Alter Mann - A Departure

I've begun reworking Alter Mann (Old Man), which is a real departure from most of Rammstein's work. It uses very gentle imagery, and is fairly philosophical, despite the driving riff. After the less subtle songs, like Zerstören, Weißes Fleisch, and even the charming Mann Gegen Mann it's like drinking clean, cool, fresh water.

That said, it's not easy. The imagery and texture is very specific, and it's got a strong cadence, so I'm having to work hard to match the German lyrics and puzzle my own words in with the music. It's going to take me a while to get it right.

It seems like a story about the impetuosity, courage, and arrogance of youth, the clarity that comes with experience and wisdom, and the inability of elders to teach youngsters what they learned over their years of life. I don't think our elders can shorten the learning curve for the upstarts. The kids have to go through the same process over their entire lives, taking knocks and being utterly daft (and oblivious), to come to nearly the same place, or perhaps somewhere much, much worse. That doesn't mean the elders won't try and share their wisdom. It just means they'll end up repeating themselves...and perhaps mourning.

Head, meet wall.

Yes, it's a lovely song. I envisage a really old man, tirelessly teaching the same lessons over and over again, to a young man who is oblivious to the treasure he's being offered, until the old man dies. It's a really strong image, drawn in countless movies. In Hollywoodland the kid eventually twigs that there's something to this crap the old fart's spouting, but I don't think that's always the case in reality, and that's why there's a wistfulness about these lyrics.

There's also something sinister there though. I'm not sure I'll ever understand it fully, but I'm hoping it refers to the sins as well as the youthful errors need to be learned from and avoided. Whether we learn to avoid evil from our elders, or through our own experience of it and the damage it does to us, is something to consider.

Lindemann always weaves in shadows and pain, probably because of the musical style of Rammstein as much as his own personal inclinations, and this song isn't all faded sepia and blossom petals as a result. As with all good art there's darkness to contrast to the glowing highlights.

Our elders die before we learn to value all the wisdom and history they have stored inside them. We waste years and then suddenly they're gone, and all their wonderful, priceless memories with them. Sometimes we destroy and injure because we don't learn the lessons they want to pass on to us, and they die feeling a certain futility as their door closes.

It's sad, but morality tales and anecdotes have their purpose. Hopefully a few people will pay proper attention to this idea and take the time to listen to the stories their seniors try to tell them, and learn from them; watch themselves in that smooth watery mirror, and be able to see themselves with the same clarity that their departed elders did. Only when you can see yourself with that kind of clarity can you see your flaws well enough to repair them, especially the fatal ones.

[discuss]