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.
Green Bubble Raincoated Man
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why can't we share the problems hand in hand?
And when I ask the mirror what is the truth?
All the funny things you do!
Look into my eyes
Do you really mean it?
'Cause this is no question
Don't forget you're high
oWuldn't you rather check what's your confession?
Green bubbles came out of the crystal thing
A sudden cry of an old rain-coated guy
And softly grey gnomes were whispering to my ear:
All the funny things you do!
Just an advice: Don't ask your face tonight
Don't tell the words you like so much
Don't tell, just act in spite
Don't try to prove your own brains might
Don't lose the sun, 'cause you need fun
Two races keep me in action
Don't bother about my reaction
I had to learn a lot from my master
All I say is try to get the green-bubble-raincoated man
Green bubble raincoated man
Don't stay in the rain again
Drink this poisoned cup of tea
Wait and wonder what you'll see
Gimme back my crystal mirror
And you gonna be a hero
Green bubble raincoated man
Don't stay in the rain
The lyrics to Amon Düül II's song Green Bubble Raincoated Man describe a sense of disconnection and confusion in relationships. The singer feels like there is a lack of communication with their friends and wonders why they can't share their problems with each other. The use of the mirror symbolizes the search for truth and clarity in this state of confusion. However, the song also warns against trying to prove one's intelligence and losing sight of the joys of life.
The chorus of "all the funny things you do" seems to be directed at the person the singer is addressing. The surreal image of "green bubbles" coming out of a "crystal thing" and the sudden cry of an "old rain-coated guy" introduce a dreamlike and unsettling quality to the song. This dreamlike quality is heightened by the whispering of "softly grey gnomes" in the singer's ear.
The advice given in the song is to refrain from looking into the mirror or trying to prove oneself, but instead to focus on living life without losing sight of the joys of life. The song ends with the plea to the "green-bubble-raincoated man" to not stay in the rain and to drink the "poisoned cup of tea" and wait to see what happens.
Overall, the lyrics of Green Bubble Raincoated Man convey a sense of searching for truth and connection, but also a warning against losing oneself in the search for meaning, and a reminder to appreciate the joys of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I am missing a word from my friends,
At times I feel like my friends don't understand me or what I'm trying to say
Why can't we share the problems hand in hand?
I wish we could tackle our problems together as a team
And when I ask the mirror what is the truth?
Sometimes I question my own reality and doubt what's real and what's not
All the funny things you do!
I find your quirks and unique qualities amusing and endearing
Look into my eyes
I want you to see the sincerity and truthfulness in my gaze
Do you really mean it?
I'm questioning your authenticity and whether your actions align with your words
'Cause this is no question
This is a matter of fact, not up for debate or questioning
You have to face the facts in time and
You must confront and acknowledge the truth before it's too late
Don't forget you're high
Remember that you're capable of greatness and don't let anyone bring you down
Wouldn't you rather check what's your confession?
Wouldn't you rather examine your own mistakes or shortcomings rather than pointing fingers at others?
Green bubbles came out of the crystal thing
Strange and unexpected things are happening
A sudden cry of an old rain-coated guy
An older man responds to these strange events with a pained cry
And softly grey gnomes were whispering to my ear:
Even stranger things are happening, like whispers from supernatural creatures
Just an advice: Don't ask your face tonight
Don't bother seeking answers or asking questions tonight, just let things be
Don't tell the words you like so much
Don't give in to the temptation to share what you want to say
Don't tell, just act in spite
Just do what needs to be done without explanation or justification
Don't try to prove your own brains might
Don't try to show off or prove how smart you are
Don't lose the sun, 'cause you need fun
Don't forget to enjoy life's simple pleasures and have fun
Two races keep me in action
Two opposing forces are driving me forward
Don't bother about my reaction
Don't worry about how I'll respond or react
I had to learn a lot from my master
I've learned many life lessons from someone more experienced than me
All I say is try to get the green-bubble-raincoated man
All I advise is to seek out the strange, seemingly magical man in the green raincoat and bubbles
Green bubble raincoated man
The man in the green raincoat and bubbles
Don't stay in the rain again
Don't get caught up in dark, negative thoughts or situations
Drink this poisoned cup of tea
Take a risk or accept a challenge, even if it may have negative consequences
Wait and wonder what you'll see
Be patient and anticipate the unknown outcomes of your actions
Gimme back my crystal mirror
I want my sense of clarity and self-awareness back
And you gonna be a hero
You have the potential to be a hero, to overcome challenges and do great things
Green bubble raincoated man
The man in the green raincoat and bubbles
Don't stay in the rain
Don't get stuck in negativity or difficult situations, keep moving forward
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. 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?