Sorrow ... Again

Twenty-one years, almost to the day, after the Ramstein air show tragedy that inspired the band's name two Belarusian pilots have died at a Polish air show. The anniversary of the Ramstein crash, which ended 71 lives and injured many other people, was on Friday.

[discuss]

LILT: Spring 1.0

It's a bit shaky, but it's a first draft:

Atop a tall bridge right up high
A man stands up feeling small
He stands there with his arms held wide
A mob forms below his pedestal
But I don't want to miss out either
I want to get in so much nearer
I get right up close to the scene
And scream

The man's wanting to climb back down
The people begin to really hate
They compress to a tight crowd
They don't want to let him escape
So he finds that he must return
And the mob then begins to stir
They want him to vent his spleen
And they scream

Fly
So I'm alright
Fly
For my delight
Fly from spite
Fly to the light
Fly

Now the man begins to weep
A cloud moves quietly in
He sees what he has now reaped
Before the sun it goes dim
I just want to be at the scene
The people start to surge and teem
And to look up into the evening
And they're screaming

Fly

They're screaming
Fly
So I'm alright
Fly
For my delight
Fly from spite
Fly to the light
Fly

A cloud moves quietly in
Before the sun it goes dim
But a thousand suns burn just for you
Behind him on the bridge I sneak
From behind I kick him in the back
I am his redemption
I scream at him

Fly

Fly
So I'm alright
Fly
For my delight
Fly from spite
Fly
For my delight

[lyrics][discuss]

Teutophilia

I know that a lot of Rammstein fans are Teutophiles. I'm not. I don't dislike anything German, really, but I've not generalised my liking for Rammstein their motherland. One product of Germany that I am a complete sucker for, however, is their cars. This is a life-long passion brought about by my morfar (maternal grandfather), who was a complete Mercedes-Benz fan. I drive a Golf and adore it. We also have a classic Mercedes-Benz coupe, and that's our baby. Because I know that a lot of Rammstein fans do generalise their passion for Rammstein to Germany and because I think it's very funky here is a clip on YoutTube that should satisfy both the revheads and the Teutophiles amongst you.

By the way, I'm about halfway through Spring. It won't get posted today, but perhaps tomorrow after work.

[discuss]

Spring Flopped

I had intended to finish draft one of Spring today, but I put in too much time promoting the petition and doing other necessary stuff, so it's not happened as planned. I'll hopefully find time for it tomorrow. I also want to look back over Eifersucht and see if it's something I can salvage, or if it's just not a good LILT song.

Now go and sign the petition!

[discuss]

Top Eleven Most Influential Industrial Metallers

I'm not sure if influential is the word I'd choose to describe Herr Lindemann, but apparently it's true!

The position of fourth is granted him based on his being such a testosterone-bomb and his smoothing the way for foreign-language artists in the US, but as far as I can see he's not that much of a bloke, and to be frank he's not smoothing the way for anyone but Rammstein. Yes, they have pretty solid success despite singing in German, but seriously, which foreign-language bands are finding following in Rammstein's footsteps easy? They're a tough act to follow.

Anyway, congratulations TL. You rock. Also, you're very, very manly.

[discuss]

The Letter

I love Rammstein. You may have noticed. It's something of a passion that I can't bear to relinquish. They lend me eloquence and inspiration, they fire me up and chill me out, and my muse is amongst them. There's an importance surrounding them that colours my life and my creativity.

Because of this I may get hammered by their powers that be. I've lent my name and my words to The Letter, you see...

Ah, what ever will become of me?

*smirk*

[discuss]

LILT: Stirb Nicht Vor Mir 3.0

I think I'm done. I reverted 'ere' to 'before' in his lines (bolded), because ere is just not something I'm used to hearing and it sounds wrong. Before has to be crammed a bit to fit, but if you pronounce the 'B' and 'F' on top of one another it works. I've also reverted the rhyming formula in the candlelit windows verse back to his:

The night gives birth to a child
Its only name is loneliness
It is still and very cold
I weep into the abyss

I don't know what you're called
But I know that you are real
I know that after all
Someone will love me

[He comes for me after dark
Words can't even begin
To express what's in my heart
I surrender and go with him]

[I don't know what he's called
I know that he must be real
This passion is my thrall
And to him I am sealed]

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die before me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[Sometimes love is so cruel]
I'm waiting here
[This love I have to feel]
I'm waiting here

All the houses are snowed in
Candlelit windows warm with cheer
They lie in pairs within
And I
I'm waiting for you here

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die before me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[This love may be my all]
I'm waiting here
[This love is all I feel]

Don't die before me

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Mein Herz Brennt 1.1

Come darling children, attend me
From 'neath your pillow my voice arrests
I've brought you all a special treat
I tore it out from deep in my chest

With this heart I have the power
Where your wee eyelids are concerned
I sing until the night's last hour
And glowing light on high returns
My heart burns

They come after you after dark
Demons and ghosts and the blackened fay
They creep out from the cellar shaft
And look under bedding where you all lay

Come darling children, attend me
From 'neath your pillow my voice bestirs
I've brought you all a special treat
The glowing light on high returns
My heart burns
My heart burns

They come after you after dark
And steal your heated little tears of pain
They wait until the moon awakes
And put them into my cold and twisted veins

Come darling children, attend me
From 'neath your pillow my voice recurs
I sing until the day relieves
The glowing light on high returns
My heart burns
My heart burns
My heart burns
My heart burns

[lyrics][discuss]

Metal Hammer Preview

There's a full track-listing album preview up on Metal Hammer, so check it out. There's plenty of information there, and it sounds very promising.

Yeah, yeah, tepid I know. I just woke up.

[discuss]

Rammstein-EU Fades to Black

The server is handing off a page which just says "Is this the end?" with a page title 'End?'. I wonder what External's up to.

It might simply be that his site maintenance page is a bit more dramatic than most.

Udate 20090820 1357hrs NZT: It's come back a couple of times. I'm not sure what the story is.

Updat 20090820 1826hrs: It does appear to only be a problem with indexing, but even that is intermittent. The inidividual forums are loading fine.

[discuss]

LILT: Heirate Mich 3.0

Some changes and promotion:

See him creeping round the churchyard
For a whole year he's been alone
His sorrow's blows have driven him mad
He sleeps each night by her headstone

There by the bell tower sleeps a stone
I alone can read its text
The fence is a red rooster's throne
He was once the live heart in your breast

On the paling fear is impaled
Now each night I dig down to see
To find and keep close what remains
Of the face that once smiled for me

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowed in my private hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

I dig with my bare hands deep down
To find that which I have most missed
The moon wears her most gorgeous gown
Your cold mouth begs to be kissed

I take you gently by the arm
Your skin parts like cobwebs tearing
And you are losing all your parts
As you elude me once again

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowed in my private hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

So I take to me all your remains
The night is hot and we are bare
The damned cock greets the dawn again
I leave him lying beheaded there

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Stirb Nicht Vor Mir 1.3

The night gives birth to a child
Its only name is loneliness
It is still and very cold
I weep into the abyss

I don't know what you're called
But I know that you are real
I know that after all
Someone will love me

[He comes for me after dark
Words can't even begin
To express what's in my heart
I surrender and go with him]

[I don't know what he's called
I know that he must be real
His presence is my thrall
And to him I am sealed]

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die ere me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[Sometimes love is so cruel]
I'm waiting here
[This love I have to feel]
I'm waiting here

All the houses are snowed in
Windows are candlelit within
There they lie in pairs
And I
I'm waiting for you here

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die ere me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[This love may be my all]
I'm waiting here
[This love is all I feel]

Don't die ere me

[lyrics][discuss]

Tomorrow?

The publicist has Tweeted the following:

sleep well comrades... and then tomorow... it is time to make it REAL!!!

Right, so tomorrow, being later on today here in New Zealand, something is going to happen, I guess. How very mysterious.

[discuss]

LILT: Stirb Nicht Vor Mir 1.2

I've begun work on the English lines. Early days:

The night gives birth to a child
Its only name is loneliness
It is still and very cold
I weep into the abyss

I don't know what you're called
But I know that you are real
I know that after all
Someone will love me

[He comes here after dark
Words can't even begin
To express what's in my heart
I surrender and go with him]

[I don't know what he's called
I know that he must be real
His presence is my thrall
And to him I am sealed]

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die before me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[Sometimes love is so cruel]
I'm waiting here
[This love I have to feel]
I'm waiting here

All the houses are snowed in
Windows are candlelit within
There they lie in pairs
And I
I'm waiting for you here

I'm waiting here
[Don't die before I do]
I'm waiting here
Don't die ere me

[I don't know what you're called
I know that you are real]
Don't die
[Sometimes love is a call]
I'm waiting here
[Your love for me I feel]

Don't die ere me

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Heirate Mich 1.2

See him creeping round the churchyard
For a whole year he's been alone
His sorrow's blows have driven him mad
He sleeps each night by her headstone

There by the bell tower sleeps a stone
I alone can read its text
The fence is a red rooster's throne
He was once the live heart in your breast

On the paling fear is impaled
Now each night I dig down to see
To find and keep close what remains
Of the face that once smiled for me

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowed in his private hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

I dig with my bare hands deep down
To find that which I have most missed
The moon wears her most gorgeous gown
Your cold mouth begs to be kissed

I take you gently by the arm
Your skin parts like cobwebs tearing
And you are losing all your parts
As you escape me once again

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowed in his private hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

So I take to heart all your remains
The night is hot and we are bare
The damned cock greets morning again
I leave him lying beheaded there

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Heirate Mich 1.1

Moving forward, a bit:

See him creeping round the churchyard
For a whole year he's been alone
His sorrow's blows have driven him mad
He sleeps each night by her headstone

There by the bell tower sleeps a stone
I alone can read its text
The fence is a red rooster's throne
He was once the live heart in your breast

On the paling fear is impaled
Each night I now dig down to see
To find and hold close what remains
Of the face that once smiled for me

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowered in his own hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

With my bare hands I dig deep down
To find that which I have most missed
The moon wears her most gorgeous gown
Your cold mouth asks to be kissed

I take you gently by the arm
Your skin parts like cobwebs tearing
And you are losing all your parts
As you escape me once again

I spend eternal night there with the bells
A lonely beast cowered in his own hell
I seek each new night, and day is my cell
You once again foil me so well

Come back to me

So I take to heart all your remains
The night is hot and we are bare
The damned cock greets morning again
I leave him lying beheaded there

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Bück Dich 3.0

I think I nailed it first try:

Bend down, I command you
Avert your visage from me too
I've no interest in your mien
Bend down

A bipedal thing down on all fours
I take him out for a walk
We slowly move down the hallway
I am displeased

Now he comes reversing toward me
On the garter is stuck some honey
I am displeased, very displeased

Bend down
Bend down
Bend down
Bend down
Your damned face interests me not

The bipedal thing has bent down
And moved over to lit ground
I demonstrate what one can do
And I begin to cry then too

The biped stammers out a prayer
I feel worse because of his fear
He bends way down with some cracking
The tears run back up his back then

Bend down
Bend down
Bend down
Bend down

Bend down, I command you
Avert your visage from me too
I've no interest in your mien
Bend down once again

Bend down

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Asche Zu Asche 3.0

A warm body
A hot cross
A false verdict
A cold grave

Now I lie on the crossed tree
They hammer the nails into me
The fire then leaves the soul clean
So remains a mouthful of
Ashes

I shall return
In ten days' time
As your shadow
And I'll hunt you down

Then I will rise from the dead
And for mercy you will plead
And then I will kneel in your face
And stick my finger in the
Ashes

Ashes to ashes
And dust to dust

Promoted without change.

[lyrics][discuss]

LILT: Halleluja 3.0

Promoted, minus the esoteric part and with further development:

Deeply feeling and so pious
On his wall Our Lord is nailed
He wipes the defects from the Bible
He gives Communion without fail

He loves all the choir boys
Their pure souls so crystal clear
But the tenor gives him pause
So he has to keep him near
On the nightstand, not a sound
Our Lord's image
Is turned slowly 'round

When the church clock strikes the hour
[Hallelujah]
He folds his hands and knees in prayer
[Hallelujah]
He is a single parson
[Hallelujah]
Neighbourly love is in his lesson
[Hallelujah]

The youth is allowed to stay
Sin nests at half his height
Reverend Father kneels to pray
To music and candlelight

When the church clock strikes the hour
[Hallelujah]
He folds his hands and knees in prayer
[Hallelujah]
He is a single parson
[Hallelujah]
Neighbourly love is in his lesson
[Hallelujah]

When the church clock strikes the hour
[Hallelujah]
He folds his hands and knees in prayer
[Hallelujah]
He is a true Christian
[Hallelujah]
Charity no mystery to him
[Hallelujah]
Turn slowly around
Turn around

[lyrics][discuss]

Ginger on Rammstein

Any Rammstein fan should enjoy this (from here):

Who would be your dream festival headliner?

Rammstein everytime. They're the only band in the world that deserve the accolade of headliners and know what to do as headliners and know what to do to entertain every single person, especially the ones that don't like them. I've purposefully stood next to journalists at a Rammstein gig who went just to poo-poo the whole thing and I said I'm going to sit here with you and I'm going to watch your face when they go on and fire starts flying around and they just convert them. Rammstein are the ultimate headliner.

[discuss]