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.
Grazer Damm
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Vom Trümmerberg bis zur Stadtautobahn
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Kachelöfen, Waschküche unter'm Dach
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Der Senat lagert Briketts für
Schlechte Zeiten
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Unsere Wohnung allerdings ganz oben
Ich kann nicht schlafen
Gegenüber auf der Straße lärmen
Leute in Kostümen
Sie trommeln und sie johlen
Es soll wohl etwas Festliches sein
Ein festlich verbrämter Krawall
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Mein Bruder ist da, wie ich, am Fenster
Ein Kind noch ich bin verärgert
Weil das ganze unter dem Fenster
Meiner kleinen schlafenden Schwester passiert
Die Polizei kommt, ein großes Gerenne
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Direkt vor unserem Fenster fällt
Ein neugieriger Mann
Mit einem Schritt zu viel senkrecht vom Dach
Ein Fallschirmspringer in
Voller Astronautenmontur
Schlägt auf der Straße auf, ohne Schirm
Ein Rettungswagen, ein Rettungswagen
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Mehr Springer schlagen auf
Stützen vom Boden sich wieder ab
Es kann nicht sein, wir sind noch nicht unten
Sie versuchen immer wieder aus kleiner
Höhe sich fallen zu lassen
Dabei sind sie längst unten angekommen
Verletzt
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Ein Selbstmord mit dem Gasherd sprengt
Ein Loch in die Fassade
Grazer Damm
Die Züge und der Tod fahren nachts
Neben der Regenrinne über das Dach
Meine kleine Schwester
Meine kleine Schwester, Friedenau
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm grazer Damm
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Grazer Damm" depict a scene from the perspective of a narrator living in an apartment building on Grazer Damm, a street in Berlin. The song starts with a repetition of the street name, creating a sense of monotony and routine. The singer describes the surroundings, mentioning the ruins of a hill, which may symbolize the remnants of the past, and the city highway, indicating progress and modernization.
The second verse focuses on the features of the neighborhood, such as tile stoves, a laundry room under the roof, and air-raid shelters in every house. These details suggest a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era when such amenities were necessary. The mention of the Senate stockpiling briquettes for bad times could allude to the government's effort to prepare for potential crises or difficulties.
The following verse contrasts the singer's apartment, located at the top of the building, with the commotion happening on the street below. The singer cannot sleep due to the noise created by people in costumes, drumming and cheering. The festive atmosphere seems to be a disguise for something chaotic or tumultuous, described as a "festive veiled riot." This contrast between the apparent celebration and the singer's annoyance creates a tension in the lyrics.
The fourth verse introduces the singer's brother, who joins in watching the spectacle from the window. The singer, still a child, is upset because the disturbance is happening beneath their small, sleeping sister's window. The arrival of the police creates even more commotion, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the situation.
The lyrics then shift to a dramatic event, where a curious man falls from the roof right in front of their window. He is dressed in an astronaut-like suit, evoking a sense of science fiction or exploration. The absence of a parachute suggests a failed attempt at skydiving or an accident. The mention of an ambulance highlights the urgency and chaos that ensue.
The following verses describe more instances of people attempting to jump from smaller heights, believing they have not reached the ground yet. However, their attempts are in vain, as they are already injured and have, in fact, landed at the bottom. This repetitive behavior serves as a metaphor for the futility of certain actions or the inability to face reality.
The lyrics conclude with a reference to a suicide by gas stove explosion that creates a hole in the facade of a building. This event implies the presence of despair or personal struggles within the community. The final lines mention trains and death passing by the rain gutter on the roof at night, reminding the singer of their little sister who lives in Friedenau, another district of Berlin.
Overall, "Grazer Damm" portrays a fragmented and surrealistic depiction of life in a Berlin neighborhood, exploring themes of routine, nostalgia, chaos, and the contrast between appearance and reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Repeating the name of the street, emphasizing its importance or significance in the context of the song
Vom Trümmerberg bis zur Stadtautobahn
From the rubble mountain to the city highway, denoting the range or extent of the street
Kachelöfen, Waschküche unter'm Dach
Tile stoves, laundry room under the roof, describing the features or characteristics of the buildings on Grazer Damm
Luftschutzkeller in allen Häusern
Air raid shelters in all the houses, highlighting the presence of such shelters in the neighborhood
Der Senat lagert Briketts für Schlechte Zeiten
The Senate stores briquettes for bad times, implying a preparation for difficult or challenging periods
Unsere Wohnung allerdings ganz oben Ich kann nicht schlafen
However, our apartment is at the top; I cannot sleep, expressing frustration or discomfort related to the living situation
Gegenüber auf der Straße lärmen Leute in Kostümen
On the opposite side of the street, people in costumes are making noise, indicating the presence of a festive or celebratory event
Sie trommeln und sie johlen Es soll wohl etwas Festliches sein Ein festlich verbrämter Krawall
They drum and they cheer; it seems to be something festive, a festively adorned commotion, portraying the chaotic and energetic nature of the event
Mein Bruder ist da, wie ich, am Fenster Ein Kind noch ich bin verärgert
My brother is there, like me, at the window; being still a child, I am annoyed, expressing the artist's perspective and emotions
Weil das ganze unter dem Fenster Meiner kleinen schlafenden Schwester passiert
Because everything is happening beneath the window of my little sleeping sister, indicating concern and distress for the sister's well-being
Die Polizei kommt, ein großes Gerenne
The police arrive, a big commotion, signifying the arrival of law enforcement and ensuing chaos
Direkt vor unserem Fenster fällt Ein neugieriger Mann
Right in front of our window, a curious man falls, depicting a sudden and unexpected event occurring close to the artist
Mit einem Schritt zu viel senkrecht vom Dach Ein Fallschirmspringer in Voller Astronautenmontur
Taking one step too many vertically from the roof, a parachute jumper in full astronaut attire, illustrating a daring or adventurous act
Schlägt auf der Straße auf, ohne Schirm Ein Rettungswagen, ein Rettungswagen
Hits the ground on the street without a parachute; an ambulance, an ambulance, depicting the consequences of the fall and the immediate response to the accident
Mehr Springer schlagen auf Stützen vom Boden sich wieder ab
More jumpers fall, bracing themselves on supports from the ground, indicating a repetitive pattern of falls and subsequent recoveries
Es kann nicht sein, wir sind noch nicht unten Sie versuchen immer wieder aus kleiner Höhe sich fallen zu lassen Dabei sind sie längst unten angekommen Verletzt
It cannot be, we are not yet down; they keep trying to fall from a lower height, though they have already reached the ground injured, highlighting the futility or misguided actions of the jumpers
Ein Selbstmord mit dem Gasherd sprengt Ein Loch in die Fassade
A suicide with the gas stove explodes a hole in the facade, portraying a destructive act committed by someone in distress
Die Züge und der Tod fahren nachts Neben der Regenrinne über das Dach Meine kleine Schwester Meine kleine Schwester, Friedenau
Trains and death pass at night next to the rain gutter across the roof; my little sister, my little sister, Friedenau, highlighting the dangerous or precarious environment in which the singer's sister resides
Grazer Damm, Grazer Damm
Repeating the name of the street, emphasizing its significance or connection to the depicted events
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind