The band emerged in 1968 out of the scene of hippies and squatters in Munich, Germany, but their strong interest in music led them to go their own way. They took their name from the old Egyptian name Amon, being an Egyptian sun god, and Düül, a character from Turkish fiction. Their personnel changed constantly, but maybe the most permanent members were Renate Knaup (vocals), Chris Karrer (guitar, violin), John Weinzierl (guitar), Peter Leopold (drums), Falk Rogner (organ, synthesizer). After several successful albums with a style that reached from long improvisation to more structured rock songs they split. Later they tried several resurrections but none of them brought back the old days of glory.
Amon Düül was initially an anarchist commune, but it split into two factions, Amon Düül (sometimes called Amon Düül I for disambiguation) and Amon Düül II. ADI was more politically inclined, but ADII preferred making music. Their anarchist tendencies are clearly seen in their music, especially on the albums Yeti, Tanz Der Lemminge, and Wolf City.
The band can be seen as having two distinct periods in their glory days, the improvisational period and the compositional period. The improvisational period consisted of albums such as Phallus Dei and Yeti, and, to a lesser extent, Tanz Der Lemminge. These albums all featured long, improvisational tracks (Phallus Dei was entirely improvised, and disc two of Yeti was as well, but Tanz Der Lemminge only featured one improvisation). Their compositional period starts with Carnival in Babylon and is highlighted by Wolf City. In this period, the band moved to more structured composed pieces. Many fans saw this as a poor move, but some believed that Amon Duul II proved that they were just as good at composing as they were at improvising.
Amon Düül II's drummer Peter Leopold died on 8 November 2006.
Bass player Lothar Meid died on 3 November 2015.
Apocalyptic Bore
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We saw the U.F.O.'s fly
They brought us the so-called paradise
They were spooking from the sky
Desert became a blooming garden
Like a dainty recreation field
Everybody's keenest dreams came true
Even gigantomaniacs were thrilled
Frogmen lifted treasures
Everybody got their parts
It was a worldwide pleasure
We all landed in the charts
No horse that didn't win the race
They found their destination
As if they were shot through the space
It was a big sensation...
My neighbour lived in the middle ages
His castle was cheaply rented
Everybody now could explore the past
'Cause the time-continuum-robot was invented
And then as skywriters signalized
Their majesties the extraterrestians
And when they came down in sparkling haze
We called them the space-pedestrians
There seemed to be happiness for eternity
Mankind scored more and more
Until one day the young growing up generation
Called this age an apocalyptic bore
There was nothing to fight for – no love no hate –
Only a quivering in the air
Kids had taken all their skybikes
And were leaving for the Big Bear
Dark shadows burst through the universe
Mother earth was really shocked
All hopes all dreams had disappeared
All ways, all minds were locked
The flood came...
The lyrics of Amon Düül II's song "Apocalyptic Bore" describe a utopian future brought about by the arrival of UFOs, which transform the world into a blooming garden and fulfill everyone's dreams. Frogmen lift treasures and everyone gets a share, leading to worldwide pleasure and landing in the charts. Additionally, everyone gains access to time travel through the invention of the "time-continuum-robot." However, this idyllic world is short-lived, and the younger generation ultimately deems it an "apocalyptic bore" as they leave for the "Big Bear" in search of something more. The song ends with the ominous statement, "The flood came...," implying the ultimate destruction of this once-perfect world.
While the lyrics of "Apocalyptic Bore" may seem cryptic, they reflect the band's psychedelic, counterculture origins and their fascination with the idea of alternative realities and mind expansion. The lyrics suggest a satirical commentary on the idea of utopia and the potential downsides of accepting the status quo, through the use of hyperbole and fantastical imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
One day, when suddenly by fortune
On an unsuspecting day, fate took a turn
We saw the U.F.O.'s fly
We witnessed the unidentified flying objects whizzing by
They brought us the so-called paradise
They presented to us a supposed heaven on earth
They were spooking from the sky
They seemed to be haunting us from above
Desert became a blooming garden
The barren land transformed into a flourishing paradise
Like a dainty recreation field
It appeared to be a delicate and charming playground
Everybody's keenest dreams came true
Everyone's deepest desires were fulfilled
Even gigantomaniacs were thrilled
Even the most megalomaniacal individuals were satisfied
Frogmen lifted treasures
Aquatic creatures hoisted valuable possessions
Everybody got their parts
Everyone received their share
It was a worldwide pleasure
It became a global source of joy
We all landed in the charts
We all achieved great success and acclaim
No horse that didn't win the race
Not a single entity failed to succeed
They found their destination
They arrived at their intended endpoint
As if they were shot through the space
As though they were propelled through the abyss
It was a big sensation...
It created a massive commotion
My neighbour lived in the middle ages
My fellow resident dwelled in the distant past
His castle was cheaply rented
His fortification was leased at a low cost
Everybody now could explore the past
Everyone now had the opportunity to delve into history
'Cause the time-continuum-robot was invented
Because the device for traversing time was created
And then as skywriters signalized
And then, as airborne scribes indicated
Their majesties the extraterrestians
The supreme beings from beyond the stars
And when they came down in sparkling haze
And when they descended in shimmering mist
We called them the space-pedestrians
We christened them the extraterrestrial pedestrians
There seemed to be happiness for eternity
It seemed as if joy would last forever
Mankind scored more and more
Humanity achieved greater and greater feats
Until one day the young growing up generation
Until one day, the budding new cohort
Called this age an apocalyptic bore
Labeled this era as a dismal, catastrophic drabness
There was nothing to fight for – no love no hate –
There was nothing worth contending for - neither affection nor animosity -
Only a quivering in the air
Only an oscillation in the atmosphere
Kids had taken all their skybikes
Children had taken all their aerial bicycles
And were leaving for the Big Bear
And were heading towards the prominent constellation
Dark shadows burst through the universe
Obscure silhouettes erupted throughout the cosmos
Mother earth was really shocked
Planet earth was truly stunned
All hopes all dreams had disappeared
All aspirations, all desires had vanished
All ways, all minds were locked
All paths, all intellects were restrained
The flood came...
The deluge arrived...
Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TOR1Hershman
One day, when suddenly by fortune
We saw the U.F.O.s fly
They brought us the so-called paradise
They were spooking from the sky
Desert became a blooming garden
Like a dainty recreation field
Everybody's keenest dreams came true
Even gigantomaniacs were thrilled
Frogmen lifted treasures
Everybody got their parts
It was a worldwide pleasure
We all landed in the charts
No horse that didn't win the rac
e They found their destination
As if they were shot through the space
It was a big sensation
My neighbour lived in the middle ages
His castle was cheaply rented
Everybody now could explore the past
'Cause the time-continuum-robot was invented
And then as skywriters signalized
Their majesties the extraterrestians
And when they came down in sparkling haze
We called them the space-pedestrians
There seemed to be happiness for eternity
Mankind scored more and more
Until one day the young growing up generation
Called this age an apocalyptic bore
There was nothing to fight for
– no love no hate –
Only a quivering in the air
Kids had taken all their skybikes And were leaving for the Big Bear
Dark shadows burst through the universe
Mother earth was really shocked
All hopes all dreams had disappeared
All ways, all minds were locked
The flood came...
@georgehatfield4813
My neighbor lived in the middle ages, his castle was cheaply rented. Love it!
@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms
I think thats supposed supposed be about social class in Germany,so this would be quite literal maybe.
@marsproxy
Thanks for the video! It took me back in time, when rock-and-roll was made by true artists! One of the 1974's best classic rock albums! This music is one of the bests ever! Amon Düül Rocks..!
@keltyk
One of their late masterpieces
@trufflecappuccino
This is one of my favorite songs
@franciscorebecchi7689
MARAVILLOSA BANDA ALEMANA DEL KRAUTROCK. COMPRÉ EL LONG PLAY CUANDO RECIÉN SALIÓ EN CÓRDOBA EN LOS '70. ME IMPACTARON TANTO QUE SIEMPRE LOS DIFUNDO EN MI PROGRAMA DE RADIO 'PERSPECTIVAS SONORAS'. GRACIAS. ALCESTE.-
@jorgerauldangelo7765
decime Francisco. A fines de los 70 escuchaba una FM de Venado tuerto. Los Lunes a las 11 de la noche. Curtian todo el rock d elos '70. Tenes noticia de eso?
@franciscorebecchi7689
No sabía de ese programa, pues no vivía en Venado Tuerto; la ciudad donde nació Chris de Burgh. Nuestro programa se difunde los viernes de 21 a 23 hs. por: www.continentalcordoba.fm - Pasamos música de diversos lugares que no suena en otras radios.-
@TVLuke15
His accent makes it sound like he says "Apoca-liebe-dich Bore!" to my weird brain/ears. What an amazing band and amazing musical discovery. I'm late to the party but just wow! Great, powerful psychedelic/progressive sound if you can call it that.
@TOR1Hershman
One day, when suddenly by fortune
We saw the U.F.O.s fly
They brought us the so-called paradise
They were spooking from the sky
Desert became a blooming garden
Like a dainty recreation field
Everybody's keenest dreams came true
Even gigantomaniacs were thrilled
Frogmen lifted treasures
Everybody got their parts
It was a worldwide pleasure
We all landed in the charts
No horse that didn't win the rac
e They found their destination
As if they were shot through the space
It was a big sensation
My neighbour lived in the middle ages
His castle was cheaply rented
Everybody now could explore the past
'Cause the time-continuum-robot was invented
And then as skywriters signalized
Their majesties the extraterrestians
And when they came down in sparkling haze
We called them the space-pedestrians
There seemed to be happiness for eternity
Mankind scored more and more
Until one day the young growing up generation
Called this age an apocalyptic bore
There was nothing to fight for
– no love no hate –
Only a quivering in the air
Kids had taken all their skybikes And were leaving for the Big Bear
Dark shadows burst through the universe
Mother earth was really shocked
All hopes all dreams had disappeared
All ways, all minds were locked
The flood came...