m sure, they will -
my love for you, now and forever keeping the thrill...

If you were a teardrop and you were in my eyes -
just to keep you in my life, Babe, I would never cry...

Your lips will search my mouth, so fond, so shy,
to show your feelings - I will help you try.
And your lips might feel - I’m sure, they will -
my love for you, now and forever keeping the thrill...

If I fit in to you, just skin to skin,
your hand will stroke my face - I’ll know, I’ll win.
You know how I feel - I’m sure, you will -
my love for you, now and forever keeping the thrill...

If you were a teardrop and you were in my eyes -
just to keep you in my life, Babe, I would never cry...

Love Me, I'm a Liberal
Phil Ochs/Gerd Schinkel/ George Auerbach

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
I wonder who still knows his name
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
still nobody knows who's to blame
But Malcolm X got what was coming
the reasons, though, now seem so lame,
but love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I went to civil rights rallies
picked up lots of folks in my car
I loved Harry and Sidney and Sammy
hoped every colored boy would be a star
But if you talk about revolution
That's going much, much too far,
but love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Carter was chosen
My faith in the system restored
And the day we got Clinton elected
I knew with politics I wouldn't get bored.
I still love Hispanics and Black Folks
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people who live in old Texas
Should all hang their heads in shame.
They're executing their prisoners,
it's legal - but it's nurder the same.
But  when you ask me to register my handgun
I want the cops to take down your name,
but love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I look CNN and go online
I've learned to take every view
I voted for Gore and for Lieberman
I feel like I'm almost a Jew.
But after Clinton's tales of Lewinsky
i wonder what Hillary would do -
but love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democtratic party
They say they want the U.N. to be strong.
I went to all the Pete Seeger concerts
I once loved to sing all his songs
I'll still send the money you ask for
But you know that I won't come along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns.
But now I'm about to retire
and cash all my stock holdings in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I'd never question an election,
though I thought every vote had to count.
And now I'll stand by the supreme court -
though Bush's victory still is in doubt.
But I trust in our old constitution -
no matter what, I still love its sound
love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal.

When you drive down the road
with your kids and a heavy load
you know what you’ll reach -
it’s the beach.

But you’ll stop on the way
and you know you will stay
at the old Garangeoire
in the bar.

When you get hot in the sun,
the skin turns red - that’s no fun.
You get burned in the end
on the sand.

When it’s late in the night,
hold your sweetheart, hold her tight,
cause beneath an old tree
you feel free.

In the night when you’re awake
you’ll hear folks coming from the lake.
In the morning the kids with toys
start much too early making noise.

Keep cool, get out of bed,
take a walk, get your baguette
and relax on the site
while the sun is shining bright.

When you’re hungry, what to do?
Get some coal for a barbecue.
If the meat is bloody red -
you’ll get fed.

Try some good glass of vine,
dream of more sun to shine,
break a bread and then, please,
smell the cheese.

You enjoy to see again
Caroline, Marie-Hélèn,
and if you don’t know the crew -
sure once everyone was new.

If someone’s dressed - don’t be a fool:
Never throw him in the pool.
Use no bike when you pass the chain -
they say it again and again and again.

Take your glass, drink a beer,
nothing to worry or to fear,
beneath every shining star
in Garangeoire.

Mr. Shooshoo at the fire -
it’s the best man you can hire.
Pass the bottle, fil the jar
in Garangeoire.

Au milieu de la Vendée
une region vous venez aimer:
Saint Julien, près d’la Mothe Achard:
Castel Camping La Garangeoire.

On vous attends très gentils:
Les parents, les fils, les filles.
Quand on a passé la Loire,
on n’est pas loin de La Garangeoire.

When you sit in the dark nightowls
calling in the park,
there’s one thing that can’t be wrong:
it’s a song.

See the castle and the lake -
it’s the best place you can take,
and the good song takes you far
whereever you are
to La Garangeoire.

One of a few lyrics I didn't write in my own language. It's a Hymn for the Campsite were we use to spent our summer holiday. In the bar I try to amuse the customers with pop- , folk- and rocksongs. Thank you for giving me the feeling to be a "star"... 

(Eines der wenigen Lieder von mir, die keine deutschsprachige Originalfassung haben. Es ist eine "Hymne" für den Campingplatz in der Vendée, auf dem wir seit 1994 im Sommer unseren Urlaub verbringen. Es ist ein Kompliment und ein kleines Danke schön an die vielen Freunde, die wir dort gewonnen haben und die ich mit meinem "exotischen Repertoire" (quer durch die Pop-, Folk- und Rocksongs von den Fünfzigern bis heute) hab unterhalten dürfen.)

Wer mehr wissen will, wo der Platz ist, was da so abläuft usw. bitte per Mail melden.