Leuchtturm translates directly to "lighthouse". It's a visually striking and somewhat unique word that isn't found in every German song.
In Nena's song, the lighthouse serves as a central image and a symbol of adventure and escape. The lyrics invite the listener to climb the lighthouse and see the world from above, before embarking on a fantastical journey in a submarine. It evokes a sense of wonder and longing for freedom.
Nena's
Nena is the stage name of Gabriele Susanne Kerner, a German singer born on 24 March 1960 in Hagen, West Germany. She rose to fame in the early 1980s as the front woman of the band Nena, one of the defining acts of the Neue Deutsche Welle (German New Wave) movement.
The band's 1983 single "99 Luftballons" became a number one hit in West Germany and a worldwide success, topping the UK charts and reaching number two in the United States. To this day it remains the most successful German language song in international pop history. After the band split, Nena went on to a long and popular solo career, and she is still one of Germany's best loved pop artists.