Buy Rammstein song “Wo bist du?” on Amazon
| Ich liebe dich | I love you |
| Ich liebe dich nicht | I love you not |
| Ich liebe dich nicht mehr | I love you no more |
| Ich liebe dich nicht mehr oder weniger als du | I love you no more or less than you |
| Als du mich geliebt hast | Than you loved me |
| Als du mich noch geliebt hast | When you still loved me |
| Die schönen Mädchen sind nicht schön | The pretty girls are not pretty |
| Die warmen Hände sind so kalt | The warm hands are so cold |
| Alle Uhren bleiben stehen | All clocks have stopped |
| Lachen ist nicht mehr gesund und bald | It’s no longer healthy to laugh, and soon |
| Such ich dich hinter dem Licht | I’ll look for you behind the light |
| Wo bist du | Where are you? |
| So allein will ich nicht sein | I don’t want to be so alone |
| Wo bist du | Where are you? |
| Die schönen Mädchen sind nicht schön | The pretty girls are not pretty |
| Die warmen Hände sind so kalt | The warm hands are so cold |
| Alle Uhren bleiben stehen | All clocks have stopped |
| Lachen ist nicht mehr gesund, und bald | It’s no longer healthy to laugh, and soon |
| Ich suche dich hinter dem Licht | I look for you behind the light |
| Wo bist du | Where are you |
| So allein will ich nicht sein | I don’t want to be so alone |
| Wo bist du | Where are you |
| Ich such dich unter jedem Stein | I look for you under every stone |
| Wo bist du | Where are you |
| Ich schlaf mit einem Messer ein | I fall asleep with a knife |
| Wo bist du | Where are you? |
“Wo bist du?” (Where are you?) is a song that was supposed to be on Reise, Reise but because Rammstein wanted to make Reise, Reise the hardest album they have made so far, it was felt that the song was too gentle and it was left out. The song begins with a clarinet and then the rest of the instruments begin to play. The song is different because the keyboard is the instrument that is easiest to hear.
reminds me of Hamlet, life has lost all meaning, when he laughs its unhealthy because he is nearing the edge of sanity. there is no beauty left in his world. the depth and scope of the music, especially the lonely clariet in the beginning disappearing into the roar, symbolizes his lonely struggle in a vast unfathomable universe, a darkness that seems unending.
The key word in understanding this song is “light”
The most obvious interpretation is that it means death; but it could mean any number of things, and therein lies the genius of Rammstein.
Thanks for the ‘light’ lyric hint: it does seem key. My two-pennies worth; He sleeps with a knife, as someone would sleep on a ‘bed of nails’, uneasy, and fearful of something – and as Oleg (and others?) point out, could be linked with the book Messers. It does seem that Till does lean towards dark fairy-tale and other spooky and unsettling stories.
This song resonated with me so much after my cousin died even before I saw the translation of the title let alone the full song. There was something very mournful and sad buried within the heavy music. When I learned the translation of the title I knew there was something to my feelings. Then the full translation came and I was not too surprised I was mostly right. My emotions didn’t quite follow in the full meaning of the song but there was a small longing to find my cousin who was taken so young. Rammstein have such a masterful command of language and music it’s awe inspiring.
This song is about Till’s father.
Oh?
Yes, I also believe that. Messer(knife) in the end is for a reason. And Till’s book, heavy with lyrics related to childhood also called Messer.
My take on it is that hes trying to find the same love he used to have with other women but cant since his lovers passing. The women he gets with are cold and unfeeling unlike his lover; being depressed and not feeling happy anymore. He calls out to her hoping she will return. He sleeps with a knife because he constantly thinks about ending his life just to see her again.
This is exactly my interpretation because this is exactly how it is intended. Well done.
The posts are from so long ago I feel a bit silly for even posting but I’m going to. IMO, there is one line that says a lot. He sings “It’s no longer healthy to laugh and soon,” The next line he sings “I’ll look for you behind the light.” To me, he’s saying that soon, he’ll look for her behind the light…or death.