However, Neubauten soon outgrew the confines of even the broad scope of industrial music. In their 25-plus years, they have produced a dozen studio albums, live records, a remix album and EP, scored theatre pieces, and more.
Lead vocalist Blixa Bargeld is perhaps the best-known member of the group, both for his work with Neubauten and as guitarist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His fellow founding members Alexander Hacke and N.U. Unruh have likewise been active in various musical roles outside the group over the years.
Bassist Mark Chung was a member of the group from 1981 to 1994. He founded the publishing house Freibank Music Publishing to handle business affairs for Neubauten and other groups, and has continued in this role (concurrently serving as a senior vice-president of Sony Music International for nine years). Percussionist FM Einheit, was a member from 1981 to 1995, and has also been active as a solo artist and member of groups such as Gry.
Since 1997 the group has also included guitarist Jochen Arbeit and percussionist Rudi Moser.
Neubauten's most recent work has been available exclusively to subscribers to their online home, www.neubauten.org. Neubauten completed the third incarnation of their online project in November 2007 and were touring Europe in 2008 in support of their latest album Alles Wieder Offen.
Currently Einstürzende Neubauten is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour through Europe and the United States. In October/November 2010 the band is releasing Strategies Against Architecture IV, the fourth album in the archival compilation series by Neubauten which collates the band’s output from 2002-2010.
Der Schacht von Babel
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
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Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
Zu hoch war bis jetzt unser Aussichtspunkt
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
Mit Hölzern, sehr edel, verschalen wir ihn
Wir schachten den Tunnel von Babel
Selbst Strom für das Licht den verlegen wir drin
Wir schachten den Tunnel von Babel
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Der Schacht von Babel" depict a group of people digging a tunnel or shaft in the twilight, in order to create a higher vantage point for themselves. The shaft of Babel is a reference to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, in which humankind tried to build a tower that would reach heaven, and God confused their language, making it impossible for them to continue the project. The song seems to suggest that even though humans were stopped from building such a monument in the past, they still have the urge to reach for the sky and create something monumental.
The act of digging and constructing a tunnel is presented as a laborious and even dangerous task. The use of edelholz, or noble wood, to shore up the tunnel suggests that the project is not a trivial matter, but rather involves great care and workmanship. The reference to laying electrical cables for lighting adds a modern twist to the construction process, but also highlights the fragility and artificiality of the tunnel in contrast to the natural world outside.
Line by Line Meaning
Wir graben den Schacht in der Abenddämmerung
We are digging the shaft during twilight
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
We are digging the shaft of Babel
Zu hoch war bis jetzt unser Aussichtspunkt
Our vantage point was too high until now
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
We are digging the shaft of Babel
Mit Hölzern, sehr edel, verschalen wir ihn
We are lining it with very noble woods
Wir schachten den Tunnel von Babel
We are tunneling the shaft of Babel
Selbst Strom für das Licht den verlegen wir drin
We are even laying power lines for the lights inside
Wir schachten den Tunnel von Babel
We are tunneling the shaft of Babel
Draußen das Fest erreicht den Höhepunkt
Outside the celebration is reaching its peak
Wir graben den Schacht von Babel
We are digging the shaft of Babel
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH
Written by: ANDREW CHUDY, BLIXA BARGELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind