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.
Mirror
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm stuck on TV and they show me my own place
But I'm not satisfied, their games make me feel blue
'Cause without know'n' my face, Babe,
I just can't find you
So I get myself together and I fight against that pain
Why can't we all do the same
Show your true feelings and they make you feel small
They've got the money and you run when they call
But I'm not satisfied, their games make me feel blue
'Cause without know'n' my face, Babe,
I just can't find you
So I get myself together and I fight against that pain
Why can't we all do the same
So I get myself together and I fight against that pain
Why can't we all do the same
Forget pollution love your air-conditioned flat
There ain't no music ain't no sun
I feel like a rat
I'm not satisfied, their games make me feel blue
'Cause without know'n' my face, Babe,
I just can't find you
So I get myself together and I fight against that pain
Why can't we all do the same
So take it easy and don't run fast like they do
Watch out, be careful and your word have to be true
Then you'll wear their clothes and act like a fool
And then you watch their faces it should be quite cool
If you are serious you'll find yourself in war
They want you shout and scream and move your guitar
Move on up, baby
Move on up
Get it on
Move on up
Get it on
Move on up
The song "Mirror" by Amon Düül II is about the struggle to maintain one's identity and avoid getting lost in the superficiality of contemporary culture. The singer begins by requesting his mirror so that he can see his own face, as he feels disconnected from his own identity through the constant influence of media and society. He wants to find his true love, but without knowing his own face, he cannot find her. He then discusses the pressure to conform and how it makes him feel small and unsatisfied. He urges listeners to fight against conformity and stay true to themselves.
The song is a criticism of the commercialization of culture and the negative effects it has on individuals. The singer feels lost and seeks to reconnect with his own identity despite the pressures to conform. He encourages others to do the same and fight against the pain of losing oneself to the demands of the culture.
Overall, the song urges listeners to stay true to themselves and resist conformity, which can lead to a loss of identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Gimme my mirror, so that I can see my face
I need to see myself clearly because I'm constantly exposed on TV and it makes me feel uncomfortable
I'm stuck on TV and they show me my own place
I'm constantly on TV and I'm always reminded of my status in society
But I'm not satisfied, their games make me feel blue
I'm not happy with my situation and their manipulations are affecting my mood negatively
'Cause without know'n' my face, Babe, I just can't find you
I can't find a genuine connection with people because they only see me as a TV personality and not as myself
So I get myself together and I fight against that pain
I try to overcome my negative feelings and resist the pressures of the industry
Why can't we all do the same
We should all resist manipulation and be true to ourselves
Show your true feelings and they make you feel small
When you reveal your true self, people might try to belittle or disregard you
They've got the money and you run when they call
Those in power have the ability to control you and manipulate you with money
Forget pollution love your air-conditioned flat
People are too concerned with their own comfort and privilege to care about the environment
There ain't no music ain't no sun, I feel like a rat
Life without genuine experiences or joy is oppressive and unfulfilling
So take it easy and don't run fast like they do
Don't get caught up in the rat-race and maintain your individuality
Watch out, be careful and your word have to be true
Be wary of the manipulations of those in power and stay true to yourself
Then you'll wear their clothes and act like a fool
If you start imitating the powers that be, you'll lose your dignity and become a puppet
And then you watch their faces it should be quite cool
Watching the reactions of the rich and powerful can give a sense of satisfaction, despite the personal loss of integrity
If you are serious you'll find yourself in war
Opposing the established powers requires serious commitment and is fraught with danger
They want you shout and scream and move your guitar
The powers in control want you to use your talent for their own purposes
Move on up, baby
Keep striving to better yourself
Get it on
Take action to pursue your goals
Move on up
Keep progressing and pushing forward
Get it on
Don't hesitate to take action and seize opportunities
Move on up
Don't be discouraged by setbacks and keep moving forward
Writer(s): Shaffer Smith, Robert Shea Taylor
Contributed by Annabelle 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?