4

I've seen this phrase a few times in songs. Like for example, there's a line in a song that goes "Siehst du mit mir sind viele schon zu zweit" and another one that goes "Nicht ich zu zweit". I've tried looking for translations for this phrase but it says "for two". I don't quite understand this. Can someone explain this for me?

The first song is "Tupac" by Noah Levi:

Du wohnst gegenüber und jeden Abend kann ich sehen
Dass bei dir immer das Licht brennt
Selbst wenn andere schlafen gehen
Frag mich was bei dir los ist
Liegst du auch grade wach
Machst du dich auch verrückt, wenn es dunkel ist nachts
Vielleicht kenn ich dich nicht, doch ich kenn das Gefühl
Vielleicht kennst Du mich nicht, aber spürst was ich spür

Fühl dich nicht allein
Siehst du mit mir sind viele schon zu zweit
Es gibt so viele Lichter die brennen wie deins
Es ist meistens nicht so wie es anfangs scheint

The second song is "Nicht ich" by Jannik Brunke:

Und ich weiß, und ich weiß, und ich weiß und ich weiß nicht mehr
Wer ich bin, eh, wer ich bin
Gib mir Halt, gib mir Herz, gib mir dich und ich gebe dir
Nichts zurück, yeah, nichts zurück, yeah

Ich pass' da nicht rein
Falscher Ort, falsche Zeit
Plan mich nicht mit ein
Ich bin nicht ich zu zweit

2
  • 2
    Can you name the songs? I think we need more of the context. Jul 8, 2020 at 10:48
  • 1
    Welcome to German.SE. Please edit your post to include song/author and a few more lines of quoted songs to get context. Like two/three sentences around the quote. Jul 8, 2020 at 14:24

4 Answers 4

11

The lyrics of the first example are wrong. I didn't know that song and therefore searched for a video. The singer kind of mutters and it's easy to mishear the line. It's not

Siehst du mit mir sind viele schon zu zweit

but

Siehst du, mit mir sind wir schon zu zweit.

Wir sind zu zweit simply means we are two (in the sense of couple or pair). So the two lines together: Don't feel alone. You see - with me we are already two.

In the second example

Plan mich nicht mit ein
Ich bin nicht ich zu zweit

means something like Don't count me in. I'm not myself when we are together. or I'm not myself as part of a couple.

Some more examples for the usage of zu zweit:

  • Duschen zu zweit spart Wasser und Zeit.
    Showering as a couple saves water and time.

  • Ich würde gern mehr Zeit zu zweit mit dir verbringen.
    I would like to have some more alone time with you.

  • Die Ehe ist der Versuch, zu zweit mit Problemen fertig zu werden, die man allein niemals gehabt hätte.
    Matrimony is the attempt of a couple to solve problems they would never have had as singles.

2
  • "Sind viele schon zu zweit" is correct, it means "many are already paired up", in this specific case "here on my side/place many are already paired up".
    – vonbrand
    Aug 23, 2021 at 0:22
  • @vonbrand He is singing: "sind wir schon zu zweit". In addition I think your translation is very far-fetched.
    – Olafant
    Aug 23, 2021 at 1:57
0

For two is likely to be wrong, but none of your examples is easily understandable.

The meaning is something like as a pair/couple or as a group of two but as often, a better translation requires specific context.

5
  • 3
    Why don't you wait for specific context then? You even say the example is not easily understandable, for all we know, it might not even be the correct phrase. Jul 8, 2020 at 11:05
  • @infinitezero: I'm not overly confident, that additional context arrives or suggests something entirely different. But for the phrase as such at least my answer still holds
    – guidot
    Jul 8, 2020 at 11:20
  • If no additional context arrives I think it's safe to say an answer is not that important to OP. Jul 8, 2020 at 11:34
  • @infinitezero: While I agree, I don't see an impact of your comment. The question will remain and others with the same question may stumble upon it and prefer a short answer to a comment containing a clarification request.
    – guidot
    Jul 8, 2020 at 12:56
  • They are free to post a question with additional context though. Jul 8, 2020 at 13:03
0

In the second song it says "I'm not myself [second "ich"] when we are together ["zu zweit"]".

-3

"Zu zweit" in both of these songs looks like it means something like the 'the dark side of me' or more accurately 'the lost side of me' in the sense of losing touch with reality. The first song tells the listener "not to feel alone because there are many of me" as in driven crazy by his/her yearning for their love interest across the street. The second song blatantly states the the writer doesn't know who they are and don't fit in anywhere and not to 'plan any future for me' with the last line declaring "Ich bin nicht ich zu zweit" as in 'I'm not me, I don't know who I am or if I even exist.'

2
  • 2
    Zu zweit means the dark / lost side of me? Where did you come up with such an idea? Zu zweit simply means two (people). Jul 9, 2020 at 6:33
  • I thought that "looks like it means" made it clear that this was my interpretation. I'll be more careful next time. What is your interpretation of these songs and how "zu zweit" should be translated? Can you explain?
    – Birdman
    Jul 9, 2020 at 16:36

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.