A lot of their initial popularity came from positive press in the UK (when many other Krautrock bands were shunned by UK media such as NME) and airplay on John Peel's BBC radio programmes, which led to extensive touring in the UK. They also gained exposure in Germany by doing soundtrack work for German filmmakers.
Keyboardist Irmin Schmidt and bassist/producer Holger Czukay had studied electronic music together under Karlheinz Stockhausen circa 1966. Schmidt was inspired to start the group following a trip to New York where he was "corrupted' by Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. As well as Schmidt and Czukay, the initial lineup included guitarist Michael Karoli, a former pupil of Czukay; and drummer Jaki Liebezeit.
Their first vocalist was an American sculptor, Malcolm Mooney, who joined them living in an old castle with their own music studio, Inner Space. Mooney added a sort of "outsider artist" approach to his improvised vocals, but the chaotic lifestyle was damaging to his mental health and he eventually fled back to the USA on advice of a psychiatrist. He later contributed to the 'reunion' album Rite Time in the mid '80s.
Mooney was replaced by Kenji "Damo" Suzuki, found busking outside a cafรฉ in Munich. With Damo Suzuki they made their classic albums Tago Mago (1971), Ege Bamyasi (1972) and Future Days (1973). Suzuki left the group in 1973, marrying his German girlfriend and becoming a Jehovah's Witness; he subsequently resumed touring and recording as a solo artist. He sadly passed away on 09.02.2024 at the age of 74.
Following Suzuki's departure the music at first became even more atmospheric and electronic-based, with Karoli and Schmidt providing occasional vocals. However they then moved towards conventional music forms such as disco and reggae. The disco-influenced single I Want More was an international hit in 1976. The lineup was bolstered in 1977 by the addition of former Traffic bassist Rosko Gee and percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, while original bassist Czukay was relegated to making electronic sound effects.
The group split in 1979 but reunited briefly in the mid-80s and early 90s.
Call Me
Can Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The seat of fire, this war right track,
I think of you, you'll have a snake to find,
Sensation, all too fast.
Watch them go around the bend,
Mudmen mind, machine transent,
Heading for that free god friends
For our way around the bend,
I can see your key, door once so thick,
Must find somewhere to feel the stick,
Reward the ways that take the flight.
It's three o' clock and there the crack,
Hoist men from the hurt way track,
Darkness crawling round the spot,
Driving there without a scratch
For our way around the bend,
For our way around the bend.
Voice spread, voice spread,
Voice spread, voice spread,
Voice spread, voice spread,
Find, come, find, come,
Find, find, find, find,
Find, find,
Come here, come here.
Watch them go around the bend,
Mudmen mind, machine transent,
Heading for that free god friends
For our way around the bend,
For our way around the bend.
Find, find, find, find,
Find, find, find, find,
They come, they come, they come, they come,
They come, they come, they come, they come.
The lyrics to Can's song Call Me are cryptic and open to interpretation, but there are several themes and motifs that can be discerned. The song seems to evoke a sense of urgency and desperation, with lyrics about the "hardest part" and "war right track." There are references to snakes and mudmen, which could be interpreted as symbols of danger or chaos. The repeated refrain of "find, find, find" suggests a search for something elusive or unknown.
The lyrics also contain references to time and movement, with mentions of a clock striking three and people driving without a scratch. There is a sense of forward momentum and a search for something beyond the present moment. The lines "Reward the ways that take the flight" and "Heading for that free god friends" suggest a desire for liberation or transcendence.
At the heart of the song is a sense of yearning or longing, exemplified by the lines "I think of you" and "Must find somewhere to feel the stick." It's unclear who or what is being referred to here, but there is a sense of longing for connection or fulfillment.
Overall, the lyrics to Call Me are enigmatic and full of symbolism. They suggest a journey through dangerous territory in search of something elusive, with a sense of yearning driving the action.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me when there's the hardest part,
Let me know when things get really difficult
The seat of fire, this war right track,
A high-pressure situation, but the right path to take
I think of you, you'll have a snake to find,
I'm concerned for you, and you'll have some trouble to deal with
Sensation, all too fast.
Everything is happening quickly, and it's overwhelming
Watch them go around the bend,
Observe them as they move forward
Mudmen mind, machine transent,
People with muddy thoughts, but still progressing like machines
Heading for that free god friends
Going towards friends who are like gods, who can help them be free
For our way around the bend,
For our way around the bend.
We're making our way around the curve, and that's where we need to go
I can see your key, door once so thick,
I can understand your situation, even though it used to be tough
Must find somewhere to feel the stick,
Need to find a way to feel alive
Reward the ways that take the flight.
Celebrate those who take bold steps and soar
It's three o' clock and there the crack,
It's late and things are starting to fall apart
Hoist men from the hurt way track,
Help people escape from a difficult path
Darkness crawling round the spot,
Driving there without a scratch
Danger is creeping up on us, but we're handling it successfully
Voice spread, voice spread,
A message being spread, a call to action
Find, come, find, come,
Find, find, find, find,
Searching for something or someone
Come here, come here.
Inviting someone to come closer
They come, they come, they come, they come,
They come, they come, they come, they come.
More and more people are arriving
Lyrics ยฉ CARLIN AMERICA INC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BELFORD HENDRICKS, CLYDE LOVERN OTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CalifornianCuttlefish
to anyone listening to this in nowadays: bless your soul, you must have taste
@braylenconner3
Love 60s through 80s some 90s
@cokedudebestmate7099
I have some taste, and thatโs an understatement
@reconghostgaming3213
I donโt mind the 50โs all the way to 2016. There is only so much good songs 2017-2021 i like, but itโs a bit stale lately.
@CalifornianCuttlefish
@@reconghostgaming3213 Thank You?
@danieladiaz8259
Yeah, I have taste. 80s music is awesome because it doesnโt say any bad words
@freeatleast
Chevy Chase has always been an amazing actor and comedian. I miss the days when greats like him graced the big screen.
@tommiepattonkendrickiii1617
This is one of my all-time favorite songs... I'm 36 and this was a staple of my childhood and really my LIFE. This song is on my 'Life's Playlist', one of my life's many 'anthems'. Much love from Greenfield, Massachusetts! And God bless you all! โค โ๏ธ
@LOVEHAS1JOYRAINS2
Hello!๐ Mother Father of all creation are here in physical flesh please phone home today! Our creators have taken on the worst for this message to reach you urgently and are starting to build God's house and band
@kentnichols3438
U r a nice