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.
Tables Are Turned
Amon Düül II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Church bells explode
And you jump over fountains
And you don't see
The birds in the trees
They have all turned to the mountains
There is a snake in your bathroom
And if you open up the mailbox
Locusts fall on the floor, on the floor
But in your eyes
I see a sunbeam
Like the rising sun of dawn
On your finger's a ring of crystal
Like the cry of a flying swan
In your right hand nothing more is left than a shadow
In your left hand you hold a letter from the girl on the road
There is a tree in your bathroom
And a friend at your door
And if you open up the mailbox
Stars fall on the floor, fall on the floor
The lyrics of Tables Are Turned by Amon Düül II may seem verbose and abstract, but they aim to symbolize powerful emotions and spiritual transformations in the lives of the listeners. The song describes a world where mundane things have metamorphosed into powerful and mythical beings that one needs to battle against to achieve higher consciousness.
The opening lines of the song start by describing the explosive sounds of church bells and the physical feat of jumping over fountains. However, the singer points out that those on this journey do not have time to appreciate the beauty of the natural world anymore as their focus is on ascending to the spiritual realm. The mention of birds turning into mountains signifies that everything is changing into something more potent and harder to grasp.
There is also a contrast between the forces of good and evil in the lyrics, where a tiger is a potential danger at the doorstep, and a letter from a girl on the road represents a letter of hope. The sunbeam in the singer's eyes also gives us a sense of optimism, while the ring of crystal represents a beautiful sound that acts as an instrument of transformation, and the tree in the bathroom becomes an essential symbol of purification. The lyrics of Tables Are Turned evoke a sense of turning away from the world and focusing on inner transformation towards achieving higher consciousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Above your head
The focus is now on what's happening above your head.
Church bells explode
The ringing of the church bells is intense and powerful, perhaps a sign of something to come.
And you jump over fountains
You move quickly and fluidly through life, unencumbered by obstacles.
And you don't see
Despite your agility, you are oblivious to certain aspects of the world around you.
The birds in the trees
You are unaware of the things of beauty that surround you in your everyday life.
They have all turned to the mountains
The natural beauty that once occupied the trees has fled to higher, more inaccessible places.
There is a snake in your bathroom
There is a threat lurking somewhere in your personal life, possibly something secretive or deceptive.
And a tiger at your door
There is a danger so close that it's right on your doorstep - a danger that is both terrifying and seductive.
And if you open up the mailbox
Even the most harmless, mundane things in your life can be full of surprises or even danger.
Locusts fall on the floor, on the floor
The things that come into your life are often deceptively benign, yet they can wreak havoc on your well-being.
But in your eyes
Despite all these troubles and dangers, there is still hope and optimism.
I see a sunbeam
Through your eyes, the world is still bright and hopeful, like the first light of dawn.
Like the rising sun of dawn
The light in your eyes speaks to the possibility of a new beginning or fresh start.
On your finger's a ring of crystal
You possess something of great value or beauty, like a precious gem that shimmers in the light.
Like the cry of a flying swan
Your beauty and grace are alluring, and your presence can be a balm for those in pain.
In your right hand nothing more is left than a shadow
Despite your wealth and beauty, you remain empty and hollow, with nothing of substance to hold onto.
In your left hand you hold a letter from the girl on the road
Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, there is still love and connection to be found in unexpected places.
There is a tree in your bathroom
The strange and surreal elements of your life are overlapping in ways that are both beautiful and strange.
And a friend at your door
You have people in your life who care for you and want to see you thrive, offering help and support when you need it most.
And if you open up the mailbox
Even amidst the strange and surreal aspects of life, there is still hope for connection and joy in the mundane.
Stars fall on the floor, fall on the floor
The beauty and awe of the cosmos can find a way into even the most ordinary moments of our lives.
Contributed by Aaron R. 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?