Werdegang is a compound German noun that literally translates to "development" or "career path," but it encompasses a broader meaning of one's life journey or trajectory.
In Kurdo's song, it's the title itself and perfectly encapsulates the narrative of his rise from humble beginnings as an asylum seeker to a successful artist. It's a powerful word that speaks to personal growth, overcoming adversity, and achieving one's dreams, making it highly engaging and relevant to the song's theme.
Kurdo and CJ Taylor's "Werdegang" is a powerful look back at Kurdo's journey, starting from a really young age. He remembers being a nine-year-old asylum seeker, excited about his first flea market jeans, ready to play sports. But then came the first day of school, feeling like an outsider, and those looks that said "no" – leading to tears before sleep. It's a really honest picture of feeling different and alone.
He talks about growing up, knowing even as a kid that he had to make his mom proud and get out of the social welfare system, to "nie wieder Sorgen haben" [never have worries again]. He wanted to sleep in like those people driving Porsches. From being an AZAD fan to having his own fans, he promises to "nie vergessen, wo ich herkomm'" [never forget where I come from] because he knows "wo ich hingeh'" [where I'm going]. He even mentions being signed by Haftbefehl after being kicked out of class, and suddenly he was doing interviews and touring after just two videos. It's a story of overcoming hardship and staying true to his roots, even when things weren't always easy.