La Hengst was born in 1967 and grew up in Bad Salzuflen in Westfalia.
Between 1986 and 1988 she was a part of the ‚Fast Weltweit’ label scene (with Frank Spilker/Die Sterne & Jochen Distelmeyer/Blumfeld) and released a number of songs on their tape cassette samplers.
In 1989 she moved to Hamburg and in the following year formed the bands ‚Die Braut haut ins Auge’ and the ‚Mobylettes’ and was, from 1989 till 1991,a member of the band ‚HUAH’ Since 1992 she has repeatedly lent her voice to Rocko Schamoni (on tour and in the studio) as a guest singer.
‚Die Braut haut ins Auge’ realeased 3 studio albums, played what are now considered to be legendary concerts in virtually every city, town and hamlet in Germany, toured the U.S.A. in 1996 and in the summer of 1997, were invited to play at one of the largest Rock festivals in St Petersburg/Russia.
1999 ‚Die Braut haut ins Auge’ amicably disbanded and to round up a good 9 year roll, they recorded a live Album ‚+1 auf die Gästeliste’ (+1 on the Guest list) which Bernadette La Hengst released on her label ‚B.H. Records’ to coincide with the band’s farewell tour.
She is also one of the founding members of the non-commercial group ‚Buttclub’ in Hamburg that was created as a cultural-political network and has, since 1999, organised political activities and readings and film and art events.
In September 2003, Bernadette La Hengst was distinguished by the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen for her complete artistic work (to date!) with the Female Artists Award in the category popular music.
Discography:
1987-1988: Fast Weltweit cassette sampler No.1& No.2
1990: HUAH! Was machen Huah jetzt! (L`age d`or)
1991: Mobylettes, Girltalk (Elbtonal)
1991: Die Braut haut ins Auge, Double 7“ (Pudels Records)
1993: Die Braut haut ins Auge, CD, LP (BMG)
1995: Die Braut haut ins Auge, Was nehm ich mit?, CD, LP (BMG)
1998: Die Braut haut ins Auge, Pop ist tot, CD (BMG)
2000: Die Braut haut ins Auge, + 1 auf der Gästeliste CD, LP (B.H.Records, Ritchie Records)
2002: Bernadette La Hengst, Der beste Augenblick in deinem Leben... CD (Trikont)
2002: Bernadette La Hengst, Vinyl 7“: Keine Tränen (Ritchie Records)
2002: Ein Mädchen namens Gerd, Contribution to the ‚Tribute to Johnny Cash’ Compilation CD (Trikont)
2003: Spielbude bis Balduintreppe, Contribution to the ‚Gebrüder Wolff Compilation’ CD (Trikont)
2005: Schwabinggrad Ballett, CD, LP (Staubgold)
September 2005: Bernadette La Hengst, La Beat, CD/LP (Trikont/Ritchie Records)
Official Website: www.lahengst.com
Elephant Man
Bernadette La Hengst Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
thinking of what will be and what was then.
The promise I gave myself a long time ago
was to fulfill my dreams and never let them go.
Elephant man, I don't understand
what kind of person I'll be in the end.
We are all frightened to watch our souls
Elephant man (x2)
Was hast du, was ich nicht hab?
Gib mir dein Gesicht für einen Tag,
Ich will die Welt aus deinen Augen sehen
und danach will ich nach Hause gehen.
Elephant man, I don't know when
I will be satisfied and content.
I saw your face on a february day
you captured my heart in that never ending rain.
I saw your face on a february day
you captured my heart in that never ending rain.
Elephant man (x3)
Elephant man
he's an elephant man
Was hast du, was ich nicht hab?
Gib mir dein Gesicht für einen Tag,
Ich will die Welt aus deinen Augen sehen
und danach will ich nach Hause gehen.
The lyrics of Bernadette La Hengst's "Elephant Man" convey a sense of uncertainty and a search for identity. The singer sees herself in the Elephant Man, someone who stands apart from the crowd, and wonders what kind of person she'll be in the end. The promise she made to herself a long time ago is to fulfill her dreams, but she's not sure if she will ever be satisfied and content. The line "We are all frightened to watch our souls" suggests a fear of introspection and the possibility of seeing only a "handful of mold" - something ugly and unappealing.
The repeated refrain of "Elephant Man" creates a kind of rallying cry, as if to say that it's okay to be different and stand out. The second verse suggests a desire to understand the Elephant Man. The singer wants to see the world from his perspective, to borrow his face for a day. This could be interpreted as a desire for empathy and understanding, as well as a curiosity about what it's like to be someone who is often cast as an outsider. The song's final lines repeat the refrain, emphasizing the idea of the Elephant Man as a symbol of resilience and individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Elephant man, don't know who I am
The singer feels lost and unsure of their identity
thinking of what will be and what was then.
The singer is reflecting on the past and anticipating the future
The promise I gave myself a long time ago
The singer made a commitment to themselves in the past
was to fulfill my dreams and never let them go.
The commitment was to pursue their goals and ambitions without giving up on them
Elephant man, I don't understand
The artist is still uncertain about the future and themselves
what kind of person I'll be in the end.
The singer is questioning their own character and how they will develop as a person
We are all frightened to watch our souls
The singer believes that people are afraid to examine their inner selves and confront their fears
'cause all we'd see, could be a handfull of mould.
If we did examine ourselves, we might not like what we find
Was hast du, was ich nicht hab?
The artist is asking the Elephant Man what qualities they possess that they lack
Gib mir dein Gesicht für einen Tag,
The artist wants to see the world through the Elephant Man's eyes for a day
Ich will die Welt aus deinen Augen sehen
The singer hopes to gain a new perspective by taking on the Elephant Man's point of view
und danach will ich nach Hause gehen.
After gaining this new perspective, the artist plans to go home
Elephant man, I don't know when
The singer is still uncertain about their future
I will be satisfied and content.
The singer hopes to reach a state of happiness and fulfillment
I saw your face on a february day
The singer is recounting a specific memory of encountering the Elephant Man
you captured my heart in that never ending rain.
The Elephant Man made a deep and lasting impression on the artist
Elephant man, he's an elephant man
The artist is identifying and acknowledging the Elephant Man's unique identity
Contributed by Andrew S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.