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.
Kronwinkl 12
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smoke a cigarette
Read the paper
Going back to bed
Sky is grey
And lamp is shining red
Chick from last night
Still lying in bed
Though I know
Society is dead brain
I start thinking in circles
Following their games
I need informations
Leaving that formation
Feel busy
I feel temptation
My steady hesitation
Makes me dizzy
It's half past four
And everybody's gone
Big house is empty
And I don't feel at home
Depression starts
To catch my brain
Dope-religion
Know everything's in vain
Though I know
Feel the longings of my heart
I did learn
How to play my part
I always try not t olose
The freedom of my mind
Taking the cake means baking your own tart
The song "Kronwinkl 12" by Amon Düül II is a melancholic and introspective reflection on the dissatisfaction and alienation that comes with living in a society that has lost its way. The opening verses describe the singer's routine of going through the motions of daily life – waking up, smoking a cigarette, reading the paper – without any real sense of engagement or purpose. The grey sky and red lamp speak to the drabness of the singer's surroundings and state of mind, while the "chick from last night" lying in bed suggests a hollow and ultimately unsatisfying pursuit of pleasure.
As the song progresses, the singer's sense of unease and discontent grow. They acknowledge the deadening effect of society's brainless conformity and feel trapped in a cycle of thought that doesn't lead anywhere. They long for information and a sense of purpose, but feel stuck in their own inaction and fear. By the end of the song, the singer is alone in a big empty house, overcome by depression and a sense of despair. The reference to "dope-religion" suggests a futile attempt to escape through drugs, while the final line – "Taking the cake means baking your own tart" – is an ambiguous phrase that may suggest either the importance of carving out one's own path in the world, or a resigned acceptance of the fact that nothing in life comes for free.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up get up
Beginning the day with a fresh start
Smoke a cigarette
Taking the time to relax and gather thoughts
Read the paper
Staying informed about current events
Going back to bed
Taking a moment to rest before facing the day ahead
Sky is grey
The weather reflects current mood
And lamp is shining red
The light is dim and casts a warm glow
Chick from last night
A casual encounter from the previous evening
Still lying in bed
Not worrying about social norms or expectations
Though I know
Despite being aware
Society is dead brain
Losing faith in the intelligence of the masses
I start thinking in circles
Repetitive thoughts due to lack of stimuli
Following their games
Succumbing to societal norms and pressures
I need informations
Craving knowledge and intellectual challenges
Leaving that formation
Breaking free from established patterns
Feel busy
Engaging in activity and productive thought
I feel temptation
Being lured into unhealthy behaviors and choices
My steady hesitation
Being mindful and cautious of one's actions
Makes me dizzy
Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented
It's half past four
Late at night, past a reasonable hour
And everybody's gone
Being alone and isolated
Big house is empty
Feeling a sense of emptiness and abandonment
And I don't feel at home
Not finding comfort in one's surroundings
Depression starts
Feeling a sense of despair and hopelessness
To catch my brain
Being consumed by negative thoughts
Dope-religion
Finding solace in substances instead of spirituality
Know everything's in vain
Understanding the futility of one's actions and existence
Though I know
Despite being aware
Feel the longings of my heart
Being in touch with one's emotions and desires
I did learn
Gaining knowledge and wisdom through experience
How to play my part
Navigating one's way through life and societal expectations
I always try not to lose
Striving to maintain integrity and individuality
The freedom of my mind
Being true to one's beliefs and thoughts
Taking the cake means baking your own tart
Creating one's own success and opportunities
Contributed by Charlotte B. 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?