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 café 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.
Spray
Can Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now when he was away
The walking out was walking out
With all the tall little ways
Just don't know what it's like
Just don't know where am I
Just don't know where I'm going
I was going all the time
Just breaking wrong and right
The stone there down is going
Go away tonight
Just don't know when you're right
When I'm down, alright
Just don't know where you are
Just don't know you are there
Just don't know where you are
Where you run, the water run
Just don't know where you go
Where you're running out
Just where you take a rest
And where the harvest
Don't know where you're out
The lyrics of Can’s song “Spray” speaks of confusion, uncertainty and feeling lost, as well as the desire to move forward and escape the past. The opening line “Was running for my life” implies that the singer is trying to escape something, most likely a past or a problem, and has been running for quite some time. The second line “Now when he was away” suggests that there was someone obstructing or causing issues for the singer, but now they are gone.
The next few lines “The walking out was walking out with all the tall little ways, just don’t know what it’s like, just don’t know where am I, just don’t know where I’m going” allude to the feeling of being directionless and aimless after running away. Even though the singer has left behind whatever it was he was running from, he still feels lost and unsure of his next step.
In the next stanza, the repeated line “Just don’t know where you are” may be a reference to a lover or someone the singer cares about. The lines “Just don’t know where you go, where you’re running out, just where you take a rest” give a sense of chasing after someone or trying to locate them, but to no avail. The song concludes with “Don’t know where you’re out” which further emphasizes the feeling of being lost and not knowing where one stands.
Overall, the themes of confusion, uncertainty and feeling lost are present in the lyrics of “Spray”. The song speaks to the human desire to move beyond a difficult past and the challenges that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Was running for my life
I was in a situation where I had to flee or escape for my survival
Now when he was away
When the person, who I assume was my partner, had left me
The walking out was walking out
The departure was an actual, physical leaving
With all the tall little ways
Despite the minor details adding up, it was still a significant action
Just don't know what it's like
I don't understand the situation fully
Just don't know where am I
I am lost and uncertain of my location
Just don't know where I'm going
I am lacking direction and purpose
I was going all the time
I was constantly in movement, without planned destination or aim
Just don't know you can rise
I am unaware of my own potential for growth and improvement
Just breaking wrong and right
I am navigating a path between making mistakes and correct choices
The stone there down is going
Something stable or solid is now beginning to decline or fall apart
Go away tonight
I want to escape or leave as soon as possible
Just don't know when you're right
I can't identify when someone else's actions or decisions are correct
When I'm down, alright
When I am feeling low or facing challenges, it's still okay or manageable
Just don't know where you are
I am uncertain of the location or actions of someone else
Just don't know you are there
I am unaware of someone's presence or support
Where you run, the water run
The direction you take affects everything else around you
Just don't know where you go
I am uncertain of where someone is headed or what they are doing
Where you're running out
Your resources or energy are being depleted as you move forward
Just where you take a rest
The place where you stop and rest is important
And where the harvest
The outcome or fruits of your labor depend on it
Don't know where you're out
I don't have knowledge of what someone else is currently doing or how they're doing
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.