The band was founded 1995 in Berlin by Christopher Blenkinsop (bouzouki, ukulele & vocals), Carsten Wegener (bass), Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich (banjo & guitar), Kristin “Kiki” Sauer (accordion & vocals) and Reinhard "Koma" Lüderitz (bagpipes). They first used the name 17 Hippies in the fall of that year.
In 1996 they began to organize their own series of free concerts called Hippie Haus Tanz (Hippie House Dance). At this time Antje Henkel (clarinet), Elmar Gutmann (trumpet), and Ulrike “Rike” Lau (cello) joined the band. In 1997 Henry Notroff (clarinet) and Dirk Trageser (guitar & vocals) also were added, and live recordings of different concerts and rehearsal room sessions were compiled into their first CD Rock'n'Roll 13. In 1998 they played at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas and then toured in Texas and Louisiana. Later that year Uwe Langer (trombone) joined the band and they played in Paris for the first time.
They established their own record label and in 1999 released their second CD Wer ist das? (Who is that?). The French label Buda Musique released a compilation of both CD’s called Berlin Style, which was then also released in Italy. Volker "Kruisko" Rettmann (accordion) joined the band.
In 2001 the band wrote the score for the German movie Grill Point (Halbe Treppe) by Andreas Dresen and they performed in a cameo role in the film. A tour of Budapest, Prague, Vienna and France took place, and the second French album Sirba was released, featuring their first radio hit "Marlène". Kerstin Kaernbach (violin) also was added to the band lineup. Their first studio album Ifni was released in 2004. An extensive tour of Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Morocco and France ensued. Daniel Friederichs (violin) became the last member to join the current lineup. In 2006 the band made a tour of Japan and Spain and composed the music for the play Kasimir and Karoline, staged at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin.
In 2007, a second studio album Heimlich (Secret) was released in Europe and North America. In September they embarked on their first US tour, playing in Chicago, New York, Washington and Bloomington. In December they played at the Olympia in Paris. In 2008, their earlier albums were released in the UK by Propper Records, a second US tour took place, and they played festivals in Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland, Greece, Spain and Algeria.
The Train
17 Hippies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The old man said
This train is coming his way
He's got pounds of nothing in a box
It's so heavy
I'd throw it away - lalala
And find a car, drive it down the coast
Real slow
So if you think you have the time
Please cut loose, pack your bags and come
I'm gonna leave today
We'll fly away
Leave no tracks for anyone to find us
Let's set out, no asking why
And go as far as anyone has gone
Leave the phantoms of our lives behind to cry
Lalala…
I've got a hat on
Do you like my shoes?
Hop aboard, here we go… away
Snow lies on a grassy slope
Sun shines bright
Carries it to sea
Way down the river
Just had a bottle of wine, I'm in the mood
Won't you have some too?
Please have some too
The Train by 17 Hippies is a song about leaving the past behind and venturing towards the unknown future. The opening lines, "Should I get a hold on this / The old man said / This train is coming his way," suggest that there is an old man who is warning the singer about an oncoming train. The singer contemplates whether they should hold on or let go. The old man could be an allegory for time and the train could represent the inevitable progress of life. The following lines, "He's got pounds of nothing in a box / It's so heavy / I'd throw it away - lalala" can be interpreted to mean that the singer has burdens that they want to let go of, represented by the old man's heavy box.
The chorus of the song encourages the listener to let go of their past and accompany the singer on a journey towards an unknown future. The lines, "We'll fly away / Leave no tracks for anyone to find us," suggest that they want to start anew and leave their past behind. The singer invites the listener to join them and "cut loose, pack your bags and come." The second verse reinforces the theme of leaving the past behind and moving towards a new future. The singer talks about painting their face bright blue and driving down the coast, leaving behind the phantoms of their lives to cry. The verses are filled with images of new beginnings and leave behind the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I get a hold on this
Uncertainty over whether to pursue what's coming next
The old man said
Advice from an elder
This train is coming his way
Something new and exciting is approaching
He's got pounds of nothing in a box
Carrying around something of no real value
It's so heavy
The burden of carrying something useless
I'd throw it away - lalala
The desire to let go of unimportant things and move forward
Gonna paint my face bright blue
A bold move for self-expression
And find a car, drive it down the coast
A journey to explore the world, at a leisurely pace
Real slow
Taking time to appreciate every moment
So if you think you have the time
Invitation to come along on the adventure
Please cut loose, pack your bags and come
Leave behind what holds you back and join the journey
I'm gonna leave today
Taking the first step towards a new adventure
We'll fly away
Escaping from the stress and monotony of everyday life
Leave no tracks for anyone to find us
Leaving behind our worries and problems
Let's set out, no asking why
Making a spontaneous decision to explore the world
And go as far as anyone has gone
Willingness to take risks and push boundaries
Leave the phantoms of our lives behind to cry
Shedding the things that hold us back and moving towards a brighter future
Lalala…
Expressing joy and light-heartedness
I've got a hat on
A quirky fashion choice for self-expression
Do you like my shoes?
Sharing excitement for the adventure ahead
Hop aboard, here we go… away
Embarking on a new journey full of excitement and freedom
Snow lies on a grassy slope
An image of peaceful and serene nature
Sun shines bright
Hope and positivity
Carries it to sea
Movement towards a new destination
Way down the river
Further and further away from the past
Just had a bottle of wine, I'm in the mood
Relaxed and carefree attitude
Won't you have some too?
Excitement to share the adventure with others
Please have some too
Welcoming companionship and good times ahead
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.