This is my Ice-breaker piece, adapted to be sung to the music of Dalai Lama. It's about and from the point of view of Rammstein and Rammstein's fans. The main vocals are Rammstein, and the choral lines (in square brackets) are the fans:
It rides upon a sea of souls
The ship of stone above the shoals
Bearing dark and lurid dreams
So clear yet never what they seem
All on board have parts to play
To evoke feeling their own way
The living sea carries us all
In thrall
Swells bisected by our prow
Chimeras flit across our bows
The Tillerman plots the course
His mind an infinite source
Your world will soon seem exotic
Cruel, dark, and erotic
Painting forms on your minds' sky
Brave old ideas redefined
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controling tides that move your feet
Everyone just wants release
Swells bisected by our prow
Chimeras flit across our bows
The sea will surge as we dictate
Hard rhythms you can't escape
Emotions timed by our refrain
We will keep the sea contained
Driving tunes from heaven and hell
We ride the cusp of the swell
[Painting forms on your mind
Brave ideas redefined
The sea
is free
but always submits
To the
will of
the crew of the ship]
We show evil as well as good
We make ourselves misunderstood
Our sea can feel what is true
To the rest we can't get through
Swells bisected by our prow
Chimeras flit across our bows
Currents flow out from our beat
Pulsing through from head to feet
Emotional control complete
It rides on a sea of souls
This stone ship above the shoals
[Carrying dark and lurid dreams
Clear yet never what they seem
The sea
is free
but always submits
To the
will of
the crew of the ship]
It rides upon a sea of souls
Our stone ship above the shoals
Carries dark and lurid dreams
Swells bisected by our prow
Chimeras flit past our bows
The sea will surge as we dictate
Hard rhythms you can't escape
We sail
[The sea
is free
but always submits
The sea
is free
but always submits
The sea
is free
but always submits
To the
will of
the crew of the ship]
[discuss]
2009-05-31
Adapting Ice-Breaker
I've been thinking about Ice-Breaker. It's about Rammstein and their fans. It feels like a poem, but I want it to feel like a song, so I'm thinking of adapting it to work with one of Rammstein's songs (how many people will that piss off?). I just need to work out which one now...
[discuss]
[discuss]
LILT: Ohne Dich 3.1
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 my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true
Under branches down in the drains
Deathly silence endures aside from the rain
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true without you
Without you
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
[lyrics][discuss]
I had to push it...
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 my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true
Under branches down in the drains
Deathly silence endures aside from the rain
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true without you
Without you
And the need to breathe becomes a flaw
Woe is me
And the birds will sing no more
Without you my self has flown
Without you
With you I'm also alone
Without you
Without you I mark the hours I'm without you
With you time's standing still
And nothing's true without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
[lyrics][discuss]
I had to push it...
LYRICS: Icebreaker 1.3
There it rides on a sea of souls
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by the heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have parts to play
To evoke feelings, each in their way
But the living sea carries them all
Seeking a release, hearts enthralled
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
The man at the tiller plots the course
His mind provides an infinite source
Painting forms on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
His stories invoke the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
The whole crew keep us contained
Emotions timed by their refrain
The sea will surge as they dictate
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They keep us riding the cusp of the swell
By showing us evil as well as good
They find themselves misunderstood
Though their ocean feels what is true
Outsiders find it a heady brew
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
All on board have parts to play
To evoke feelings, each in their way
But the living sea carries them all
Seeking a release, hearts enthralled
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[discuss]
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by the heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have parts to play
To evoke feelings, each in their way
But the living sea carries them all
Seeking a release, hearts enthralled
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
The man at the tiller plots the course
His mind provides an infinite source
Painting forms on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
His stories invoke the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
The whole crew keep us contained
Emotions timed by their refrain
The sea will surge as they dictate
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They keep us riding the cusp of the swell
By showing us evil as well as good
They find themselves misunderstood
Though their ocean feels what is true
Outsiders find it a heady brew
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
All on board have parts to play
To evoke feelings, each in their way
But the living sea carries them all
Seeking a release, hearts enthralled
The water is wild but always submits
To the will of the crew of the ship
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[discuss]
Stomp
Me being a bit of a bass and rhythm freak I leapt at a chance to see Stomp here in Wellington. It lived up to my expectations.
This concept of making music and percussive rhythm and bass with the stage, every-day objects, and the body isn't new, but the package of the Stomp show is pretty distinct from classic tap dance, and percussion and musical production. Everyone's aware of tap dancing, playing spoons, clapping the hands, slapping the body, etc, but building an entire production out of the sort of stuff you'd find in or around a dumpster, and a small crew of very fit, taltented performers, with no musical support whatsoever is rather funky.
It's all about timing, fitness, team-work, and clever design. Timing is vital, both for the sound, the look, and the comedy, and believe me this is a comedy show. It's loud, funny, and clever. If you get a chance to see it do so. I highly recommend it.
[discuss]
This concept of making music and percussive rhythm and bass with the stage, every-day objects, and the body isn't new, but the package of the Stomp show is pretty distinct from classic tap dance, and percussion and musical production. Everyone's aware of tap dancing, playing spoons, clapping the hands, slapping the body, etc, but building an entire production out of the sort of stuff you'd find in or around a dumpster, and a small crew of very fit, taltented performers, with no musical support whatsoever is rather funky.
It's all about timing, fitness, team-work, and clever design. Timing is vital, both for the sound, the look, and the comedy, and believe me this is a comedy show. It's loud, funny, and clever. If you get a chance to see it do so. I highly recommend it.
[discuss]
2009-05-28
Without Rhyme or Reason
I really like this latest one. I have to say that I'm really not sure what Seeman is about. I'm sure those of you who do (or think you do) will give me hell for that remark. I like the song though. I like it for the same main reasons I like all Rammstein's songs: lyrical rhythm and fluency.
I liked Sehnsucht (the album) when I used to listen to it without knowing what the lyrics meant. I didn't have any translations, and I don't speak German, so it was all about the aesthetics of what Lindemann sang, rather than the images he drew verbally.
With Seeman I know what the words mean, but I still get more from the rhythm and flow than from that meaning of the words. This isn't entirely because I don't understand what Till's trying to say with his imagery, though that is definitely a factor. The German flow and the cadence are pretty damned cool though. I've tried to reproduce that in English, and will keep working on it to improve the result.
I also like that it doesn't have a rhyme formula, so whichever word works best for the rhythm, sound, and meaning may be used. Rhyme is a huge restriction. I'm sure I'm going to make a lot of changes over time, as I find better words, simply because the options are much broader than when you have to follow rhyming structure.
[discuss]
I liked Sehnsucht (the album) when I used to listen to it without knowing what the lyrics meant. I didn't have any translations, and I don't speak German, so it was all about the aesthetics of what Lindemann sang, rather than the images he drew verbally.
With Seeman I know what the words mean, but I still get more from the rhythm and flow than from that meaning of the words. This isn't entirely because I don't understand what Till's trying to say with his imagery, though that is definitely a factor. The German flow and the cadence are pretty damned cool though. I've tried to reproduce that in English, and will keep working on it to improve the result.
I also like that it doesn't have a rhyme formula, so whichever word works best for the rhythm, sound, and meaning may be used. Rhyme is a huge restriction. I'm sure I'm going to make a lot of changes over time, as I find better words, simply because the options are much broader than when you have to follow rhyming structure.
[discuss]
LILT: Seeman 1.0
Come in my boat
A storm comes and
Night's falling now
Where will you go
You're so alone
You drift away
Who shall hold your hand
When you are
Pulled underneath
Where will you go
So eternal
The chilling sea
Come in my boat
The sails are trim
In Autumn's wind
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
The daylight falls to one side
The autumn winds clear the streets
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
The twilight chases off the shadows
Time freezes and autumn's here
Come in my boat
The helmsman is
The yearning
Come in my boat
The best seaman
was once me
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
You take away the candle's flame
Time freezes and autumn's here
They only spoke about your mother
Only the night is so cruel
In the end I am alone
Time freezes
And I am cold
[lyrics][discuss]
A storm comes and
Night's falling now
Where will you go
You're so alone
You drift away
Who shall hold your hand
When you are
Pulled underneath
Where will you go
So eternal
The chilling sea
Come in my boat
The sails are trim
In Autumn's wind
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
The daylight falls to one side
The autumn winds clear the streets
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
The twilight chases off the shadows
Time freezes and autumn's here
Come in my boat
The helmsman is
The yearning
Come in my boat
The best seaman
was once me
Now there you stand beside the lantern
Tears streaking down your face
You take away the candle's flame
Time freezes and autumn's here
They only spoke about your mother
Only the night is so cruel
In the end I am alone
Time freezes
And I am cold
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-05-26
Forum Updated to 1.1.9
I've applied a security update to the forums, and it seems okay, but if you notice any weirdness please let me know, either via the board, or failing that by email. You can email me at lilt at rammstein dot me.
[discuss]
[discuss]
2009-05-25
LILT: Moskau 1.0
Это песня о самом красивом
городе в мире. Москва!
This grand old town is a whore
She has red marks on her forehead
And her teeth are made of gold
She's fat yet her beauty's bold
Her mouth goes in to bat
When I pay her for that
She strips when I pay her dues
This city keeps me on my toes
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
She is old, but still fair
I can not resist her
не могу устоять
Her old skin is made up
Her breasts are re-made up
построила вновь
She gets me hot, it's agony
I pay so she'll dance for me
я должен платить
She fucks me when I pay her toll
Most gorgeous town in the world
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
Раз, два, три.
I see that which you don't see
когда ты ночью крепко спишь
I see that which you don't see
когда ты предо мной лежишь
I see that which you don't see
когда со мною говоришь
I see that which you won't see
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
(repeat chorus)
[lyrics][discuss]
городе в мире. Москва!
This grand old town is a whore
She has red marks on her forehead
And her teeth are made of gold
She's fat yet her beauty's bold
Her mouth goes in to bat
When I pay her for that
She strips when I pay her dues
This city keeps me on my toes
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
She is old, but still fair
I can not resist her
не могу устоять
Her old skin is made up
Her breasts are re-made up
построила вновь
She gets me hot, it's agony
I pay so she'll dance for me
я должен платить
She fucks me when I pay her toll
Most gorgeous town in the world
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
Раз, два, три.
I see that which you don't see
когда ты ночью крепко спишь
I see that which you don't see
когда ты предо мной лежишь
I see that which you don't see
когда со мною говоришь
I see that which you won't see
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Раз, два, три!
Moscow
Посмотри!
Пионеры там идут,
песни Ленину поют.
(repeat chorus)
[lyrics][discuss]
Odd Question re. Pilgrim
Has anyone out there had any dealings with someone at Pilgrim Management called Hanna/Hannah/Hana?
[discuss]
[discuss]
2009-05-24
Note About Rhythm
I've been pulling together these adaptions of Till's work using English, but I've not really been taking into account how inconsistent and varied the language is in my notes and asides to you, the readers.
An example is the word 'forehead'. I pronounce it fohr'd, so it's pretty much one syllable. Naturally, I do understand that some people say it like four-head, two syllables, which take a bit longer to say, and probably completely arse up the rhythmic balance of line two in the last two verses of Mutter.
If you're reading through my LILTs while listening to the songs, and feel something's way out of whack please look at the words and consider whether or not there's more than one way to pronounce any of the words involved. There is a chance my pronunciation isn't the one you're immediately calling to mind when you read the LILT.
Also, some multi-syllabic words are truncated commonly, and I do rely on that in places. One example, 'thunderous', which is often said thund'rous, falls into this category.
Yes, this is cheating. I'm taking advantage of laziness and oddities in the English language, but hell, what on earth is poetic licence for, if not ripping your mother-tongue a new one now and then?
[discuss]
An example is the word 'forehead'. I pronounce it fohr'd, so it's pretty much one syllable. Naturally, I do understand that some people say it like four-head, two syllables, which take a bit longer to say, and probably completely arse up the rhythmic balance of line two in the last two verses of Mutter.
If you're reading through my LILTs while listening to the songs, and feel something's way out of whack please look at the words and consider whether or not there's more than one way to pronounce any of the words involved. There is a chance my pronunciation isn't the one you're immediately calling to mind when you read the LILT.
Also, some multi-syllabic words are truncated commonly, and I do rely on that in places. One example, 'thunderous', which is often said thund'rous, falls into this category.
Yes, this is cheating. I'm taking advantage of laziness and oddities in the English language, but hell, what on earth is poetic licence for, if not ripping your mother-tongue a new one now and then?
[discuss]
LYRICS: Rolling with the Blows 1.0
This really isn't Rammstein-inspired. It's more about community and resilience as positives, which can be applied to Rammstein and it's fans if you really want to stretch the imagery to its furthest extent. I'm posting this because I like the image, and may apply it to future, more pertinent work:
A single spike comes from the ground
No one hears its thunderous sound
At its heart the great canes roar
Soon a bamboo grove will soar
Starting small it climbs its route
So much force in this small shoot
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try and overcome
But these canes will not succumb
Soon after more shoots follow
They grow in girth, light and hollow
But there is huge strength in there
Bamboo bends but feels no fear
Never underestimate a cane
It can withstand any strain
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try to overcome
But these canes will not succumb
Battered by all the world can summon
The bamboo's heart is quite uncommon
Where other groves will be undone
These few shoots have just begun
Where one has weakness neighbours stand
Reinforcing it as a united band
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try to overcome
But these canes will not succumb
[discuss]
A single spike comes from the ground
No one hears its thunderous sound
At its heart the great canes roar
Soon a bamboo grove will soar
Starting small it climbs its route
So much force in this small shoot
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try and overcome
But these canes will not succumb
Soon after more shoots follow
They grow in girth, light and hollow
But there is huge strength in there
Bamboo bends but feels no fear
Never underestimate a cane
It can withstand any strain
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try to overcome
But these canes will not succumb
Battered by all the world can summon
The bamboo's heart is quite uncommon
Where other groves will be undone
These few shoots have just begun
Where one has weakness neighbours stand
Reinforcing it as a united band
Resilience engenders power
So much virtue in this tower
Winds may try to overcome
But these canes will not succumb
[discuss]
LILT: Du Riechst So Gut 1.0
This madness
Is a very narrow bridge
Reason and desire each end
I pursue you
Sunlight dazzles the mind
A blind babe crawling over
To where it can smell its mother
I locate you
The fresh trail crosses the bridge
Sweat droplets, your hot blood
I can't see through
I smell you, I sense you
A raptor screaming out its yen
Tracking you for miles by scent
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I pursue you
You smell so good
Soon I'll have you
Now you are mine
I wait until darkness falls
Then I touch your moist skin
Betray me not
Ah see how the bridge burns
Don't cry out or resist
Else it'll be demolished
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I pursue you
You smell so good
Soon I'll have you
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I reach for you
You smell so good
I have you now
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
[lyrics][discuss]
Clumsy, but it's a start.
Is a very narrow bridge
Reason and desire each end
I pursue you
Sunlight dazzles the mind
A blind babe crawling over
To where it can smell its mother
I locate you
The fresh trail crosses the bridge
Sweat droplets, your hot blood
I can't see through
I smell you, I sense you
A raptor screaming out its yen
Tracking you for miles by scent
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I pursue you
You smell so good
Soon I'll have you
Now you are mine
I wait until darkness falls
Then I touch your moist skin
Betray me not
Ah see how the bridge burns
Don't cry out or resist
Else it'll be demolished
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I pursue you
You smell so good
Soon I'll have you
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
You smell so good
I locate you
- So good – So good
I reach for you
You smell so good
I have you now
You smell so good
You smell so good
I chase after you
[lyrics][discuss]
Clumsy, but it's a start.
LILT: Amour 1.0
I've laid this out as it's sung on the album. It seems more sensible to do so, as the verses are muddled a bit in the actual recording (relative to Jeremy's translation):
Love is a feral beast
It inhales you as it seeks
Broken hearts will make its nest
It hunts when romance is at its best
It sucks hard on your lips
And burrows in through your ribs
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
It lashes out at me and feasts
A thousand arms around my chest
As it drags me to its nest
It eats me up, every part
And afterward retches me back out
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
It inhales you as it seeks
Broken hearts will make its nest
It hunts when romance is at its best
It eats me up, every part
And afterward retches me back out
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
And its trap is complete
On you its eyes will feast
Enthralled as its gaze hits
Please help me escape it
[lyrics][discuss]
No Chorus yet, and the German* is so pretty...
* With the French 'Amour', of course :P
Love is a feral beast
It inhales you as it seeks
Broken hearts will make its nest
It hunts when romance is at its best
It sucks hard on your lips
And burrows in through your ribs
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
It lashes out at me and feasts
A thousand arms around my chest
As it drags me to its nest
It eats me up, every part
And afterward retches me back out
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
It inhales you as it seeks
Broken hearts will make its nest
It hunts when romance is at its best
It eats me up, every part
And afterward retches me back out
It drops softly as the snow
It burns and then it chills, pain's the final blow
Amour Amour
Alle wollen nur dich zähmen
Amour Amour am Ende
gefangen zwischen deinen Zähnen
Love is a feral beast
And its trap is complete
On you its eyes will feast
Enthralled as its gaze hits
Please help me escape it
[lyrics][discuss]
No Chorus yet, and the German* is so pretty...
* With the French 'Amour', of course :P
2009-05-21
LILT: Ein Lied 3.0
The good will always be forgiven
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
Promoted.
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
Promoted.
LILT: Du Hast 1.2
You
You have
You have me
You have me today
You have me today but I might 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 still like the bastardisation from 1.1, so I'm just working on that further. I feel no real imperative to go in the precise direction of Till's words. Just so long as the implications are similar I think it works.
You have
You have me
You have me today
You have me today but I might 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 still like the bastardisation from 1.1, so I'm just working on that further. I feel no real imperative to go in the precise direction of Till's words. Just so long as the implications are similar I think it works.
LILT: Sonne 1.2
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, out
All are waiting for the light
Some fearless, some 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 are waiting for the light
Some fearless, some 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]
LILT: Rosenrot 1.1
A young lady once spied a rose
Up the mountain where they grow
So she had then asked her beloved
If the rose could be recovered
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
The tortured boy then climbs the tor
The vista's not what he's there for
A small rose his only care
Which he retrieves for his dear
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
But when his stony foothold breaks
He thinks his route a mistake
His scream then informs all
He and the red rose have fallen
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truky deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
[lyrics][discuss]
Up the mountain where they grow
So she had then asked her beloved
If the rose could be recovered
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
The tortured boy then climbs the tor
The vista's not what he's there for
A small rose his only care
Which he retrieves for his dear
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
Truly deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
But when his stony foothold breaks
He thinks his route a mistake
His scream then informs all
He and the red rose have fallen
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Truky deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-05-20
LILT: Zerstören 2.2
Yep, fuck the rhyme. That 'lawyer' crap lasted about five minutes. I'm back to the non-rhyming sense, with a few other minor changes:
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 stripping, and ripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
My discipline ought to impress
I aim to cause that 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 kicking, and spitting
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 stripping, and ripping
I'm spitting, and kicking
My discipline ought to impress
I aim to cause that 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 kicking, and spitting
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]
LILT: Klavier 1.2
I've been working over Klavier, thinking about what my interpretation of Jeremy's interpretation is saying, going over it in my head, trying to make sense. I find I have a problem with the following:
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played for me.
I want line two to say 'But it seemed to be she only played with me'. That makes much more sense to me, given the presence of the 'but', which seems to negate the first line, implying she's not being honest.
I'm not entirely sure how precise Jeremy is in his translation; whether he takes poetic licence at all, or whether it's as close to verbatim as it can be, and still make sense, but I'm going with my gut:
They're calling to me to open the door.
Interest screams, what could there be here?
Behind the door stands a clavier.
The keys are dusty, the strings out of tune.
Behind the door she sits at the clavier.
She doesn't play it though. That was long ago.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played with me.
I shed her blood to dam fury's flood.
I locked her away and then they came.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier I stood there with her.
And it seemed to be she only played for me.
They've opened the door. Oh how they cry.
Her distraught mother pleads. Her father strikes out at me.
They take her away and noone believes me here.
That I went insane, from the stench and the pain.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier she listened to me.
And when I began to play I took her breath away.
[lyrics][discuss]
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played for me.
I want line two to say 'But it seemed to be she only played with me'. That makes much more sense to me, given the presence of the 'but', which seems to negate the first line, implying she's not being honest.
I'm not entirely sure how precise Jeremy is in his translation; whether he takes poetic licence at all, or whether it's as close to verbatim as it can be, and still make sense, but I'm going with my gut:
They're calling to me to open the door.
Interest screams, what could there be here?
Behind the door stands a clavier.
The keys are dusty, the strings out of tune.
Behind the door she sits at the clavier.
She doesn't play it though. That was long ago.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played with me.
I shed her blood to dam fury's flood.
I locked her away and then they came.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier I stood there with her.
And it seemed to be she only played for me.
They've opened the door. Oh how they cry.
Her distraught mother pleads. Her father strikes out at me.
They take her away and noone believes me here.
That I went insane, from the stench and the pain.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier she listened to me.
And when I began to play I took her breath away.
[lyrics][discuss]
LILT: Ein Lied 2.1
The good will always be forgiven
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
Oooh, 100th post.
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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
Born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
Oooh, 100th post.
LILT: Ohne Dich 3.0
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 hours 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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
Without you
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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
[lyrics][discuss]
No changes made. I'm promoting it, as I've gone over it countless times in the past few days and am happy. It's officially 'possibly finished'. Check out that commitment...
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 hours 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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
Without you
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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
Without you
[lyrics][discuss]
No changes made. I'm promoting it, as I've gone over it countless times in the past few days and am happy. It's officially 'possibly finished'. Check out that commitment...
2009-05-19
LILT: Wo Bist Du 1.2
My love
My lover
My lover you, my love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
On my own, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek some sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
On my own, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you, where are you
I sleep with a knife prone
Where are you...
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm never going to really nail the opening, but I think the rest is improving one bit at a time.
My lover
My lover you, my love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
On my own, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek some sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
On my own, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you, where are you
I sleep with a knife prone
Where are you...
[lyrics][discuss]
I'm never going to really nail the opening, but I think the rest is improving one bit at a time.
Promotions?
I feel an urge to promote Ein Lied and Ohne Dich to version 3 and the 'possibly finished' pile, but I'm not sure if that's rank arrogance on my part, or if they really have reached that level already. I'm leaving them as they are for now, but may revisit this later in the week.
[discuss]
[discuss]
LILT: Ein Lied 2.0
The good will always be forgiven
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
We're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
I feel good about this one.
So find a good way of living
Then we will call before long
And we'll bring you all our songs
We're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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're born with music to share
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
I feel good about this one.
LILT: Morgenstern 1.1
So ugly the heavens hide
When she looks toward the sky
The face rays fear to show
A visage they light from below
During the day she must hide
So she doesn't scare the light
She lives in shadow until fall of dusk
Then sees the shining star and dares to ask
Paint my face with your beauty
Morning Star, oh shine
On this mask of mine
Let your light embrace
My dreadful deface
Tell me I am not maligned
Ugly, you are ugly. You, you are ugly.
I went alone into the dark
I no longer hear the larks
I saw sun-children in the crowd, and so
I wept into the clouds
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
Morning Star, oh shine
On this soul of mine
May your warm light mend
A heart that is rent
Tell her that I'm weeping
Because you're so ugly
You are plainly ugly
People live by their eyes
Grace is what they want to find
But you, you are no dream, no
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
And the star will shine
On this love of mine
It warms me to the heart
My most vital part
My heart sees its cure
She is all allure
[lyrics][discuss]
When she looks toward the sky
The face rays fear to show
A visage they light from below
During the day she must hide
So she doesn't scare the light
She lives in shadow until fall of dusk
Then sees the shining star and dares to ask
Paint my face with your beauty
Morning Star, oh shine
On this mask of mine
Let your light embrace
My dreadful deface
Tell me I am not maligned
Ugly, you are ugly. You, you are ugly.
I went alone into the dark
I no longer hear the larks
I saw sun-children in the crowd, and so
I wept into the clouds
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
Morning Star, oh shine
On this soul of mine
May your warm light mend
A heart that is rent
Tell her that I'm weeping
Because you're so ugly
You are plainly ugly
People live by their eyes
Grace is what they want to find
But you, you are no dream, no
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
And the star will shine
On this love of mine
It warms me to the heart
My most vital part
My heart sees its cure
She is all allure
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-05-18
Am I Completely Insane?
Yesterday I realised that I'm now working on a quarter of Rammstein's album catalogue with this project. That's a decent proportion of 10 years of work from the band.
I mentioned this to my mother and she thinks I'm mad. I don't agree. I'm enjoying it, I've been developing my lyrical skills, and I have absolutely no objection to spending time inside Lindemann's mind (as far as I can from where I am). These are all positive results, and don't even take into account those of you who've taken an interest in and enjoy my work.
Even if my efforts never make it into a cover band's set-list I think this is all worthwhile.
[discuss]
I mentioned this to my mother and she thinks I'm mad. I don't agree. I'm enjoying it, I've been developing my lyrical skills, and I have absolutely no objection to spending time inside Lindemann's mind (as far as I can from where I am). These are all positive results, and don't even take into account those of you who've taken an interest in and enjoy my work.
Even if my efforts never make it into a cover band's set-list I think this is all worthwhile.
[discuss]
LILT: Zerstören 2.1
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 can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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
I can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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
I can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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]
This may revert to 2.0. I'm not sure. The meaning of the refrain has to change to rhyme with Till's destroyer lines, but it's a bit of a hack. I like the original meaning better than the rhyme, I think...
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 can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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
I can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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
I can. Just ask a lawyer
I'm the destroyer
I can. Just ask a lawyer
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]
This may revert to 2.0. I'm not sure. The meaning of the refrain has to change to rhyme with Till's destroyer lines, but it's a bit of a hack. I like the original meaning better than the rhyme, I think...
2009-05-17
LILT: Morgenstern 1.0
So ugly the heavens hide
When she looks toward the sky
The face rays fear to show
A visage they light from below
During the day she must hide
So she doesn't scare the light
She lives in shadow until fall of dusk
Then seeing the shining star she asks
Paint my face with your beauty
Morning Star, oh shine
On this aspect mine
Let your light embrace
My dreadful deface
Tell me I am not maligned
Ugly, you are ugly. You, you are ugly.
I went alone into the dark
I no longer hear the larks
I saw sunchildren in the crowd, and so
I wept into the clouds
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
Morning Star, oh shine
On this soul of mine
May your warm light mend
A heart that is rent
Tell her that I'm weeping
Because you're so beastly
You are simply ugly
People live by their eyes
Grace is what they want to find
But you, you're no dream, no
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
And the star will shine
On this love of mine
It warms me to the heart
My most vital part
Within my heart's view
She is all allure
[lyrics][discuss]
When she looks toward the sky
The face rays fear to show
A visage they light from below
During the day she must hide
So she doesn't scare the light
She lives in shadow until fall of dusk
Then seeing the shining star she asks
Paint my face with your beauty
Morning Star, oh shine
On this aspect mine
Let your light embrace
My dreadful deface
Tell me I am not maligned
Ugly, you are ugly. You, you are ugly.
I went alone into the dark
I no longer hear the larks
I saw sunchildren in the crowd, and so
I wept into the clouds
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
Morning Star, oh shine
On this soul of mine
May your warm light mend
A heart that is rent
Tell her that I'm weeping
Because you're so beastly
You are simply ugly
People live by their eyes
Grace is what they want to find
But you, you're no dream, no
Morning Star, oh shine
On this love of mine
Let your light embrace
Her dreadful deface
Tell her she is not maligned
And the star will shine
On this love of mine
It warms me to the heart
My most vital part
Within my heart's view
She is all allure
[lyrics][discuss]
A Call to the Germans
I have a conundrum that I think only a German will be able to solve (unless Rammstein have made statements about it): why is zwei mispronounced in Links 2 3 4? Is the marching cadence traditionally called like that, or have Rammstein mispronounced it for some reason of their own? It almost sounds like it's pandering to English-speakers, as it sounds more like the English 'two' than zwei does. It is weird.
[discuss]
[discuss]
2009-05-15
LILT: Wo Bist Du 1.1
My love
My lover
My lover you, my love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
I am one, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek some sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
I am one, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you, where are you
I sleep with a knife prone
Where are you...
[lyrics][discuss]
That opening is still very clumsy compared to the German, but it's probably the best I'm going to pull off, given I'm working in English.
My lover
My lover you, my love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
I am one, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, now there's none
All the clocks stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I seek some sight beyond the light
Where are you, where are you
I am one, I'm so alone
Where are you, where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you, where are you
I sleep with a knife prone
Where are you...
[lyrics][discuss]
That opening is still very clumsy compared to the German, but it's probably the best I'm going to pull off, given I'm working in English.
LILT: Mutter 1.1
The ancient children shed cold tears
I thread those onto a white hair
I hurl the whole thing in the air
And wish that I had my own mère
No sun shines down for me
There's no milk-filled breast to feed
There's a tube that chokes my gullet
I've no navel on my stomach
Mother
I had no nipple to suckle
I had no warm place I was tucked in
I've never had my own name
Sired in haste and without semen
To the mother that never bore me
I have on this night sworn
I will send her a deathly fever
Then submerge her in the river
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with the kiss of a knife
Even if it ends my life
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with a knife's keen edge
Even if I bleed to death
Mother
Oh grant me strength
[lyrics][discuss]
I thread those onto a white hair
I hurl the whole thing in the air
And wish that I had my own mère
No sun shines down for me
There's no milk-filled breast to feed
There's a tube that chokes my gullet
I've no navel on my stomach
Mother
I had no nipple to suckle
I had no warm place I was tucked in
I've never had my own name
Sired in haste and without semen
To the mother that never bore me
I have on this night sworn
I will send her a deathly fever
Then submerge her in the river
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with the kiss of a knife
Even if it ends my life
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with a knife's keen edge
Even if I bleed to death
Mother
Oh grant me strength
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-05-14
LYRICS: Icebreaker 1.2
There it rides on a sea of souls
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story each in their way
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
The tillerman's words plot the course
His mind as the infinite source
Paints pictures on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
He sets out to seek the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
His job is to keep contained
Emotions timed by his refrain
The sea will surge as he dictates
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The rest of the crew have tasks as well
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They dance together in perfect time
Yet hold their own and keep their line
They each have their dues to pay
But never go off-course or stray
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story each in their way
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[discuss]
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story each in their way
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
The tillerman's words plot the course
His mind as the infinite source
Paints pictures on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
He sets out to seek the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
His job is to keep contained
Emotions timed by his refrain
The sea will surge as he dictates
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The rest of the crew have tasks as well
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They dance together in perfect time
Yet hold their own and keep their line
They each have their dues to pay
But never go off-course or stray
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story each in their way
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet never what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[discuss]
Rage & Sorrow
There are a lot of emotions on the scale we feel our way along in life. Happiness is one that we all seek. Unalloyed happiness does promote creativity, but in my experience happy art is generally rather tacky and shallow. There's a general lack of 'oomph' to it, and everything seems overly bright and flat. The result is bland, rather than expressive. It's not beautiful. It's merely decorative.
The two passions that bring out the beautiful work in most of us seem to be rage and sorrow, as they pertain to love, the third and most commonly expressed artistic theme. What is it that causes this? I have a theory, but it's embryonic, as I've only started developing it since I've been working on LILT.
I think rage and sorrow are negative feelings, and as they're harnessed to create art they often stem from love, a positive. This naturally creates contrast and depth. The basis for the rage and/or sorrow needs to be described, or the negative is merely a blackness. There's no detail, and thus no expression or depth. Given that the underlying need in art is to express oneself in such a way that will provoke feelings in others, the detail and contrast are necessary, so the love is put into the work as well; positive and negative for contrast, allowing high- and low-lights, finer detail, and profundity.
Unmixed happiness doesn't span much of the emotional scale. That said, when happiness is expected and not achieved the result is more often than not sorrow or rage. So, theoretically, if you expect too much and don't get it you bring the negative in. If you want to create beautiful art be arrogant about your emotional future. You never know. It may bring about your magnum opus.
[discuss]
The two passions that bring out the beautiful work in most of us seem to be rage and sorrow, as they pertain to love, the third and most commonly expressed artistic theme. What is it that causes this? I have a theory, but it's embryonic, as I've only started developing it since I've been working on LILT.
I think rage and sorrow are negative feelings, and as they're harnessed to create art they often stem from love, a positive. This naturally creates contrast and depth. The basis for the rage and/or sorrow needs to be described, or the negative is merely a blackness. There's no detail, and thus no expression or depth. Given that the underlying need in art is to express oneself in such a way that will provoke feelings in others, the detail and contrast are necessary, so the love is put into the work as well; positive and negative for contrast, allowing high- and low-lights, finer detail, and profundity.
Unmixed happiness doesn't span much of the emotional scale. That said, when happiness is expected and not achieved the result is more often than not sorrow or rage. So, theoretically, if you expect too much and don't get it you bring the negative in. If you want to create beautiful art be arrogant about your emotional future. You never know. It may bring about your magnum opus.
[discuss]
LILT: Klavier 1.1
They're calling to me to open the door.
Interest screams, what could there be here?
Behind the door stands a clavier.
The keys are dusty, the strings out of tune.
Behind the door she sits at the clavier.
She doesn't play it though. That was long ago.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played for me.
I shed her blood to dam fury's flood.
I locked her away until they came.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier I stood there with her.
And it seemed to be she only played for me.
They've opened the door. Oh how they cry.
Her distraught mother pleads. Her father strikes out at me.
They take her away and noone 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 she took my breath away.
At the clavier she listened to me.
And when I began to play I took her breath away.
[lyrics][discuss]
The layout change is my preference.
Interest screams, what could there be here?
Behind the door stands a clavier.
The keys are dusty, the strings out of tune.
Behind the door she sits at the clavier.
She doesn't play it though. That was long ago.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
She said to me I will always be here.
But it seemed to be she only played for me.
I shed her blood to dam fury's flood.
I locked her away until they came.
At the clavier I listened to her.
And when she began to play she took my breath away.
At the clavier I stood there with her.
And it seemed to be she only played for me.
They've opened the door. Oh how they cry.
Her distraught mother pleads. Her father strikes out at me.
They take her away and noone 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 she took my breath away.
At the clavier she listened to me.
And when I began to play I took her breath away.
[lyrics][discuss]
The layout change is my preference.
2009-05-13
LILT: Rein Raus 3.1
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/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
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/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
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 done with you
You're now free
I dismount
I have to leave
Others wait that I must run
All're in my epic hunt
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein/In
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
[lyrics][discuss]
Yeah, so very nearly finished, I'm sure.
Note on the refrain: I've put in the English 'In Out' as an option. I prefer the German refrain, but I can live with the English, so it's in there.
To any reader for whom English isn't their first language, to 'hit the wall' or 'hit a wall' means to reach a physical or mental limit. It's often used to imply someone's reached a certain level, sometimes plateauing in a training regime, or being exhausted in sports. In other fields it often means someone's train of thought or research has come to a dead end, and a new avenue needs to be explored. Here it's used to imply the prey is spent.
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/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
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/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
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 done with you
You're now free
I dismount
I have to leave
Others wait that I must run
All're in my epic hunt
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein/In
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein Raus/In Out
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
Rein/In (deeper)
Raus/Out (deeper)
[lyrics][discuss]
Yeah, so very nearly finished, I'm sure.
Note on the refrain: I've put in the English 'In Out' as an option. I prefer the German refrain, but I can live with the English, so it's in there.
To any reader for whom English isn't their first language, to 'hit the wall' or 'hit a wall' means to reach a physical or mental limit. It's often used to imply someone's reached a certain level, sometimes plateauing in a training regime, or being exhausted in sports. In other fields it often means someone's train of thought or research has come to a dead end, and a new avenue needs to be explored. Here it's used to imply the prey is spent.
Three and Beyond
Ah, yes, there is a reason I've numbered my work and have never said 'this is definitely finished'. I stamped Rein Raus as probably finished, and have promptly come up with two alternatives to replace one word. I prefer both to the present one. I'll update when I have decided whether I value meaning or word-play more...
[discuss]
[discuss]
2009-05-12
LILT: Feuer & Wasser 3.0
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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 cannot succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
I've already posted this, but Feuer Und Wasser just hit version three status in my head, so it's going in the probably finished pile, and that warrants a re-post.
As as aside, is this song an oblique reference to Honecker's 1987 speech?
"...socialism and capitalism are as incompatible as fire and water..."
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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 cannot succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
I've already posted this, but Feuer Und Wasser just hit version three status in my head, so it's going in the probably finished pile, and that warrants a re-post.
As as aside, is this song an oblique reference to Honecker's 1987 speech?
"...socialism and capitalism are as incompatible as fire and water..."
LILT: Wo Bist Du 1.0
My love
My love for
My love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
The clocks all stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I send sight beyond the light
Where are you
I'm alone, I'm so alone
Where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
The clocks all stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I send sight beyond the light
Where are you
I'm alone, I'm so alone
Where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you
I fall asleep, knife prone
Where are you
[lyrics][discuss]
There is no really elegant way to adapt the opening words of this song to English. German builds sentences in a much more structured way than English, and word order is critical to this song. I've done the best I could with an arse-backwards language, as in this case I didn't want to parrot back Till's German where the English didn't work quite right.
My love for
My love for you
My love for you is no more or less
Than your love for me was
When your love was for me
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
The clocks all stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I send sight beyond the light
Where are you
I'm alone, I'm so alone
Where are you
There was beauty, now it's gone
There was heat, and now there's none
The clocks all stand still
Laughing is all wrong, and before long
I send sight beyond the light
Where are you
I'm alone, I'm so alone
Where are you
I'm looking under every stone
Where are you
I fall asleep, knife prone
Where are you
[lyrics][discuss]
There is no really elegant way to adapt the opening words of this song to English. German builds sentences in a much more structured way than English, and word order is critical to this song. I've done the best I could with an arse-backwards language, as in this case I didn't want to parrot back Till's German where the English didn't work quite right.
What if...?
Most of Rammstein's songs involve sex, violence, or both of them. Many involve fire and/or water. Almost all of them are about love in some shape. They're all about people. There are recurring themes. Like many people, I speculate about the themes Till uses in his songs.
What I'd like to know is whether all the imagery and ideas for the songs' words are Till's, or if the other band members throw out ideas for him to work with. What I'd also like to know is whether or not he takes poems he's already written and adapts those into lyrics to work with new music. Does he perhaps write lyrics, and then when music that suits the subject matter comes up, adapt those lyrics to work? How much do his poems and his lyrics overlap?
The reason for this speculation is my own recent thoughts about all the poetry I've written and binned throughout my life. I've only just gained an interest in lyrics, but I've written hundreds of poems over the years, and don't have any of them now.
What if I'd kept them?
[discuss]
What I'd like to know is whether all the imagery and ideas for the songs' words are Till's, or if the other band members throw out ideas for him to work with. What I'd also like to know is whether or not he takes poems he's already written and adapts those into lyrics to work with new music. Does he perhaps write lyrics, and then when music that suits the subject matter comes up, adapt those lyrics to work? How much do his poems and his lyrics overlap?
The reason for this speculation is my own recent thoughts about all the poetry I've written and binned throughout my life. I've only just gained an interest in lyrics, but I've written hundreds of poems over the years, and don't have any of them now.
What if I'd kept them?
[discuss]
2009-05-10
LILT: Rein Raus 3.0
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 done 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]
This is the first draft where I feel like I might be finished...
[update 20090510 1545hrs: I've re-versioned this, as it's hit a level where I'm feeling differently about it. It's gone from being 2.3 to 3.0.]
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 done 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]
This is the first draft where I feel like I might be finished...
[update 20090510 1545hrs: I've re-versioned this, as it's hit a level where I'm feeling differently about it. It's gone from being 2.3 to 3.0.]
LILT: Rosenrot 1.0
A young lady had spied a rose
Up the mountain where they grow
So she had asked her beloved
If the rose could be recovered
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
The tortured boy then climbs the tor
The vista's not what he's there for
A small rose his only care
Which he retrieves for his dear
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
But when his stoney foothold breaks
He thinks his route was a mistake
His scream then informs them all
He and the red rose have fallen
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
[lyrics][discuss]
I have a feeling that this one is going to have to be gutted at some stage. I like the words for their meaning, but not so much for the way they sound.
Up the mountain where they grow
So she had asked her beloved
If the rose could be recovered
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
The tortured boy then climbs the tor
The vista's not what he's there for
A small rose his only care
Which he retrieves for his dear
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
But when his stoney foothold breaks
He thinks his route was a mistake
His scream then informs them all
He and the red rose have fallen
She really wants it which is fine
That's how it has been throughout time
Such whims are often met
What she desires she shall get
Really deep wells must be bored
If clear water's what you seek
Rosenrot oh Rosenrot
Undercurrents run down deep
[lyrics][discuss]
I have a feeling that this one is going to have to be gutted at some stage. I like the words for their meaning, but not so much for the way they sound.
2009-05-08
New Voices
I'm excited. Both Drax, who so kindly helped me with Feuer und Wasser and Rein Raus, and Kitty Alea, who's also taken a really encouraging interest in LILT, are vocalists. They're both looking to record themselves singing one or more of my LILTs. This is such a huge deal for me, because I am not a singer at all. I've never heard my versions of Till's work sung at all. I play the Rammstein songs over and over and sub-vocalise my words as they play, and that's really as close as I get to trying out my work. Actually getting to hear someone who can sing in key going through them is something I can hardly wait for. So. Very. Cool.
[discuss]
[discuss]
Discussion of Posts
I'm going to disable comments on the site. I'll instead link to the forum for commentary in each post. I realise this is going to make casual comments less likely, but it's so much easier to find and address people's contributions in the bulletin board format. Existing comments are still recorded, but no longer will they display on this site. I'll copy people's existing comments over to the forum, so everyone can see and respond to them as they please.
discuss on You.Rammstein.Me
discuss on You.Rammstein.Me
LILT: Feuer & Wasser 2.4
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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 cannot succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
Thanks Rammchick for pointing out the chorus variations :)
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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 won't become one
There's no fusion, they won't 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 cannot succumb
I have to shiver and seethe alone
And in the water I'm burned
In water I'm burned
[lyrics][discuss]
Thanks Rammchick for pointing out the chorus variations :)
2009-05-07
Ruminations
I've been thinking about the songs I don't think should have English lyrics, but which I really like the imagery or ideas in. I've decided to write English versions, but as poetry, rather than lyrics.
I agree with whoever it was that said that a lot of the frisson created by Rammstein's work stems from the German language, and while I've gone counter to that by re-lyricising Rammstein songs in English I have worked very hard to try and preserve the 'vibe' created by the sounds of the words used in German, where I can, using English words with a reasonably appropriate sound. It's hard to create verse that fits Till's singing style, the music, the German lyrics, and the feel of the verbal sounds, and I'm loving the challenge, but there's more to it than that.
Now I'm getting familiar with the songs, their meaning, and their devices there are some that, while I firmly believe they should stay German, I do want to create English verse for, if not lyrics. I plan to do that at some stage. The primary subject of this branch of my LILT project is Ich Will. The song is very powerful and very compelling, but there aren't appropriate English words to convey the meaning and the sound Till's lyrics do, so it will probably be my first poetic adaption.
These adaptions won't be listed as or classed with the LILTs. They simply don't belong in the same category of work. I guess they should be LLITs...
[discuss]
I agree with whoever it was that said that a lot of the frisson created by Rammstein's work stems from the German language, and while I've gone counter to that by re-lyricising Rammstein songs in English I have worked very hard to try and preserve the 'vibe' created by the sounds of the words used in German, where I can, using English words with a reasonably appropriate sound. It's hard to create verse that fits Till's singing style, the music, the German lyrics, and the feel of the verbal sounds, and I'm loving the challenge, but there's more to it than that.
Now I'm getting familiar with the songs, their meaning, and their devices there are some that, while I firmly believe they should stay German, I do want to create English verse for, if not lyrics. I plan to do that at some stage. The primary subject of this branch of my LILT project is Ich Will. The song is very powerful and very compelling, but there aren't appropriate English words to convey the meaning and the sound Till's lyrics do, so it will probably be my first poetic adaption.
These adaptions won't be listed as or classed with the LILTs. They simply don't belong in the same category of work. I guess they should be LLITs...
[discuss]
2009-05-06
LILT: Ohne Dich 1.1
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 hours 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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
[lyrics][discuss]
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 hours 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 hours I'm without you
With you time stands so still
But nothing's true without you
[lyrics][discuss]
LILT: Ein Lied 1.2
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 for music's care
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
LYRICS: Icebreaker 1.1
There it rides on a sea of souls
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet not what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story and have their say
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
The helmsman's words plot the course
His mind as an infinite source
Paints pictures on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
He sets out to seek the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
His job is to keep contained
Emotions timed by his refrain
The sea will surge as he dictates
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The rest of the crew have tasks as well
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They dance together in perfect time
Yet hold their own and keep their line
They each have their dues to pay
But never go off-course or stray
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story and have their say
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet not what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[Update: Once again I couldn't leave well alone. This is now be designated 1.1]
[discuss]
A ship of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
So clear, yet not what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story and have their say
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
The helmsman's words plot the course
His mind as an infinite source
Paints pictures on our minds' sky
Brave new ideas redefined
He sets out to seek the exotic
Sometimes brutal, often erotic
The stoker keeps the driving beat
Controls the tides that stamp our feet
His job is to keep contained
Emotions timed by his refrain
The sea will surge as he dictates
Hard rhythms you can't escape
The rest of the crew have tasks as well
Swinging on tunes from heaven and hell
They dance together in perfect time
Yet hold their own and keep their line
They each have their dues to pay
But never go off-course or stray
All on board have roles to play
To tell the story and have their say
But the living sea carries all
Seeking a release, enthralled
There it rides on a sea of souls
A boat of stone above the shoals
Carrying dark and lurid dreams
All clear, yet not what they seem
Swells bisected by a heavy prow
While fantasies flit across the bows
[Update: Once again I couldn't leave well alone. This is now be designated 1.1]
[discuss]
LILT: Ein Lied 1.1
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
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 lair
We're here to serve your ears
If ever you feel blue
We will play for you
[lyrics][discuss]
2009-05-05
You. Rammstein. Me
I've created a small discussion board for this project and for Rammstein fans in general. It's called You.Rammstein.Me and that's also the URL. Handy, huh? I have my moments.
I have no idea if it'll get any use. It's really just there as a reasonably static place for people to post, because the comments functionality on this site is rather transient, as posts fade into the archives.
I'm not a big fan of over-moderation, so I'm fairly relaxed in how I operate communities, but if anyone abuses anything, be it the board, each other, the law, etc. I'll simply get rid of the post, the thread, or the user, depending on how seriously I take the post, my mood, and which way the wind is blowing.
I hope people use it, but I by no means expect them to.
I have no idea if it'll get any use. It's really just there as a reasonably static place for people to post, because the comments functionality on this site is rather transient, as posts fade into the archives.
I'm not a big fan of over-moderation, so I'm fairly relaxed in how I operate communities, but if anyone abuses anything, be it the board, each other, the law, etc. I'll simply get rid of the post, the thread, or the user, depending on how seriously I take the post, my mood, and which way the wind is blowing.
I hope people use it, but I by no means expect them to.
2009-05-04
LILT: Mutter 1.0
Okay, so I got the basics down faster than I expected. Note that this is very much early days:
The ancient children shed their tears
I thread those onto a white hair
I hurl the whole thing in the air
And wish that I had my own mother
No sun shines down for me
There's no milk-filled breast to feed
There's a tube that chokes my gullet
I've no navel on my stomach
Mother
I never had nipples to suck on
I had no warm place I was tucked in
I've never had my own name
Sired in haste and without semen
To the mother that never bore me
I have on this night sworn
That I'll send her a deadly fever
Then submerge her in the river
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with the kiss of a knife
Even if it ends my life
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with a knife's keen edge
Even if I bleed to death
Mother
Oh grant me strength
[lyrics][discuss]
The ancient children shed their tears
I thread those onto a white hair
I hurl the whole thing in the air
And wish that I had my own mother
No sun shines down for me
There's no milk-filled breast to feed
There's a tube that chokes my gullet
I've no navel on my stomach
Mother
I never had nipples to suck on
I had no warm place I was tucked in
I've never had my own name
Sired in haste and without semen
To the mother that never bore me
I have on this night sworn
That I'll send her a deadly fever
Then submerge her in the river
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with the kiss of a knife
Even if it ends my life
Mother
In her lungs there lives an eel
On my forehead the mark is sealed
Purge it with a knife's keen edge
Even if I bleed to death
Mother
Oh grant me strength
[lyrics][discuss]
Mutter
I've opted to work on Mutter next. It's full of dark feelings and visuals, and some of it's tricky to work within, so it's going to take me a while. I have the basics of the first two verses, but don't want to post a partial, so it'll have to wait. I'll post something as soon as I've got at least the foundation of the whole song.
[discuss]
[discuss]
More on That Interview...
There are a couple of things raised in the interview I linked to yesterday that I've been thinking more about. One of them dates the interview in the worst way, and that's the topic raised of Napster/MP3s. Till didn't like them. They seemed to anger him. Schneider was intrigued by the whole idea. He saw the potential in this alternative platform for music distribution. Obviously his views have born fruit since the interview was done eight years ago. I wonder how Till feels about MP3s now his work is distributed online legally and for money in that format.
Not long before the interview was filmed I was first getting into Rammstein, and without several illicit MP3s being sent to me and played by me illegally I wouldn't have been exposed to their music at all. I wouldn't have bought my first Rammstein CD back then, as I did. More recently, after years of not listening to Rammstein (I lost the original CD) I've now downloaded all of their other albums, listened to them for several weeks (illegally), and gone out and bought all of their CDs, including a second copy of the one I'd lost.
One would hope and, frankly, expect that in the past eight years Till has changed his opinion in respect to MP3s and online distribution. I imagine that thousands of their fans were, like me, brought into the fold by illegal distribution of Rammstein media. I'd be interested to hear his views on this now, as well as Schneider's.
Another subject raised in the interview is understanding of the music. The gist is that they leave their lyrics open to interpretation, so listeners can take from it what they will. I like this. It's the same with good paintings or sculpture; the beholder shouldn't be locked into a particular set of boundaries.
For a long time I wasn't terribly interested in the meaning behind Rammstein's work, enjoying the sound of the music and vocals for their nonsensical aesthetic, rather than for anything more profound. The lyrics are rhythmically and verbally attractive*, even sans comprehension, and that was a nice way to appreciate Rammstein for ages.
This time around I've taken more of an interest, and this interest has, in turn, lead to LILT. The LILT project has taken me beyond the mere appreciation of the music though. I've come out the other side and am trying to create something that mirrors the original German words, so this openness is no longer something I enjoy. I'm deliberately trying to convey what Till's intended meaning was, irrespective of what anyone else takes from it, and I'm included in that 'anyone else'. What I take from Till's work is really not the point. I guess this is why my wee tantrum last month was such an important point for me. It liberated me from the feeling that I might get it wrong.
I got it wrong when I read the transcript for Zerstören, and without knowing what Rammstein had declared with regard to the meaning took it to be about a vandal. In my ignorance about German I got Du Hast wrong originally as well. I thought it was a song about committment and dedication to a relationship. It is apparently quite the reverse.
Now I'm working purely from the pictures Till draws with his words. I'm maybe having to paint certain details in slightly differently, or changing the shade of a colour used, but so long as I stay true to the picture in a general way I'm not going to get it wrong.
* This is where I admit that from the time I first heard the German Language (and other Germanic languages, such as my own birthright, Swedish) until a few years ago I thought the sounds ugly and harsh. I found the rhythms awkward, the sounds gutteral and unattractive, and the fluency lacking. Mr Lindemann's work changed that for German. Maybe I need to find a really talented Swedish lyricist now too.
That said, I still consider spoken English pretty ugly. Maybe only words put together for lyrical or poetic reasons are going to be attractive in these languages.
[discuss]
Not long before the interview was filmed I was first getting into Rammstein, and without several illicit MP3s being sent to me and played by me illegally I wouldn't have been exposed to their music at all. I wouldn't have bought my first Rammstein CD back then, as I did. More recently, after years of not listening to Rammstein (I lost the original CD) I've now downloaded all of their other albums, listened to them for several weeks (illegally), and gone out and bought all of their CDs, including a second copy of the one I'd lost.
One would hope and, frankly, expect that in the past eight years Till has changed his opinion in respect to MP3s and online distribution. I imagine that thousands of their fans were, like me, brought into the fold by illegal distribution of Rammstein media. I'd be interested to hear his views on this now, as well as Schneider's.
Another subject raised in the interview is understanding of the music. The gist is that they leave their lyrics open to interpretation, so listeners can take from it what they will. I like this. It's the same with good paintings or sculpture; the beholder shouldn't be locked into a particular set of boundaries.
For a long time I wasn't terribly interested in the meaning behind Rammstein's work, enjoying the sound of the music and vocals for their nonsensical aesthetic, rather than for anything more profound. The lyrics are rhythmically and verbally attractive*, even sans comprehension, and that was a nice way to appreciate Rammstein for ages.
This time around I've taken more of an interest, and this interest has, in turn, lead to LILT. The LILT project has taken me beyond the mere appreciation of the music though. I've come out the other side and am trying to create something that mirrors the original German words, so this openness is no longer something I enjoy. I'm deliberately trying to convey what Till's intended meaning was, irrespective of what anyone else takes from it, and I'm included in that 'anyone else'. What I take from Till's work is really not the point. I guess this is why my wee tantrum last month was such an important point for me. It liberated me from the feeling that I might get it wrong.
I got it wrong when I read the transcript for Zerstören, and without knowing what Rammstein had declared with regard to the meaning took it to be about a vandal. In my ignorance about German I got Du Hast wrong originally as well. I thought it was a song about committment and dedication to a relationship. It is apparently quite the reverse.
Now I'm working purely from the pictures Till draws with his words. I'm maybe having to paint certain details in slightly differently, or changing the shade of a colour used, but so long as I stay true to the picture in a general way I'm not going to get it wrong.
* This is where I admit that from the time I first heard the German Language (and other Germanic languages, such as my own birthright, Swedish) until a few years ago I thought the sounds ugly and harsh. I found the rhythms awkward, the sounds gutteral and unattractive, and the fluency lacking. Mr Lindemann's work changed that for German. Maybe I need to find a really talented Swedish lyricist now too.
That said, I still consider spoken English pretty ugly. Maybe only words put together for lyrical or poetic reasons are going to be attractive in these languages.
[discuss]
2009-05-03
Humour
I just found a really old Swedish interview (in English) on You Tube, with Schneider and Till. You can watch the really stunningly bad quality (totals around 30 minutes) here:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Aside from the nasty compression this interview strikes me as being a really good example of what happens when someone who is utterly devoid of humour encounters someone with a healthy sense of the ridiculous. The interviewer is absolutely lacking a funny-bone, and misses points, doesn't get jokes, and swallows Till's 'reptile sushi' crap without batting an eyelid. He also laughs at completely inappropriate moments, like the doctor in The Simpsons. It's almost embarrassing to watch.
The reason I'm remarking this is Rammstein has a mischievous streak a mile wide. This band is definitely not taking itself terribly seriously. There's also stuff like this out there, yet Germans have a reputation for being humourless. I'm wondering where that comes from, because it would seem to me to be an urban myth. Maybe all the fun Germans were behind the wall...
[discuss]
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Aside from the nasty compression this interview strikes me as being a really good example of what happens when someone who is utterly devoid of humour encounters someone with a healthy sense of the ridiculous. The interviewer is absolutely lacking a funny-bone, and misses points, doesn't get jokes, and swallows Till's 'reptile sushi' crap without batting an eyelid. He also laughs at completely inappropriate moments, like the doctor in The Simpsons. It's almost embarrassing to watch.
The reason I'm remarking this is Rammstein has a mischievous streak a mile wide. This band is definitely not taking itself terribly seriously. There's also stuff like this out there, yet Germans have a reputation for being humourless. I'm wondering where that comes from, because it would seem to me to be an urban myth. Maybe all the fun Germans were behind the wall...
[discuss]
2009-05-02
New Host-name For LILT - Rammstein.Me
I've registered rammstein.me, and have set this site up as LILT.Rammstein.Me. The lilt.o.geek.nz host-name will work again once the changes in my zone files have propagated, but for now only the Rammstein domain will resolve properly. I guess anyone not subscribed to the site will get a confusing error for a little while, until the NS propagates, and I'm hoping you subscribers will get an email telling you all of this!
The host is lilt.rammstein.me, but rammstein.me will also resolve correctly, as I set up a forwarder for it. My new contact email is lilt [at] rammstein.me, though the old lilt [at] o.geek.nz still works.
In summary, if you have this site bookmarked change it to be lilt.rammstein.me.
I've had a very bad day. I had to get up at 4.30 AM after a call for a mercy dash from a loved one in need, then I got home to find out a friend had died, and now I'm absolutely exhausted. It was a nice little boost to find that such a great domain as rammstein.me was available. It doesn't fix my weekend, but it's one small positive, and every little bit helps.
[discuss]
The host is lilt.rammstein.me, but rammstein.me will also resolve correctly, as I set up a forwarder for it. My new contact email is lilt [at] rammstein.me, though the old lilt [at] o.geek.nz still works.
In summary, if you have this site bookmarked change it to be lilt.rammstein.me.
I've had a very bad day. I had to get up at 4.30 AM after a call for a mercy dash from a loved one in need, then I got home to find out a friend had died, and now I'm absolutely exhausted. It was a nice little boost to find that such a great domain as rammstein.me was available. It doesn't fix my weekend, but it's one small positive, and every little bit helps.
[discuss]
2009-05-01
LILT: Küss Mich (Fellfrosch) 1.0
If you don't know what the furry frog is I'll let you work her out by yourself for a moment...
Needless to say I've had fun with this one. What girl wouldn't?
She tries not to move
Being fingered is her groove
Swelled up in the lifeless grass
Her moistened eye is ... awash
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
She repays each lick with a bite
Being licked is what she likes
But she has a bitter flavour
So it's rare that she's ... savoured
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
His tongue comes down to C
Whipping her to ecstasy
Hard strokes that ripple out
Mastering her dripping ... snout
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
On my moistened lips
Kiss me
With their bitter taste
[Lyrics][discuss]
If you're wondering about the ellipses before the last words of the verses they're there to show where the pregnant pauses should be.
Needless to say I've had fun with this one. What girl wouldn't?
She tries not to move
Being fingered is her groove
Swelled up in the lifeless grass
Her moistened eye is ... awash
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
She repays each lick with a bite
Being licked is what she likes
But she has a bitter flavour
So it's rare that she's ... savoured
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
His tongue comes down to C
Whipping her to ecstasy
Hard strokes that ripple out
Mastering her dripping ... snout
She's always been locked away
Never seeing the light of day
Shuddering as she pleads
That his tongue will still her need
Kiss me
On my moistened lips
Kiss me
With their bitter taste
[Lyrics][discuss]
If you're wondering about the ellipses before the last words of the verses they're there to show where the pregnant pauses should be.
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