1) German Krautrock band Birth Control were formed 1968 in Berlin. In their… Read Full Bio ↴1) German Krautrock band Birth Control were formed 1968 in Berlin. In their early years they played hybrid jazz rock compositions, mainly instrumental. They recorded their first album for Metronome bringing to the fore an accent for humour and provoking thoughts (the name of the band and their album covers illustrate it as well). Their second album Operation shows a great improvement in sound, a kind of heavy rock based sound with subtle jazzy arrangements. This album had a great success for the Ohr label (specialised to promote the rise of the German underground rock scene). In 1972 Hoodoo Man was also released for OHR. After several replacements, the quintet recorded Rebirth, a progressive hard rock album. In 1976 Backdoor Possibilities was a commercial failure due to a more mainstream sound and the inclusion of more jazz elements. Increase recorded in 1977 marked a return to the hard rock source. Birth Control came back to light in the 90s for many reunion albums like Jungle Life or Two Worlds.

www.progarchives.com

2) Birth Control are also a newer band from Philadelphia, featuring Sean McGuiness of Pissed Jeans. They play a strange form of punk that embodies anything that defies normality and embraces the unknown. Their music, if capable of being compared to anything/anyone at all, is similar to having your questions constantly going unanswered. Further information and mp3s can be found at: http://www.freelegalhighs.org/ and www.birth-control.de

3) Birth Control was a new wave/minimal synth band from Sweden. They released a cassette entitled Lobotomi on the Swedish label Neuköln (NK-008) in 1986.

Preacherman
Birth Control Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why do children die
Just straight after their birth
They never have a chance
To see what life is worth

Who invented hunger
Who invented war
What will there be after

What has been before, yeah

Why did he give power
To irresponsible despots
Who oppress their people
Making their lives desperate

Why are some fools
Others being wise
Does life make a sense
Before comes paradise

Tell me preacherman
Tell me how it is
Tell me why your god has
Built the world like this

Tell me preacherman
Tell me how it is
Tell me why your god has
Built the world like this

Tell me preacherman
Tell me how it is
Tell me why your god has
Built the world
Built the world
Built the world
Built the world like this

Oh, yeah

Built the world like this

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Preacherman" by Birth Control are poignant and thought-provoking, addressing deep and meaningful questions about life and the purpose of creation. The opening lines pose the question of why children die just after birth, seemingly without having had a chance to experience life. This leads into a series of further queries about the nature of humanity and the world we inhabit. The lyrics ask why hunger and war exist, and why certain people are given power and use it to oppress others.

The song is sung from the perspective of someone seeking answers from a religious preacher or leader, represented by the titular "preacherman." The singer is grappling with existential questions and seeking insight into the ways of the world, searching for understanding about why things are the way they are. The repeated refrain of "Tell me preacherman / Tell me how it is / Tell me why your god has / Built the world like this" captures the sense of urgency and desperation in the singer's quest for knowledge.

Overall, "Preacherman" is a deeply introspective and philosophical exploration of the human experience, delving into themes of pain, suffering, inequality, and the search for meaning amidst it all.

Line by Line Meaning

Why do children die
Questioning the reason behind infant mortality

Just straight after their birth
Expressing the sadness of not giving them a chance to live longer

They never have a chance
Highlighting the unfairness of the situation

To see what life is worth
Wondering what could have been if they had survived

Who invented hunger
Questioning the origins of the problem of hunger

Who invented war
Questioning the reasons behind war and its destructive nature

What will there be after
Wondering what the future holds

What has been before, yeah
Questioning the history of the world and its events

Why did he give power
Questioning why some people are given power and authority

To irresponsible despots
Highlighting the negative outcomes of assigning power to the wrong people

Who oppress their people
Recognizing the oppression and suffering of people under such leaders