I've today posted my tenth LILT. I actually think it's my best one, and it's version 1.0. It may be that I go back to it, as I have with Ohne Dich, and fail to see a way to improve it. I don't know if that means I'm done with a song. I don't think so. I think they'll be numbered for a fair while yet, just in case...
Odds are I will look my '1.0' songs over at some point, and something will slide into place and I'll have to keep working. Since I'm not on any kind of production schedule I can keep working on these pieces indefinitely, which is something Till doesn't get to do. Once it's recorded it's pinned into the case, like a dead insect, and he can't go back and make changes.
I do feel a drive to get them perfect, but I'm not sure I'm capable of perfection at this point, so I'm not rushing to remove the versioning quite yet. The numbers can be viewed as training wheels. I won't be rid of them until I've peaked.
Ein Lied is a bit special in any case. It's a song that pushes all kinds of buttons for me, at the moment. It's very sweet, and seems light years from harder tracks like Zerstören or Laichzeit, but it's no less Rammstein for all that contrast. The lyrics are particularly pleasant for any real Rammstein fan, as they imply an affection and intimacy that quite honestly can't exist between strangers, as the authors and listeners are. Nonetheless they're like a pat on the back for anyone who loves the music. I wonder if this song is a thank you from the band to every Rammstein fan out there.
I'm not sure which song to tackle next. I've been flicking around the tracks thinking about this, but nothing has jumped out at me. Ein Lied has been on my mind from the start, and I just felt it was a good time today, but for the most part my choices have been fairly spur-of-the-moment. I'll just go with whim, I think.
As an aside, I've gone back to all the current LILT versions and added links to the source lyrics and a YouTube video for each one. I have no idea if everyone who hits this site is a Rammstein fan or not, so I might as well provide context, in case a stranger to Rammstein stumbles upon LILT.
[discuss]
2009-04-30
LILT: Ein Lied 1.0
The good will always be forgiven
So find a good way of living
Then we'll call before long
And will bring you all our songs
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
If you live a good life
Help others though their strife
If you don't flinch from the light
You will get a song tonight
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
When it's for sleep you long
May you be played a song
May heaven drop a beam
And our music light your dreams
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
So find a good way of living
Then we'll call before long
And will bring you all our songs
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
If you live a good life
Help others though their strife
If you don't flinch from the light
You will get a song tonight
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
When it's for sleep you long
May you be played a song
May heaven drop a beam
And our music light your dreams
We were born in music's care
We are servants to your ears
If ever you feel low
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-04-29
LILT: Feuer & Wasser 2.3
Her stroke's beauty to behold
It lets me see into her soul
What to hope for, what to fear
How she looks from the rear
She exudes enormous heat
Which explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
I've gone with the 'How she looks from the rear' line. It's in line with Till's lyrics and amuses me, so it goes in.
It lets me see into her soul
What to hope for, what to fear
How she looks from the rear
She exudes enormous heat
Which explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
I've gone with the 'How she looks from the rear' line. It's in line with Till's lyrics and amuses me, so it goes in.
LILT: Klavier 1.0
This one has been a major headache. Not only that, but I have a major headache.
Anyway, I've bowed down to the meister and have used 'clavier' instead of 'piano'. Piano is a cumbersome and unattractive word (sorry Italians) to rhyme in English. Clavier, which is, I think, stolen from the Germans by the French, and from the French by the English, was always (obviously) going to work better. It's also rather nice to be a little less...conventional.
I really love this song, so I can promise that these lyrics will get a lot more love. There are more problems with my work on this so far than there are good points:
They're saying to me
To open the door
Interest screams
What could there be here
Behind the door
Is a clavier
The keys are dusty
The strings become de-tuned
Behind the door
She sits at the clavier
She doesn't play it now
That was long ago
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
She said to me
I'll always be here
But it seemed to be
she only played for me
Her blood to sate
My firey rage
I locked her away
Until they came
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
At the clavier
I stood with her
And it seemed to be
She only played for me
They've opened the door
Oh how they cry
Her mother pleads
Her father strikes out at me
They take her away
And none believes me here
That I went insane
from the stench, the pain
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
At the clavier
She listened to me
And when I began to play
Her breath was taken away
[lyrics][discuss]
Anyway, I've bowed down to the meister and have used 'clavier' instead of 'piano'. Piano is a cumbersome and unattractive word (sorry Italians) to rhyme in English. Clavier, which is, I think, stolen from the Germans by the French, and from the French by the English, was always (obviously) going to work better. It's also rather nice to be a little less...conventional.
I really love this song, so I can promise that these lyrics will get a lot more love. There are more problems with my work on this so far than there are good points:
They're saying to me
To open the door
Interest screams
What could there be here
Behind the door
Is a clavier
The keys are dusty
The strings become de-tuned
Behind the door
She sits at the clavier
She doesn't play it now
That was long ago
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
She said to me
I'll always be here
But it seemed to be
she only played for me
Her blood to sate
My firey rage
I locked her away
Until they came
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
At the clavier
I stood with her
And it seemed to be
She only played for me
They've opened the door
Oh how they cry
Her mother pleads
Her father strikes out at me
They take her away
And none believes me here
That I went insane
from the stench, the pain
At the clavier
I listened to her
And when she began to play
My breath was taken away
At the clavier
She listened to me
And when I began to play
Her breath was taken away
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-04-28
LILT: Sonne 1.1
Already back with an update:
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out
All are waiting for the light
Some fearless or cowed in fright
My eyes glow with the sun
Which tonight will not succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It can burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
And tonight it won't succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It will burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
It burns right through your chest
Then you're reeling, hard pressed
Down to gaze up at the sun
And then the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
And it will never be undone
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
[lyrics][discuss]
All the changes are in two lines in the last verse.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out
All are waiting for the light
Some fearless or cowed in fright
My eyes glow with the sun
Which tonight will not succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It can burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
And tonight it won't succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It will burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
It burns right through your chest
Then you're reeling, hard pressed
Down to gaze up at the sun
And then the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
And it will never be undone
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
[lyrics][discuss]
All the changes are in two lines in the last verse.
LILT: Sonne 1.0
This one is problematic. There's a need, when retaining the basic meaning, to elongate some words (such as 'sun' in the chorus) to maintain the meter of the song. Some of the other rhythms are a bit shoddy too:
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out
All are waiting for the light
Some fearless or cowed in fright
My eyes're aglow with the sun
Which tonight will not succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It can burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
And tonight it won't succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It will burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
It burns right through your chest
Then you're reeling, no contest
You're down, gaze up at the sun
And then the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
And it will never be undone
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
[lyrics][discuss]
Never mind. I'll keep working on it!
I've changed the image in the title bar of the site from my personal logo to a photo of Till. It just seems more fitting, both as a tribute to the man and as decoration for the site.
I think my logo is prettier than Till, but isn't nearly as interesting.
I've been thinking about solar imagery and boxing. The boxing aside the sun is something of an obsession just now. It's early winter here, and I miss evening sunshine. I like darkness, but need lots of light as well. I don't get enough during winter.
In just over six weeks I'll be in Kyparissi, in the Peloponnese in Greece, blinding the family and the rest of the village with my winter-tan, and indulging myself. I'll be reading, writing, listening to music, eating, sleeping and swimming for a month, including my birthday, and the anticipation is intense. I haven't been to Europe since 2005, and I really need a break. The village is like a sanctuary for peaceful rumination.
I will be working on this site's content, but how often I'll be able to post it is another matter. I'll be begging, borrowing, and stealing connectivity whenever I can, but won't have my own access, so I guess LILT will go a bit quiet for a while. If you're following this site you'll be sent emails when I do manage to update. If not then you can probably check it once a week.
Like a boxing fan I'm counting down...
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out
All are waiting for the light
Some fearless or cowed in fright
My eyes're aglow with the sun
Which tonight will not succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It can burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
And tonight it won't succumb
Even when the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
Here comes the sun
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
The sun is shining from my hands
It will burn you where you stand
Sunlight flares from my fists
It burns your face like a kiss
It burns right through your chest
Then you're reeling, no contest
You're down, gaze up at the sun
And then the count's begun
One
Here comes the sun
Two
Here comes the sun
Three
It is the brightest star bar none
Four
And it will never be undone
Five
Here comes the sun
Six
Here comes the sun
Seven
It is the brightest star bar none
Eight, nine
Here comes the sun
[lyrics][discuss]
Never mind. I'll keep working on it!
I've changed the image in the title bar of the site from my personal logo to a photo of Till. It just seems more fitting, both as a tribute to the man and as decoration for the site.
I think my logo is prettier than Till, but isn't nearly as interesting.I've been thinking about solar imagery and boxing. The boxing aside the sun is something of an obsession just now. It's early winter here, and I miss evening sunshine. I like darkness, but need lots of light as well. I don't get enough during winter.
In just over six weeks I'll be in Kyparissi, in the Peloponnese in Greece, blinding the family and the rest of the village with my winter-tan, and indulging myself. I'll be reading, writing, listening to music, eating, sleeping and swimming for a month, including my birthday, and the anticipation is intense. I haven't been to Europe since 2005, and I really need a break. The village is like a sanctuary for peaceful rumination.
I will be working on this site's content, but how often I'll be able to post it is another matter. I'll be begging, borrowing, and stealing connectivity whenever I can, but won't have my own access, so I guess LILT will go a bit quiet for a while. If you're following this site you'll be sent emails when I do manage to update. If not then you can probably check it once a week.
Like a boxing fan I'm counting down...
2009-04-27
Cleanse the Palate
I'm sorry about that. Just so we stay on track here's another (much more appropriate) picture. I'll also confirm that Sonne is next, even though I don't like boxing. The sun is the boxer and it never sets. I'm guessing the boxer is a good one, so he's probably killed a fair number of brain cells in his time. When I think of bright light and boxing I think of the flash that you see when you take a hit to the head, or the flaring pain of a hard blow to any part of the body. All I can think of is pain and damage. The sun as a source of light or glory doesn't come to mind. That said this is a fighter's anthem, rather than verse describing the realities of the pugilistic science, so I won't criticise the imagery further.
I'd like to have a beer with Lindemann one day, and talk to him about his verse. It's probably not something he talks about (I don't talk about my own, save the remarks relating to Spark posted here), but I'd be keen to learn more about the way he thinks. He's obviously got a formidable mind. I wonder if he is a little bit crazy, or if he's just very sensitive. Maybe it's a bit of both.
I'd also like to know what the band's process is for composing and arranging their work. There's no such thing as a right or wrong way to develop a creation, be it a painting or a song, but there are some ways that work better than others, and the singular success Rammstein has when it comes to consistently turning out quality work is impressive.
I'm sure part of it is simply down to the way the six men interact with one another, but there is probably some method to the madness as well.
[discuss]
Drugs're Bad, mmmkay?
Okay, I managed to overdose slightly on my pain and anti-inflammatory medication, and feel relatively good, if a little skew-whiff. I've decided, while under the sinister influence of readily available, over-the-counter drugs, that I should perhaps work on Sonne before I try Klavier on for size. I don't know if this is what will happen or not, but you have been warned.I've also updated my profile picture with one carefully taken via the filthy bathroom mirror today. The old one was from the summer before last, and I looked far too tanned and healthy. The present reality is sobering.
Because I've been so wrecked today I lay down and watched the making of the Du Hast and Sonne videos. It was a lovely to see these specials, as you get to see what honeys the band-members are. There's naturally no way to see their actual personalities when they perform, since they're anything but their normal selves, but when discussing their work all their natural charms are apparent.
They seem to be what you might call 'nice guys'. I'm sure there are all sorts of rules against calling rock stars nice guys, but since the intardweb police don't know where I live I'm not too worried. I like that they seem to be sweethearts, because it means they probably deserve their success.
[discuss]
Broken
I'm flat on my back right now. It's quite hard to type. I've been awake most of the night with a pretty painful spasm in my back muscles on one side, spreading both up and down, and worsening as time went on, and am feeling very sorry for myself. I'm in serious need of a deep-tissue massage.
I thought I'd grit my teeth and post though, as yesterday's little foot-stamp has brought me a happy conclusion regarding the Klavier stand-off.
Now I've settled my boundaries where interpretation is concerned my problem with the Klavier parents is solved. The album text is my source, so the ambiguity is no more! The parents are those of the pianist, rather than the protagonist. I'll start work on Klavier soon.
[discuss]
I thought I'd grit my teeth and post though, as yesterday's little foot-stamp has brought me a happy conclusion regarding the Klavier stand-off.
Now I've settled my boundaries where interpretation is concerned my problem with the Klavier parents is solved. The album text is my source, so the ambiguity is no more! The parents are those of the pianist, rather than the protagonist. I'll start work on Klavier soon.
[discuss]
2009-04-26
LILT: Feuer Frei 1.0
I wasn't actually going to post this draft, but it's been a while since I posted a LILT, and I felt a need to get it out there:
Judgement comes to the hurt
from fire that will leave them burnt
I illuminate
My own face
A fevered cry
Open Fire!
Bang bang
Those in pain are raised higher
by flames that burn in desire
A searing roar
Into her core
A fevered cry
Open Fire!
Bang bang
Open Fire!
Those in pain take a toll
As fire burning through the soul
Bang bang
The burnt child will bring strife
With flames that take from life
A fevered cry
Bang bang
Open Fire!
Your joy
Is not my joy
It's my sorrow
Bang bang
Open Fire!
[lyrics][discuss]
Judgement comes to the hurt
from fire that will leave them burnt
I illuminate
My own face
A fevered cry
Open Fire!
Bang bang
Those in pain are raised higher
by flames that burn in desire
A searing roar
Into her core
A fevered cry
Open Fire!
Bang bang
Open Fire!
Those in pain take a toll
As fire burning through the soul
Bang bang
The burnt child will bring strife
With flames that take from life
A fevered cry
Bang bang
Open Fire!
Your joy
Is not my joy
It's my sorrow
Bang bang
Open Fire!
[lyrics][discuss]
A Line is Drawn
I've reached a decision with regard to Till's lyrics. I'm sticking with the explicit imagery. I'm done with speculation, guessing-games, and bullshit. Lindemann writes beautiful verse with vivid and powerful imagery. Why do I need more than that?
I'm done with reading the insane theorising and interpretation. There's too much of it, and my shite-filter is broken. I'm completely over the whole shebang.
There's a fuck-tonne of 'deeper meaning' and layering out there, but it could all be so much mental wankery. One could compile an immense volume of this crap and as far as I can tell it's a complete cluster-fuck. Till himself is the only one who knows, and I'm simply not willing to get it wrong. I need to keep the faith, and I can't do that if I cross my Is and dot my Ts. Till's most compelling compositional device is his audience's visual imagination, and I've got that in spades. That will do. Onions be damned!
I get pictures in my head from his work. I write about them so they work with the music and his singing style. That's it. Unless a member of Rammstein has come out and deliberately explained a profundity from one of their songs I'm ignoring it all.
All the intellectual contortionists, and verbal masturbators, and fart-lighters are now officially jettisoned from my little project, and I feel much better for it.
[discuss]
I'm done with reading the insane theorising and interpretation. There's too much of it, and my shite-filter is broken. I'm completely over the whole shebang.
There's a fuck-tonne of 'deeper meaning' and layering out there, but it could all be so much mental wankery. One could compile an immense volume of this crap and as far as I can tell it's a complete cluster-fuck. Till himself is the only one who knows, and I'm simply not willing to get it wrong. I need to keep the faith, and I can't do that if I cross my Is and dot my Ts. Till's most compelling compositional device is his audience's visual imagination, and I've got that in spades. That will do. Onions be damned!
I get pictures in my head from his work. I write about them so they work with the music and his singing style. That's it. Unless a member of Rammstein has come out and deliberately explained a profundity from one of their songs I'm ignoring it all.
All the intellectual contortionists, and verbal masturbators, and fart-lighters are now officially jettisoned from my little project, and I feel much better for it.
[discuss]
Tyska Läsförståelse = Deutsch Lesen-Verständnis?
My Swedish is not good. I studied it at Uppsala University's summer session 19 years ago, and really haven't used it since. Part of the problem is I only have my parents to speak it with, and I'm very reluctant to do so when non-Swedish-speakers are around, which is most of the time. I consider it discourteous to do so. I'm ashamed of my lack of ability in speaking, understanding, and reading Swedish, most particularly where vocabulary is concerned.
A disadvantage I'm now feeling as an extension of this lack is my inability to comprehend the German language. I need to study German if I'm going to get a real idea of what Till is doing. His work is diluted unless it's read and understood in German. The basis of the work is lost in translation, in terms of the flow, rhythm, and mood. I trust the real German-language adepts to capture and convey subtext in meaning, but the 'movement' of the words is what attracted me to Till in the first place, and that doesn't exist in the English translations.
You can see how this whole project came about if you think about that for a minute...
*pause*
I'm trying to re-apply those currents and wave-forms to the translations. With that in mind however my attempts to reanimate the translations do not mean the original is being felt properly. For that I have to be able to read Lindemann's work as a German-speaker does.
My mother is a Swede and is adept at understanding other languages, despite not using them in her every-day life. I can't honestly say I speak Swedish any more, despite having done so in the past. That feels wrong, because I want to learn more about the country I was born in and the people my mother comes from. Yes, I get to meet and know them, but not the nation they're part of. I need to develop my Swedish further.
I also want to learn the German language to get the whole picture from Till's words. You might consider this an extreme step to merely appreciate the work of one author. Maybe it is. I think however that it's going to end up being much more than that in the end, and it's something I have added to my plans for the coming years.
Adding to my self-imposed burden of language-learning is the fact that I'm married to a Greek family and am off to Greece for a month in June, to holiday with my in-laws at Kyparissi. I don't speak Greek either!
Yeah, good one Camilla. You can picture me rolling my eyes at my own preposterous situation here. I have three languages to [re-]learn. At least two of them share characteristics...
By the way, the title of this post is meant to read as 'German reading-comprehension' in Swedish and German. My success may be mixed.
[discuss]
A disadvantage I'm now feeling as an extension of this lack is my inability to comprehend the German language. I need to study German if I'm going to get a real idea of what Till is doing. His work is diluted unless it's read and understood in German. The basis of the work is lost in translation, in terms of the flow, rhythm, and mood. I trust the real German-language adepts to capture and convey subtext in meaning, but the 'movement' of the words is what attracted me to Till in the first place, and that doesn't exist in the English translations.
You can see how this whole project came about if you think about that for a minute...
*pause*
I'm trying to re-apply those currents and wave-forms to the translations. With that in mind however my attempts to reanimate the translations do not mean the original is being felt properly. For that I have to be able to read Lindemann's work as a German-speaker does.
My mother is a Swede and is adept at understanding other languages, despite not using them in her every-day life. I can't honestly say I speak Swedish any more, despite having done so in the past. That feels wrong, because I want to learn more about the country I was born in and the people my mother comes from. Yes, I get to meet and know them, but not the nation they're part of. I need to develop my Swedish further.
I also want to learn the German language to get the whole picture from Till's words. You might consider this an extreme step to merely appreciate the work of one author. Maybe it is. I think however that it's going to end up being much more than that in the end, and it's something I have added to my plans for the coming years.
Adding to my self-imposed burden of language-learning is the fact that I'm married to a Greek family and am off to Greece for a month in June, to holiday with my in-laws at Kyparissi. I don't speak Greek either!
Yeah, good one Camilla. You can picture me rolling my eyes at my own preposterous situation here. I have three languages to [re-]learn. At least two of them share characteristics...
By the way, the title of this post is meant to read as 'German reading-comprehension' in Swedish and German. My success may be mixed.
[discuss]
Messer & Connecting
I've been looking at trying to get hold of Messer (meaning 'Knife' or 'Knives', I think), the book of Lindemann's poems. Right now it's beyond my budget (and I need to learn German anyway), but I found a YouTube video showing the pictures from it. Without taking in the poetry these made me sad. I'm not sure what precisely it is about them that provoked this, but they first and foremost give me the feeling that he feels pretty thoroughly cut off from other people, so that's probably it.
I'm sure that like me and (I would imagine) everyone else you have an inner life that nobody else touches. That's the nature of self-awareness. We're restricted in our ability to connect with other people by their honesty, our honesty, and the limitations of language. We're individuals and are necessarily isolated by our narrow interface with the world. There's also the fact that in some contexts people avoid new connections.
I've noticed the contrasts in this since we moved out to the beach. We live in a beach resort, for want of a better phrase. There are permanent residents in a growing number, but a fair number of the homes here are beach houses, known as baches. People come here from Wellington and from other parts of the country during the summer, and on long weekends, when they can get out of town and enjoy the wonderful feeling of coastal New Zealand at its best. During the off-season many of these are empty, and there's a feeling of slumber and quietude here that is restful and pleasant. During the season it's humming with happy, relaxed people, all soaking up the holiday feel.
I used to walk a lot when I lived in cities. I'd walk for hours, and have always been prone to smiling and making eye contact when I pass people. It's just 'me'. In inner Wellington and Auckland this sometimes gets a responding smile, returned eye contact, and perhaps a few words of greeting or observation. The vast majority of the time this gets responses ranging from a strange look to averted eyes and a hurrying of pace. Avoidance behaviour in response to the most basic and benign of initiations seems the norm, and is unpleasant and saddening. Why does it happen? Are people so cynical and jaded that it offends them to have friendly overtures made my a perfect stranger?
Up here, at the beach, in the midst of all this wide open freshness people respond differently most of the time. Up here most of the responses are warm and reciprocal. Those who avoid interaction are in the minority, and all but a minor few at the very least return my smile. I've had fairly long, involved conversations with people I've never before or since, on the basis of a smile and simple greeting in passing. This to me is what community is about, but it doesn't exist so much in the city. I don't see why it shouldn't.
Added to that, there are a lot of people out there who interact with others only for what it can get them. Their social lives are self-interested and ego-centric. They don't connect on any genuine level, possibly because they fear the vulnerability they experience when they do. I don't understand this.
Does Lindemann feel alone and isolated? I need to get the book and work out what the words mean to get a better idea of what he's wanting to convey, but in the meantime, if someone makes eye contact and offers you a little human interaction, even if it's just a small smile, please reciprocate. You really don't have anything to lose, and possibly have much to gain. You might even make a relatively big difference in someone else's life.
[discuss]
I'm sure that like me and (I would imagine) everyone else you have an inner life that nobody else touches. That's the nature of self-awareness. We're restricted in our ability to connect with other people by their honesty, our honesty, and the limitations of language. We're individuals and are necessarily isolated by our narrow interface with the world. There's also the fact that in some contexts people avoid new connections.
I've noticed the contrasts in this since we moved out to the beach. We live in a beach resort, for want of a better phrase. There are permanent residents in a growing number, but a fair number of the homes here are beach houses, known as baches. People come here from Wellington and from other parts of the country during the summer, and on long weekends, when they can get out of town and enjoy the wonderful feeling of coastal New Zealand at its best. During the off-season many of these are empty, and there's a feeling of slumber and quietude here that is restful and pleasant. During the season it's humming with happy, relaxed people, all soaking up the holiday feel.
I used to walk a lot when I lived in cities. I'd walk for hours, and have always been prone to smiling and making eye contact when I pass people. It's just 'me'. In inner Wellington and Auckland this sometimes gets a responding smile, returned eye contact, and perhaps a few words of greeting or observation. The vast majority of the time this gets responses ranging from a strange look to averted eyes and a hurrying of pace. Avoidance behaviour in response to the most basic and benign of initiations seems the norm, and is unpleasant and saddening. Why does it happen? Are people so cynical and jaded that it offends them to have friendly overtures made my a perfect stranger?
Up here, at the beach, in the midst of all this wide open freshness people respond differently most of the time. Up here most of the responses are warm and reciprocal. Those who avoid interaction are in the minority, and all but a minor few at the very least return my smile. I've had fairly long, involved conversations with people I've never before or since, on the basis of a smile and simple greeting in passing. This to me is what community is about, but it doesn't exist so much in the city. I don't see why it shouldn't.
Added to that, there are a lot of people out there who interact with others only for what it can get them. Their social lives are self-interested and ego-centric. They don't connect on any genuine level, possibly because they fear the vulnerability they experience when they do. I don't understand this.
Does Lindemann feel alone and isolated? I need to get the book and work out what the words mean to get a better idea of what he's wanting to convey, but in the meantime, if someone makes eye contact and offers you a little human interaction, even if it's just a small smile, please reciprocate. You really don't have anything to lose, and possibly have much to gain. You might even make a relatively big difference in someone else's life.
[discuss]
2009-04-24
Return of the Poll
Well, I never got an email, so the cause of the poll's absence obviously wasn't the one I registered for on the bugs page.
I've created the poll again, so if everyone could please register their preference, as per my earlier post that would be great.
Hark at me: 'everyone'. I have no real idea of how many people read this site. I might as well say 'both of you'. Anyway, please register your preference, so I know what you want.
[discuss]
I've created the poll again, so if everyone could please register their preference, as per my earlier post that would be great.
Hark at me: 'everyone'. I have no real idea of how many people read this site. I might as well say 'both of you'. Anyway, please register your preference, so I know what you want.
[discuss]
Labels
I've added labels to my posts. At this point they're fairly rushed, so I may revise them.
If you want to read about a particular aspect of the work, song, band member, etc. click on the appropriate label below the post and the site will filter my posts and only show articles with the right label. I like this functionality.
[discuss]
If you want to read about a particular aspect of the work, song, band member, etc. click on the appropriate label below the post and the site will filter my posts and only show articles with the right label. I like this functionality.
[discuss]
Onions
I've had a look around and have found a lot of varied views as to what various Rammstein songs represent, fundamentally. Obviously Lindemann is playing a deep game, because while his lyrics have very vivid imagery with clear superficial meaning there are (apparently) layers, and different people take different things from them. Each song has a story or subject, which is described using metaphors. What's a little confounding is that people are interpreting these stories as metaphors in their own right, i.e. metaphors have been used to convey metaphors.
How many layers are there?
I feel like if I try and find out how many layers any one song has I'll end up peeling off so many I'll end up with a small nub in the end, like peeling an onion, or opening a set of Matryoshka dolls.
While I'm reluctant to do my own work based solely on these deeper layers, due to risk of straying off the track where the obvious meaning is concerned, it is tempting. I've seen some seriously impressive interpretations of the secondary layers, and they can be compelling.
[This is where I reiterate my frustration at not having a direct line into Lindemann's head. We'll just skip over that.]
What all this tells me is that Lindemann is cleverer than he looks, or perhaps a bit crazy. While I've been fairly obscure in my core meaning with the Spark lyrics, there is only one layer there. My intended meaning is directly linked to the metaphor I've used in the words. The entire image conveyed is the single metaphor for the story I'm telling. I haven't used any other devices or deeper layers at all. It's quite simply one great big analogy for an interpersonal situation.
I'm not sure if this makes me less clever than Lindemann, or not. Yes, I'm certainly less talented. You don't need to tell me that, but am I less slick? I'm not sure if his supposed onion-like layers of meaning are a virtue or not, or if they're real or imaginary. I have to admit it's intriguing, but sometimes, with all the analysis and re-interpretation that goes on online, I wonder if it's all bollocks and people are seeing shit that simply isn't there.
This in itself is clever. By remaining fairly uncommunicative about what his core intent is with his poetry Lindemann creates a lot of speculation, which becomes a buzz, which becomes a roar of intellectual contortionism on the part of people who will probably never know the truth. I'm not sure if I should pander to that or not, leaving me tentative about dipping my toe into the pool of ideas.
I have to applaud what he's doing though. God forbid that this man ever stops writing and being published. If Rammstein retires after this album I for one will be hoping Lindemann continues to put his work out there.
[discuss]
How many layers are there?
I feel like if I try and find out how many layers any one song has I'll end up peeling off so many I'll end up with a small nub in the end, like peeling an onion, or opening a set of Matryoshka dolls.
While I'm reluctant to do my own work based solely on these deeper layers, due to risk of straying off the track where the obvious meaning is concerned, it is tempting. I've seen some seriously impressive interpretations of the secondary layers, and they can be compelling.
[This is where I reiterate my frustration at not having a direct line into Lindemann's head. We'll just skip over that.]
What all this tells me is that Lindemann is cleverer than he looks, or perhaps a bit crazy. While I've been fairly obscure in my core meaning with the Spark lyrics, there is only one layer there. My intended meaning is directly linked to the metaphor I've used in the words. The entire image conveyed is the single metaphor for the story I'm telling. I haven't used any other devices or deeper layers at all. It's quite simply one great big analogy for an interpersonal situation.
I'm not sure if this makes me less clever than Lindemann, or not. Yes, I'm certainly less talented. You don't need to tell me that, but am I less slick? I'm not sure if his supposed onion-like layers of meaning are a virtue or not, or if they're real or imaginary. I have to admit it's intriguing, but sometimes, with all the analysis and re-interpretation that goes on online, I wonder if it's all bollocks and people are seeing shit that simply isn't there.
This in itself is clever. By remaining fairly uncommunicative about what his core intent is with his poetry Lindemann creates a lot of speculation, which becomes a buzz, which becomes a roar of intellectual contortionism on the part of people who will probably never know the truth. I'm not sure if I should pander to that or not, leaving me tentative about dipping my toe into the pool of ideas.
I have to applaud what he's doing though. God forbid that this man ever stops writing and being published. If Rammstein retires after this album I for one will be hoping Lindemann continues to put his work out there.
[discuss]
2009-04-23
Polls Apart
I've posted a poll on the right side of the site regarding my original work and whether it should be here.
Obviously this site is all about the creation of new English lyrics for Rammstein's songs, but I've been working on my own lyrics this week, and have posted them here for want of a better place, without complaint so far.
That said, Till Lindemann is probably what most of you have in common with me, and you may not really want to know what I'm doing unless it relates to him. Also, no complaints doesn't mean much, when I assume if you lost interest in this site you'd just stop coming, rather than letting me know.
I'd rather know. Don't worry about me taking it personally, because I won't. This is the internet. 'Personal' isn't something I hang out in the breeze. Please make a choice in the poll.
[discuss]
Obviously this site is all about the creation of new English lyrics for Rammstein's songs, but I've been working on my own lyrics this week, and have posted them here for want of a better place, without complaint so far.
That said, Till Lindemann is probably what most of you have in common with me, and you may not really want to know what I'm doing unless it relates to him. Also, no complaints doesn't mean much, when I assume if you lost interest in this site you'd just stop coming, rather than letting me know.
I'd rather know. Don't worry about me taking it personally, because I won't. This is the internet. 'Personal' isn't something I hang out in the breeze. Please make a choice in the poll.
[discuss]
LYRICS: The Spark 1.2
There's a stain in the water
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There's no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
Making up the beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade in fire
New waves run across the face
Swells are brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
Cleansing with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
The heart and the mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
One word changed, so minor, but everything else is working for me.
[discuss]
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There's no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
Making up the beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade in fire
New waves run across the face
Swells are brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
Cleansing with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
The heart and the mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
One word changed, so minor, but everything else is working for me.
[discuss]
2009-04-22
LYRICS: The Spark 1.1
There's a stain in the water
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There's no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
Making up the beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade into fire
New waves run across the face
Swells are brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
Cleansing with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
The heart and the mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
This is so much easier than the LILTs.
[discuss]
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There's no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
Making up the beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade into fire
New waves run across the face
Swells are brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
Cleansing with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
The heart and the mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
This is so much easier than the LILTs.
[discuss]
LYRICS: The Spark (working title)
I've made further progress:
There's a stain in the water
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There seems no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
That make up a beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade into fire
New waves run across the face
Swells brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
And the heart and mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
This is the first time I've ever published my own work. BIG moment for me. Thanks for reading :)
Now I just need to get Till Lindemann to come along and Germanise this. Fuck, that would rock. He'd do a much better job.
[NB: If this post seems to have changed since you first saw it I apologise. I couldn't stop fixing stuff.]
[discuss]
There's a stain in the water
And it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Defiant surges roll it deeper
Dark curls tinge the depths
Enclosing with hard fingers
The heart and mind feel kept
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
There seems no hope for salvation
The poison works to prise apart
All the gleaming pieces
That make up a beating heart
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Noxious fumes cascade into fire
New waves run across the face
Swells brought back to life
The dark miasma is replaced
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
Sparkling waters as before
Warm beams plumb the soul
Clarity has been restored
And the heart and mind are whole
Like nothing will ever be the same
The soul starts to lose its way...
Until the scintilla came
And cleansed with searing flame
This is the first time I've ever published my own work. BIG moment for me. Thanks for reading :)
Now I just need to get Till Lindemann to come along and Germanise this. Fuck, that would rock. He'd do a much better job.
[NB: If this post seems to have changed since you first saw it I apologise. I couldn't stop fixing stuff.]
[discuss]
2009-04-21
LYRICS: Okay...
I really didn't think it would be that easy. I shifted off the visualisation I was developing without success, and staying with the same meaning switched to totally different imagery. Suddenly, I have four lines I can live with...for now:
There's a stain in the water
An it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Sweeeeet.
[discuss]
There's a stain in the water
An it's spreading with the tide
Giving off vaporous fumes
The tainted waves subside
Sweeeeet.
[discuss]
Argh! Beauty Becomes Dross!
All the wonderful imagery I've had in my head for days is completely failing to translate into words. Well no, it's translating alright, but into really, really shitty words. It's not working. I'm going to have to stop and re-think this.
I'll cleanse my mental palate with something else for a while and see if that helps. Disheartening? Try torturous.
[discuss]
I'll cleanse my mental palate with something else for a while and see if that helps. Disheartening? Try torturous.
[discuss]
2009-04-20
Tangent & R-r-r-random Thought
I've been working on some original lyrics of my own, but just in my head, and today on Facebook someone in a Rammstein group suggested a team effort to produce a song. Now, this is just going to be a fun thing for some perfect strangers to put together, and as we're all Rammstein fans and the lyrics I've been foodling around with are definitely Rammstein-inspired I figure I should probably make a bit more of an effort and polish the turd.
This means probably a week or more of LILT going a bit static, so I'm going to post my work on this sideline on here. It's not a LILT, since it's not a rework of Till's lyrics, but it's semi-relevant.
On a totally different subject, I've decided to share a weird little personal fact with you regarding a reaction I have to Rammstein music. I'm sure you're all very aware of the tendency Lindemann has to roll some of his Rs beyond the ordinary. I've noticed that Germans tend to use what to English-speakers sounds like either movement at the back of the throat or a soft D to sound out Rs. I assume there are conventions that dictate how the R sounds in a given context. Lindemann, on the other hand, sprinkles his singing with full-on rolling Rs, which kind of sound like he's trying to purr, only in full voice.
This particular mannerism is one I associate very strongly with my morfar (maternal grandfather), Bo. From a very young age he used to do the same thing when talking to me, as emphasis, particularly when he spoke Swedish to me but also in English. This isn't a Swedish speech mannerism in the general way, just as it's not the norm in German, as far as I know, but it was so very distinctly 'morfar' that I get a small bubble of happy when I hear anyone making this sound.
My mother's father was a huge influence on my life, and I adored him. I miss him every day, and still to this day can't consistently roll my Rs that way, though I have to admit that I don't try to as often now he's dead. He used to tease me about my inability to roll my Rs, and would ramp up the R-rolling in response to my sad failure. When he was over in NZ he'd feed me chocolate when I managed it (and when I did anything else he liked, like laughing at his jokes or giving him a good answer to a question), and that kind of thing sticks in the mind. It's a good memory.
I've never come across anyone else who rolls their Rs like this, so I naturally associate it only with this one person. This is why I feel a little internal smile come on every time I hear Lindemann purring; the kind of smile you only ever get from a private joke.
How weird is that? Associating an East German metal (?) vocalist with a man who didn't sing, would probably hate the music, and was from a different generation and culture, even if he did love German cars, is probably a stretch but it works for me.
[discuss]
This means probably a week or more of LILT going a bit static, so I'm going to post my work on this sideline on here. It's not a LILT, since it's not a rework of Till's lyrics, but it's semi-relevant.
On a totally different subject, I've decided to share a weird little personal fact with you regarding a reaction I have to Rammstein music. I'm sure you're all very aware of the tendency Lindemann has to roll some of his Rs beyond the ordinary. I've noticed that Germans tend to use what to English-speakers sounds like either movement at the back of the throat or a soft D to sound out Rs. I assume there are conventions that dictate how the R sounds in a given context. Lindemann, on the other hand, sprinkles his singing with full-on rolling Rs, which kind of sound like he's trying to purr, only in full voice.
This particular mannerism is one I associate very strongly with my morfar (maternal grandfather), Bo. From a very young age he used to do the same thing when talking to me, as emphasis, particularly when he spoke Swedish to me but also in English. This isn't a Swedish speech mannerism in the general way, just as it's not the norm in German, as far as I know, but it was so very distinctly 'morfar' that I get a small bubble of happy when I hear anyone making this sound.
My mother's father was a huge influence on my life, and I adored him. I miss him every day, and still to this day can't consistently roll my Rs that way, though I have to admit that I don't try to as often now he's dead. He used to tease me about my inability to roll my Rs, and would ramp up the R-rolling in response to my sad failure. When he was over in NZ he'd feed me chocolate when I managed it (and when I did anything else he liked, like laughing at his jokes or giving him a good answer to a question), and that kind of thing sticks in the mind. It's a good memory.
I've never come across anyone else who rolls their Rs like this, so I naturally associate it only with this one person. This is why I feel a little internal smile come on every time I hear Lindemann purring; the kind of smile you only ever get from a private joke.
How weird is that? Associating an East German metal (?) vocalist with a man who didn't sing, would probably hate the music, and was from a different generation and culture, even if he did love German cars, is probably a stretch but it works for me.
[discuss]
2009-04-17
LILT: Zerstören 2.0
Now I've had more time to get my head around the cadence of the original I've managed to get my lyrics closer to the source:
I look after my own turf
But break down yours to rock and dirt
Consuming, entombing
Defacing, and wasting
From inside me a great greed sings
I feel the need to ruin things
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
I want to break all that you've built
I tear it down and don't feel guilt
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
My discipline ought to impress
I aim to cause so much distress
I'm wrecking, dissecting, rejecting
Destroying
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
All this drive is inside me
I am on a wrecking spree
In me there is a better side
but he's along for the ride
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm taking, and breaking
I'm tearing, and searing
I'm wrecking, dissecting
I'm crashing, and smashing
And rending, and bending
Defacing, and wasting
I'm spitting, and kicking
Er traf ein Mädchen, das war blind
Geteiltes Leid und gleichgesinnt
Sah einen Stern vom Himmel gehen
Und wünschte sich sie könnte sehn
Sie hat die Augen aufgemacht
Verließ ihn noch zur selben Nacht
[lyrics][discuss]
I look after my own turf
But break down yours to rock and dirt
Consuming, entombing
Defacing, and wasting
From inside me a great greed sings
I feel the need to ruin things
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
I want to break all that you've built
I tear it down and don't feel guilt
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
My discipline ought to impress
I aim to cause so much distress
I'm wrecking, dissecting, rejecting
Destroying
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
All this drive is inside me
I am on a wrecking spree
In me there is a better side
but he's along for the ride
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
I'm the destroyer
Just so long as it's not mine
Mine!
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm taking, and breaking
I'm tearing, and searing
I'm wrecking, dissecting
I'm crashing, and smashing
And rending, and bending
Defacing, and wasting
I'm spitting, and kicking
Er traf ein Mädchen, das war blind
Geteiltes Leid und gleichgesinnt
Sah einen Stern vom Himmel gehen
Und wünschte sich sie könnte sehn
Sie hat die Augen aufgemacht
Verließ ihn noch zur selben Nacht
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-04-15
Tinting My World a Vivid Shade of Rammstein
I've had my head in these songs so much lately that I've gained some new perspective on how people go through life.
I did notice when I first started work on Rein Raus that I was looking at sex and people a bit differently. Granted, it's fine thinking about sex for hours at a time, but thinking about sex as per someone else's point of view is just weird. I've never looked at sex as a man might, let alone a man like that depicted in Rein Raus. He's a user with a very casual attitude to his partners, and I basically stepped on board that mindset and went with it. I have friends with similar characteristics, and I suddenly know them much better, I think. It's certainly been interesting working on that song, and I have really enjoyed the adjustments I've had to make to my own perspective.
Tier and Zerstören are a whole different kettle of fish. I can get my head into the right space, but I don't particularly enjoy it. While interesting it's very dark and very lonely. I just can't sympathise with Tier in the least, and I resent Zerstören's ugliness. I guess that's a good thing, given the evils of each. That said, I'd rather spend my life inside the mind drawn in Zerstören than go anywhere near Tier.
I think anyone who isn't a flawless God of Love can sympathise with Feuer und Wasser and Ohne Dich, and Du Hast for that matter. They're love songs, and though the message varies widely the underlying basis for each does not. It's a fairly ubiquitous.
As as aside, I've been contemplating picking up Klavier, but have hit a block. In verse three Jeremy has the following translation:
I hear mother pleading
father is beating me
In the booklet that comes with the CD those lines are transcribed as:
I heard her mother plea
Her father struck out at me
Grammatical issues aside, the latter is clearly defining whose parents they are. The translation of the original German from Jeremy, an adept German-speaker, does not, unless it's to say they're the speaker's parents. Until I know for sure which Till Lindemann intended (never mind the technicalities) I can't work on this song. The implications of that parenthood are too broad. Did Lindemann write the translations in the CD case?
That question is really bothering me. I need more information that I can't get from anyone but the author, who is so far from likely to ever see this that I think I'm going to miss out on Klavier. I find that sad.
I've got Rammstein in my mind, but no real world connection. Fuck!
[discuss]
I did notice when I first started work on Rein Raus that I was looking at sex and people a bit differently. Granted, it's fine thinking about sex for hours at a time, but thinking about sex as per someone else's point of view is just weird. I've never looked at sex as a man might, let alone a man like that depicted in Rein Raus. He's a user with a very casual attitude to his partners, and I basically stepped on board that mindset and went with it. I have friends with similar characteristics, and I suddenly know them much better, I think. It's certainly been interesting working on that song, and I have really enjoyed the adjustments I've had to make to my own perspective.
Tier and Zerstören are a whole different kettle of fish. I can get my head into the right space, but I don't particularly enjoy it. While interesting it's very dark and very lonely. I just can't sympathise with Tier in the least, and I resent Zerstören's ugliness. I guess that's a good thing, given the evils of each. That said, I'd rather spend my life inside the mind drawn in Zerstören than go anywhere near Tier.
I think anyone who isn't a flawless God of Love can sympathise with Feuer und Wasser and Ohne Dich, and Du Hast for that matter. They're love songs, and though the message varies widely the underlying basis for each does not. It's a fairly ubiquitous.
As as aside, I've been contemplating picking up Klavier, but have hit a block. In verse three Jeremy has the following translation:
I hear mother pleading
father is beating me
In the booklet that comes with the CD those lines are transcribed as:
I heard her mother plea
Her father struck out at me
Grammatical issues aside, the latter is clearly defining whose parents they are. The translation of the original German from Jeremy, an adept German-speaker, does not, unless it's to say they're the speaker's parents. Until I know for sure which Till Lindemann intended (never mind the technicalities) I can't work on this song. The implications of that parenthood are too broad. Did Lindemann write the translations in the CD case?
That question is really bothering me. I need more information that I can't get from anyone but the author, who is so far from likely to ever see this that I think I'm going to miss out on Klavier. I find that sad.
I've got Rammstein in my mind, but no real world connection. Fuck!
[discuss]
LILT: Du Hast 1.1
I've revised Du Hast's opening lines, but think it might change the meaning too far. It does work, thematically, but the purists won't like it:
You
You have
You have me
You have me today
You have me today but I will not stay
Do you vow, till death do you part
To be faithful with all your heart
No
Do you vow, when her you do part
To love her when things get too hard
No
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm not sure whether I can keep it like this.
You
You have
You have me
You have me today
You have me today but I will not stay
Do you vow, till death do you part
To be faithful with all your heart
No
Do you vow, when her you do part
To love her when things get too hard
No
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm not sure whether I can keep it like this.
LILT: Zerstören 1.4
I look after my own turf
But break down yours to rock and dirt
Consuming, entombing
Defacing, and wasting
From inside me a great greed sings
I feel the need to ruin things
I'm the destroyer
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
It's so insane you have this much
I want to take all that you touch
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
I'm 'here to help', don't make a sound
I'm the police, don't hang around
I'm wrecking, dissecting, rejecting
Destroying
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
In me there is a better side
but he's along for the ride
I really want to tap your line
When I'm done it will be mine
I'm the destroyer
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm taking, and breaking
I'm tearing, and searing
I'm wrecking, dissecting
I'm crashing, and smashing
And rending, and bending
Defacing, and wasting
I'm spitting, and kicking
Er traf ein Mädchen, das war blind
Geteiltes Leid und gleichgesinnt
Sah einen Stern vom Himmel gehen
Und wünschte sich sie könnte sehn
Sie hat die Augen aufgemacht
Verließ ihn noch zur selben Nacht
[lyrics][discuss]
The first two lines of verse two are not really working for me, so they'll need to be replaced next.
But break down yours to rock and dirt
Consuming, entombing
Defacing, and wasting
From inside me a great greed sings
I feel the need to ruin things
I'm the destroyer
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
It's so insane you have this much
I want to take all that you touch
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
I'm 'here to help', don't make a sound
I'm the police, don't hang around
I'm wrecking, dissecting, rejecting
Destroying
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
In me there is a better side
but he's along for the ride
I really want to tap your line
When I'm done it will be mine
I'm the destroyer
I will take all that I can
I'm the destroyer
I will wreck all that I can
Mine!
I'm ripping, and stripping
I'm taking, and breaking
I'm tearing, and searing
I'm wrecking, dissecting
I'm crashing, and smashing
And rending, and bending
Defacing, and wasting
I'm spitting, and kicking
Er traf ein Mädchen, das war blind
Geteiltes Leid und gleichgesinnt
Sah einen Stern vom Himmel gehen
Und wünschte sich sie könnte sehn
Sie hat die Augen aufgemacht
Verließ ihn noch zur selben Nacht
[lyrics][discuss]
The first two lines of verse two are not really working for me, so they'll need to be replaced next.
2009-04-14
LILT: Feuer & Wasser 2.2
The first verse has been gutted:
Her stroke's beauty to behold
It lets me see into her soul
What to hope for, what to fear
How to her I must appear *
She exudes enormous heat
Which explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
* [so tempted to make this 'How she looks from the rear']
Her stroke's beauty to behold
It lets me see into her soul
What to hope for, what to fear
How to her I must appear *
She exudes enormous heat
Which explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
* [so tempted to make this 'How she looks from the rear']
2009-04-13
LILT: Feuer & Wasser 2.1
I'm still having trouble coming up with a new opening line for this, but took out 'breast', and changed 'overtaken' to 'overwhelmed' in line three. I've also changed the last line of the 'wet skin' verse, and switched out 'understand' for 'you see' before the last chorus:
Her stroke's beauty to behold
It lets me see into her soul
I'm overwhelmed by her allure
I pursue a longed-for overture
From her loin comes a great heat
It explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
Her stroke's beauty to behold
It lets me see into her soul
I'm overwhelmed by her allure
I pursue a longed-for overture
From her loin comes a great heat
It explodes and then retreats
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Wet skin's beauty to behold
It vows to swallow and enfold
As her long legs move apart
The darkest cavern of her heart
Reveals to me her shadowed fire
A black abyss for my desire
She glides by me without a glance
I'm her shadow, without a chance
I have no hope left and should have none, 'cause
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
Her strokes cause waves that surge right through me
Yet every move from her eschews me
I reach for her with cold wet hands
And she will forever elude me
You see
Fire and water can never be one
There's no fusion, they will not succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
LILT: Rein Raus 2.2
I've streamlined the 'deeper' verse somewhat:
I am the rider
You are my mount
When I'm on you
Your fate is bound
You moan
I soothe you
But the beast rampages through
Rein Raus
I am the hunter
You are my prey
I had you running
Now you're at bay
You hit the wall
I go straight through
And all is right when I open you
Rein Raus
Deeper, deeper
Shout it! Shout it loud!
Deeper, deeper
I'm pounding through and hit your core
And all the savage beasts start to roar
I'm finished with you
You're now free
I dismount
I have to leave
Others wait that I must run
All're in my ceaseless hunt
Rein Raus
Rein (deeper)
Raus (deeper)
[lyrics][discuss]
I am the rider
You are my mount
When I'm on you
Your fate is bound
You moan
I soothe you
But the beast rampages through
Rein Raus
I am the hunter
You are my prey
I had you running
Now you're at bay
You hit the wall
I go straight through
And all is right when I open you
Rein Raus
Deeper, deeper
Shout it! Shout it loud!
Deeper, deeper
I'm pounding through and hit your core
And all the savage beasts start to roar
I'm finished with you
You're now free
I dismount
I have to leave
Others wait that I must run
All're in my ceaseless hunt
Rein Raus
Rein (deeper)
Raus (deeper)
[lyrics][discuss]
Indomitable Buck
If you've read this site back to the beginning you might remember me discussing the characters the band members adopt on stage, in particular Flake's "indomitable rabbit buck". I have a rabbit buck myself, called Heikki, who is very gentle, affectionate, and rather attached to me.
On Easter Friday my rabbit and that belonging to my husband had a fight, and as my much smaller rabbit was getting the shit kicked out of him I decided to try and extract him from the fray. Unfortunately I didn't tell him first, and he thought I was the other rabbit and bit into my hand. He then, while still holding onto me, kicked out twice, hard. He was contrite as soon as he realised it was me, but the damage was done. He ripped a hole in my hand that I couldn't cope with, and I ended up at the local hospital being super-glued shut [while huffing nitrous], given a shot, and put on antibiotics.
I guess what I'm trying to say is my point about Flake's on-stage character is a good one. Never underestimate your prey. Never write off anyone (or thing) based on superficial characteristics. Never disparage geeks. Never push someone around until you know what they're capable of. You'll just get reamed, and deservedly so.
[discuss]
Revision
I've been looking over my work. To be perfectly frank there is only one verse, amongst all of those I'm reworked, that I'm totally happy with, lyrically, and that's the hunter verse in Rein Raus (one of my first):
I am the hunter
You are my prey
I had you running
Now you're at bay
You hit the wall
I go straight through
And all is right when I open you
With that in mind I am mainly going to focus on the songs I've already begun work on (See the LILTS list on the right side of the page) for a while. I might start another one, but I think I need to concentrate on quality over quantity with this.
I think a lot of people probably think I'm a bit barmy for doing this, and they might be right. I'm really enjoying it though. I've never done anything like this before, always preferring to create something new from scratch, and somehow I always peter out in the end, and never do anything with it. My paintings, my novel, which I had almost finished, my own poetry; every single one of them palled.
The fact that I'm publishing the LILT project probably helps keep me interested, because I have someone other than myself to please. This means I have to set my standards high, and be constantly going back to scrutinise what I'm doing. That's a good thing.
Influencing my standards is also the possibility that the original author might see this at some point. It would be mortifying to do a shitty job in that case, especially when I love his work so much.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this is it might be a bit boring reading this page for a while, as there won't be a lot of new songs coming up. It's going to be rehashes of those I've started, with maybe another thrown in to mix things up. I do intend to keep posting my ruminations on the subject of Rammstein and their meanings. If you know something I don't, or think I'm hopelessly lost, please do comment or email me, as Rammgirl did. I'm happy to be corrected, but would hate to screw things up.
[discuss]
I am the hunter
You are my prey
I had you running
Now you're at bay
You hit the wall
I go straight through
And all is right when I open you
With that in mind I am mainly going to focus on the songs I've already begun work on (See the LILTS list on the right side of the page) for a while. I might start another one, but I think I need to concentrate on quality over quantity with this.
I think a lot of people probably think I'm a bit barmy for doing this, and they might be right. I'm really enjoying it though. I've never done anything like this before, always preferring to create something new from scratch, and somehow I always peter out in the end, and never do anything with it. My paintings, my novel, which I had almost finished, my own poetry; every single one of them palled.
The fact that I'm publishing the LILT project probably helps keep me interested, because I have someone other than myself to please. This means I have to set my standards high, and be constantly going back to scrutinise what I'm doing. That's a good thing.
Influencing my standards is also the possibility that the original author might see this at some point. It would be mortifying to do a shitty job in that case, especially when I love his work so much.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this is it might be a bit boring reading this page for a while, as there won't be a lot of new songs coming up. It's going to be rehashes of those I've started, with maybe another thrown in to mix things up. I do intend to keep posting my ruminations on the subject of Rammstein and their meanings. If you know something I don't, or think I'm hopelessly lost, please do comment or email me, as Rammgirl did. I'm happy to be corrected, but would hate to screw things up.
[discuss]
2009-04-12
LILT: Du Hast 1.0
I went with the impulse to write better English lyrics for Du Hast. Naturally the word-play in the original German can't carry over, but I did manage to get one trick of my own in there, even if it is a tragically basic:
You
You have
You have me
You have me at bay
You have me at bay but I will not say
Do you vow, till death do you part
To be faithful with all your heart
No
Do you vow, when her you do part
To love her when things get too hard
No
[lyrics][discuss]
You
You have
You have me
You have me at bay
You have me at bay but I will not say
Do you vow, till death do you part
To be faithful with all your heart
No
Do you vow, when her you do part
To love her when things get too hard
No
[lyrics][discuss]
LILT: Tier 1.1
How's he defined
What's in his mind
The man who can't tell beast
Apart from his own kind
What
His own young daughter's soul
He burns for heat like coal
He's onto her like a dog
He swallows her down whole
What made you
What drives you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
Where is her line
What's in her mind
The woman who can't tell beast
Apart from her own kind
She writes out in his blood
A dark letter to her youth
Lines bring out all past truth
When her father was all brute
What made you
What drives you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
[lyrics][discuss]
What's in his mind
The man who can't tell beast
Apart from his own kind
What
His own young daughter's soul
He burns for heat like coal
He's onto her like a dog
He swallows her down whole
What made you
What drives you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
Where is her line
What's in her mind
The woman who can't tell beast
Apart from her own kind
She writes out in his blood
A dark letter to her youth
Lines bring out all past truth
When her father was all brute
What made you
What drives you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-04-09
Ich Will Video
Blimey! The Ich Will video works as well as the Du Hast one. It's awesome!
The media darlings in the video don't quite mesh with the insane crap that the media publishes about Rammstein in reality, but the crowd response is probably bang on, and the general madness that surrounds high profile personalities like Rammstein is nailed. There are some pretty mindless Rammstein fans out there, and the press is always hungry to crucify people like these men.
Watching live footage of them perform with crowds singing along, their faces rapt, then body language oriented onto the stage, as though they're trying to put themselves up there with the band, gives me the shivers. I don't know that I wouldn't be the same if I got to see them live, but it's still scary to watch. People are driven by the music and the performances of the band, to the extent that they seem almost mesmerised.
I do like the personalities these guys adopt. Their stage personas are good, and the bad-boys in the video are those to a new level, and with some changes. They're ALL bad to the core in the video.
If you haven't seen this video it's all over YouTube, so check it out. The same goes for the Du Hast one.
Regarding Ich Will, I won't translate this one. I think it's right in German. It will break it to try and reproduce it in English.
[discuss]
The media darlings in the video don't quite mesh with the insane crap that the media publishes about Rammstein in reality, but the crowd response is probably bang on, and the general madness that surrounds high profile personalities like Rammstein is nailed. There are some pretty mindless Rammstein fans out there, and the press is always hungry to crucify people like these men.
Watching live footage of them perform with crowds singing along, their faces rapt, then body language oriented onto the stage, as though they're trying to put themselves up there with the band, gives me the shivers. I don't know that I wouldn't be the same if I got to see them live, but it's still scary to watch. People are driven by the music and the performances of the band, to the extent that they seem almost mesmerised.
I do like the personalities these guys adopt. Their stage personas are good, and the bad-boys in the video are those to a new level, and with some changes. They're ALL bad to the core in the video.
If you haven't seen this video it's all over YouTube, so check it out. The same goes for the Du Hast one.
Regarding Ich Will, I won't translate this one. I think it's right in German. It will break it to try and reproduce it in English.
[discuss]
Rammstein on Film
I'm not a fan of music videos. They're generally tacky and seem to be used to make up for a lack of real imagery in the lyrics, i.e. I can't write lyrics for shit, so here's a little movie to make up for the horrible shortcomings of the song. They're sometimes great films in their own right and are let down by the accompanying song, or they're a bit crap, and detract from it. Now and then you get a really good one that harmonises with the song, but doesn't alter it, either for the better or the worse, but that's rare.
I've watched a few Rammstein videos today. The Du Hast video stands out for me. It has a fairly obvious message: The band is a unit. The woman maybe represents the fact that Rammstein will not be Yokoed (poor Yoko; she's going to die long before that [ab]use of her name fades away), or otherwise weakened by external influence. There's also a slightly sinister feel of conditioning or brainwashing, which naturally doesn't apply in reality, but does darken the story nicely.
It's also a beautiful piece of film. I'm seriously impressed. I've watched it over a few times to take in the detail, and kept enjoying it each time. The band get their message across, the filming is great, the chick in it rocks, and the song and the film work together, without the song being changed in any real way by seeing the video.
The message I've always got from the German song is 'you have me', as in "you've got me, so if you need anything here I am". A bond was implied. That's down to poor understanding of German. Then I worked out the message is a contradiction of that, with the refused marriage vows hammering it home. I like it in German. The puns rock, and the refusal amuses me.
On the other hand the English lyrics are a bit crap. They make no sense and don't sound as good. I've thought about doing my own translation of Du Hast, but can't decide if that would be stupid or not. I'd certainly like to wipe the English version of the song that has been recorded off all cover play-lists, ever. I don't want to match it with another bad idea though.
I'll think about this some more.
[discuss]
I've watched a few Rammstein videos today. The Du Hast video stands out for me. It has a fairly obvious message: The band is a unit. The woman maybe represents the fact that Rammstein will not be Yokoed (poor Yoko; she's going to die long before that [ab]use of her name fades away), or otherwise weakened by external influence. There's also a slightly sinister feel of conditioning or brainwashing, which naturally doesn't apply in reality, but does darken the story nicely.
It's also a beautiful piece of film. I'm seriously impressed. I've watched it over a few times to take in the detail, and kept enjoying it each time. The band get their message across, the filming is great, the chick in it rocks, and the song and the film work together, without the song being changed in any real way by seeing the video.
The message I've always got from the German song is 'you have me', as in "you've got me, so if you need anything here I am". A bond was implied. That's down to poor understanding of German. Then I worked out the message is a contradiction of that, with the refused marriage vows hammering it home. I like it in German. The puns rock, and the refusal amuses me.
On the other hand the English lyrics are a bit crap. They make no sense and don't sound as good. I've thought about doing my own translation of Du Hast, but can't decide if that would be stupid or not. I'd certainly like to wipe the English version of the song that has been recorded off all cover play-lists, ever. I don't want to match it with another bad idea though.
I'll think about this some more.
[discuss]
2009-04-05
LILT: Ohne Dich 1.0
This is one of my favourites. It has to be one of the best love songs I've ever heard, both lyrically and musically. It's stunning:
I stand alone amongst the firs
This place is where I last saw her
But the land wears night's darkened hood
And all the paths fade away for good
Here only empty, dark trees soar
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you all hope has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I count the time I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true
Under branches down in the drains
It's gone silent aside from the rain
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you all hope has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I count the time I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm sure I'll annoy a few people with this one, as I'm betting people who don't generally like Rammstein will love this track, and Rammstein fans will be fairly obsessive about it. If I annoy you that's your problem. Don't read my work.
I stand alone amongst the firs
This place is where I last saw her
But the land wears night's darkened hood
And all the paths fade away for good
Here only empty, dark trees soar
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you all hope has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I count the time I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true
Under branches down in the drains
It's gone silent aside from the rain
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you all hope has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I count the time I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm sure I'll annoy a few people with this one, as I'm betting people who don't generally like Rammstein will love this track, and Rammstein fans will be fairly obsessive about it. If I annoy you that's your problem. Don't read my work.
2009-04-03
Strange But True: Open Letter to Christoph 'Doom' Schneider
~
/net_longshot=1
I doubt you'll ever read this, but if you do happen to find this in your googlings I have a friend trying to get in touch with you who you'll probably be glad to hook up with. You don't know him personally, but you'll know exactly who he is once you hear the name, so get in touch if you see this.
Note that you will need to be able to demonstrate you're actually CS. Yeah, that's the strange bit.
All of it's true, apart from the CVAR at the top :)
[discuss]
/net_longshot=1
I doubt you'll ever read this, but if you do happen to find this in your googlings I have a friend trying to get in touch with you who you'll probably be glad to hook up with. You don't know him personally, but you'll know exactly who he is once you hear the name, so get in touch if you see this.
Note that you will need to be able to demonstrate you're actually CS. Yeah, that's the strange bit.
All of it's true, apart from the CVAR at the top :)
[discuss]
2009-04-01
LILT: Tier 1.0
Tier has been widely translated as 'animal', including in the source material I'm using, but I've gone with 'beast' in my lyrics. It fits the short, sharp nature of the song better:
What's on his mind
What's on his mind
The man who can't tell beast
Apart from his own kind
What
His own young daughter's soul
He burns for heat like coal
He's onto her like a dog
He swallows her down whole
What you do
What moves you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
What's on her mind
What's on her mind
The woman who can't tell beast
Apart from her own kind
She writes out in his blood
A dark letter to her youth
Lines bring out all past truth
When her father was the brute
What you do
What moves you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
[lyrics][discuss]
As ever, this is a work-in-progress.
What's on his mind
What's on his mind
The man who can't tell beast
Apart from his own kind
What
His own young daughter's soul
He burns for heat like coal
He's onto her like a dog
He swallows her down whole
What you do
What moves you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
What's on her mind
What's on her mind
The woman who can't tell beast
Apart from her own kind
She writes out in his blood
A dark letter to her youth
Lines bring out all past truth
When her father was the brute
What you do
What moves you
What are you
Apart from a
Beast
[lyrics][discuss]
As ever, this is a work-in-progress.
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