Gerungen is the past participle of the verb ringen, which means to wrestle, struggle, or contend. It's a strong, evocative word that suggests a physical or intense mental struggle.
In this song, the artist sings, "Ich habe mit Engeln und Teufeln gerungen" (I have wrestled with angels and devils). This powerful imagery immediately grabs attention, implying a deep, epic struggle against both good and evil forces, making it a memorable and intriguing word choice.
This song sets Mascha Kaléko's poem "Das Mögliche" to music. The four lines repeat like a refrain, building the same small paradox each time: the singer has wrestled with angels and devils, fed by fire and guided by light, and even managed the impossible. And yet the ordinary, possible thing is exactly what keeps slipping away.
That contrast is the whole poem. Big, dramatic struggles feel almost easier to face than the plain, everyday task in front of you. The repetition isn't padding, it's the point: the same confession said over and over, because the gap between what we can achieve and what we can't quite manage to just do never really closes.