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.
Soap Shop Rock
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw my sister burning
They tied her on a railroad track
And made her blue eyes burning
Her dog was sitting by her feet
The whole night he was howling
In dirty pants the judge came down
Slavering his golden gown
Who turned the rain into black
The television vulture
...
They brought my sister to trial
Cutting her face from her smile
On the holy waterfront
The people stand there waiting
To see her blonde hair lighted
To see her blood drip on the floor
The lyrics of Amon Düül II's song Soap Shop Rock capture a haunting and disturbing scene of a woman being burned alive, likely during a witch hunt or some form of persecution. The opening lines depict the singer witnessing their own sister being tied to a railroad track and burned, as if in a twisted execution. The imagery is visceral and gruesome, with her blue eyes burning and her dog howling by her feet. Even the judge who presides over her trial is described in a repulsive manner, "slavering his golden gown" as if hungry for her punishment.
Yet, the song also incorporates an element of surrealism and allusion, with the mention of the television vulture and the idea of turning rain into black. These elements could be interpreted in a number of ways, perhaps as channels of media that propagate and sensationalize violence, or as representation of a darker, corrupt force in the world.
In the final stanza, the scene shifts to a "holy waterfront" where people eagerly wait to watch the woman's execution. The fascination with pain and violence is disturbing, and the final line of seeing her blood drip on the floor is a graphic reminder of the brutality occurring.
Overall, the lyrics of Soap Shop Rock are chilling and thought-provoking, highlighting the dangers of mob mentality and the human capacity for cruelty.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the football place
In a location on a field used for playing football
I saw my sister burning
I witnessed my family member being set on fire
They tied her on a railroad track
They restrained her to railway tracks
And made her blue eyes burning
Her eyes were ablaze with intense emotion or flames
Her dog was sitting by her feet
Her pet was positioned near her lower limbs
The whole night he was howling
The canine was making loud, sustained vocalizations
In dirty pants the judge came down
The adjudicator arrived while wearing soiled clothing
Slavering his golden gown
Their garment was drooling and shiny
Yes, she was the one
It is true that she was responsible
Who turned the rain into black
She caused precipitation to become dark
The television vulture
The bird that feeds on decaying flesh shown on TV
They brought my sister to trial
They put my sibling on trial
Cutting her face from her smile
Removing the happy expression from her face by force
On the holy waterfront
At a sacred and significant water's edge
The people stand there waiting
Many individuals are currently positioned, anticipating something
To see her blonde hair lighted
To observe the illumination of her light-colored locks
To see her blood drip on the floor
To watch her bodily fluid flow onto the ground
Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ThePeanutButterCup13
This is truly a masterpiece.
Enzo Galli
Un assoluto capolavoro, uno dei più grandi e geniali album di tutti i tempi...Yeti...magnifico!! AD2 band epica, leggendaria, fenomenale!!! Enzo57Italy
David Forshaw
Got that right! 👍🍄🗝🧩☯️
Rolfis Dreamworld
7:00 a special magical moment in this psychedelic opera.
Frelton
A seriously great band.
Progfan2010
The second part of this track is one of the most bizarre and interesting pieces of music I´ve ever heard
Enzo Galli
The whole suite is a masterpiece and the Yeti album a sublime masterwork...one of the greatest album ever made...psychedelic art rock at maximum expressiveness and levels. AD2 forever!!! Enzo57Italy
Dennis Benzle
I was into this band early seventies and they still sound great krout rock has feelings in their works than any where else especially in the times the German underground Peace
Schwertfisch13
Yea sort of. The hate for the parents past, the hate for old Nazis still just regularely being reinstituted into schools and universities but on the same hand the progressivenes of the youth and want for change all are reflected in Krautrock.
Enzo Galli
Masterpiece. Yeti a masterwork...old beautiful memories!!! Awesome album, phenomenal band...pure genius!!! AD2 forever!!! Tks. Enzo57Italy