He broke off his university studies in economics to concentrate on songwriting and singing, and has been a successful performer in Germany, France, and in the Netherlands ever since.

Nevertheless, his Annabelle criticises female political correct deadly-serious non-serene activism; Mey is later said to have repented of it and wrote another song in response to himself.

His 2004 album, Nanga Parbat, for example, includes "Alles OK in Guantanamo Bay", a song critical of the U.S. detention facility in Cuba.

The song "Das Narrenschiff" from his 1998 album Flaschenpost has enjoyed increasing popularity, likely due to its apocalyptic description of a seemingly more and more corrupt and insane world headed for disaster.

[5] For years, Mey has been an avid vegetarian,[3] and also has been active in the German chapter of the organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Several of his songs deal with the theme of prevention of cruelty to animals, the most famous one being "Die Würde des Schweins ist unantastbar" (roughly, "a pig's dignity is inviolable.

After the words "und ein letztes Glas im Steh'n", the Mey song fades away and an orchestra takes over.