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.
Emigrant Song
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick 'n' tired of our old floor
Hardly made the boat
Didn't know what to leave behind
So we sold our last illusions
For a brighter hope ahead
And sailed away
The Krauts are coming to the USA
Yodelling and shouting loud hurrah
They stand on top of Sierra Nevada
Couldn't make it at our home place
Prophets, protestants and gun-ace
Wish we'd bothered learning trade-rules
Instead of tryin' to steal the queens' jewels
Hardly made a dime didn't know where to cash in
So we sought some fast decision
Took a step into the boat
And sailed away
The song Emigrant Song by Amon Düül II, tells the story of a group of people who have grown tired of their old lives and seek a new beginning on a new shore. They are so desperate for change that they sell their last illusions, leaving behind the life they knew to head towards a brighter future. The lyrics are filled with desperation and longing for a new start, and the decision to set sail is a risky one, considering that they hardly made enough money to even own a boat.
The second verse describes a situation where the people had no choice but to leave their home place due to various reasons such as being unable to make a living, religious and political persecution, and a desire for wealth. They wish they had learned trade-rules rather than trying to steal the queens' jewels, which is an allusion to their desperate quest for riches. The mention of "reds" and "Krauts" suggests that the exodus of individuals from their homelands was not limited to one particular country or group.
The song is a powerful statement on the human condition on a deeper level, with its themes of loss, hope, and the pursuit of happiness in difficult circumstances. It portrays the trials and tribulations that people have to face when looking for a new place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
So we sailed out to a new shore
We left our old life behind and set out to find a new beginning.
Sick 'n' tired of our old floor
We were exhausted and discontent with our previous way of living.
Hardly made the boat
We barely had the means to embark on this journey.
Didn't know what to leave behind
We were unsure of what possessions and memories to leave behind in pursuit of a new future.
So we sold our last illusions
We let go of our dreams and illusions about our previous way of life, in order to embrace new possibilities.
For a brighter hope ahead
We were optimistic about the prospects of what lay ahead for us.
And sailed away
We set out on our journey with determination, leaving our past behind.
The reds are caught by claustrophobia
The communists are feeling trapped and suffocated within their own society.
The Krauts are coming to the USA
The Germans are immigrating to the United States.
Yodelling and shouting loud hurrah
They express their excitement and joy for the new opportunities and experiences they will encounter.
They stand on top of Sierra Nevada
They have reached the peak of their journey, and now continue towards a new beginning in America.
Couldn't make it at our home place
We were unsuccessful and unhappy in our previous place of living.
Prophets, protestants and gun-ace
We encountered religious and violent conflicts in our old community.
Wish we'd bothered learning trade-rules
We regret not gaining practical skills to ensure our success in a new society.
Instead of tryin' to steal the queens' jewels
We acknowledge that our previous actions of entitlement and greed did not benefit us, but hindered our progress in life.
Hardly made a dime didn't know where to cash in
We were struggling financially, and unsure of where to find employment and stability.
So we sought some fast decision
We were eager to find a solution to our problems, and make a bold move forward.
Took a step into the boat
We took a leap of faith towards new opportunities, with the hope of achieving a better life.
And sailed away
We left our old life behind, with the intention of discovering new possibilities on the horizon.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERND OTTO TISCHER, ROBERT HEIBL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Metcalfe
on She Came Through the Chimney
Maybe it's "indigo sea" and not Indian sea on Sleepwalkers Timeless Bridge?