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.
Dreams
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been speeding thru your nights
Been hooked to all kinds of possessions
I've been wearing fancy beads
I've been tryin' all kinds of seeds
But I didn't see the light 'til I saw you
Dreams for satisfaction
Now she's gone I see it clear
Spent my days in useless fear
Because she misses - me
Birds are wailing on the telephone line
The sun is shining thru their feathers
Catching my eyes for those aero-antics
The dumb bike-driver mutters
As I introduce myself to him
Pretending I'm the janitor's concoction
Dreams are our connection
Dreams for satisfaction
Now she's gone I see it clear
Spent my days in useless fear
Because she misses - me
Who knows when we will meet again
I hope you won't be cheating then
To hide
But if you do I won't be blue
I'll let my tears run free
Like the time - when I had you mine
Dreams are our connection
Dreams for satisfaction
Now she's gone I see it clear
Spent my days in useless fear
Because she misses - my sweet kisses
The lyrics of Amon Düül II's "Dreams" talk about the singer's journey towards finding fulfillment and connection in life. The first verse speaks of the singer's efforts to keep up with the fast-paced world around them, trying out different things in the hope of finding satisfaction. However, they only truly find the light when they meet someone special. The chorus emphasizes the importance of dreams in allowing people to connect and find satisfaction in life.
The second verse sees the singer describing the beauty of the natural world around them - birds singing and the sun shining. However, they also encounter someone who mutters, highlighting the negative aspects of life. The third verse shows the singer expressing their love for the person they met earlier, hoping that they won't be cheated on once they meet again. Despite the possibility of heartbreak, they will let their tears run free like the time they had with their lover.
Overall, "Dreams" is a reflection on the journey to find happiness in life and the importance of dreams and connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been running thru my days
I've been busy living my life
Been speeding thru your nights
I've been rushing through the time spent with you
Been hooked to all kinds of possessions
I've been attached to material possessions
I've been wearing fancy beads
I've been trying to look fashionable
I've been tryin' all kinds of seeds
I've been experimenting with various drugs
But I didn't see the light 'til I saw you
I didn't truly understand life until I met you
Dreams are our connection
Our dreams bond us together
Dreams for satisfaction
We dream to fulfill our desires
Now she's gone I see it clear
Her absence helped me realize my true feelings
Spent my days in useless fear
I wasted my time being afraid
Because she misses - me
She longs for my presence
Birds are wailing on the telephone line
Birds are singing on the phone wire
The sun is shining thru their feathers
The sunlight is passing through their feathers
Catching my eyes for those aero-antics
I'm watching the birds fly
The dumb bike-driver mutters
A foolish cyclist says something
As I introduce myself to him
As I greet him
Pretending I'm the janitor's concoction
I'm acting like a made-up character
Who knows when we will meet again
We can't predict when we'll see each other next
I hope you won't be cheating then
I hope you won't betray me
To hide
To conceal your actions
But if you do I won't be blue
If you cheat, I won't be sad
I'll let my tears run free
I'll allow myself to cry
Like the time - when I had you mine
Just like the time we were together
Because she misses - my sweet kisses
She longs for the affection I used to give her
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Metcalfe
on She Came Through the Chimney
Maybe it's "indigo sea" and not Indian sea on Sleepwalkers Timeless Bridge?