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.
Hospitalistische Kinder / Engel Der Vernichtung
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spurenabdrücke... Ja!
Wovon sollte das sein? Komm!
Du sammelst alles auf was Du siehst!
Gut... So!
Vielleicht war das Ungeheuer das
Ja, das kann sein
Vielleicht auch nicht
Keine Hemmungen mehr bis zur Sintflut!
Na und, dann Nagel doch!
Hört ihr heute Laßt euch sagen:
Einen Engel als Beute werden wir erschlagen
Hab' meine Verstand begraben,
meine Seele im Wüstenboden
...und ich will nich länger warten
Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden
Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
Engel der Vernichtung
Engel der Vernichtung
Eingeschlossen in Schlafsaalträume
Betend zum neuen Engel der immernoch mein Engel ist
Wie ein Schatten über mir schwebend
berauscht am Klang der Waffen
werden mein Engel und ich Gott abschaffen
...und ich will nich länger warten
Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden
Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Hospitalistische Kinder / Engel der Vernichtung" explore themes of violence, destruction, and rebellion against established authority. The first verse begins with questions and observations about "Spurenabdrücke" or footprints, hinting at the idea of following a trail or searching for evidence of something. The following lines suggest a sense of urgency and compulsion to collect and gather everything that is seen. The line "Vielleicht war das Ungeheuer das" ("Maybe it was the monster that") introduces a notion of fear or horror, which is followed by the statement "Der Nächste bitte!" ("The next one please!"), indicating a callousness or indifference to the potential dangers or consequences of this pursuit.
The second verse seems to continue this theme of disregard and recklessness, as the singer declares that there are "no inhibitions until the Flood" and suggests that actions like nailing (presumably to a cross) should not be a barrier to pursuing their goals. The line "Einen Engel als Beute werden wir erschlagen" ("We will slay an angel as prey") implies a desire to strike against a higher power or authority figure. The next couplet expresses a sense of loss and abandonment, with the singer burying their mind and soul and no longer waiting for God's "infinite balls" to finally ignite in flames. The final lines echo the earlier theme of destroying a divine being, with the repeated phrase "Engel der Vernichtung" ("Angel of Destruction").
Overall, the lyrics of "Hospitalistische Kinder / Engel der Vernichtung" suggest a nihilistic desire to rebel against established norms and authority figures, with a particular focus on religious and divine forces. The imagery of footprints and primal impulses also hints at a more animalistic or instinctual quality to this rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja... Warum?
Questioning the purpose or reason for something.
Spurenabdrücke... Ja!
Found some sort of trace or evidence, emphasizing the discovery with an affirmative.
Wovon sollte das sein? Komm!
Asking what something could possibly be, urging someone to come and investigate with them.
Du sammelst alles auf was Du siehst!
Encouraging someone to gather and collect anything they come across, regardless of what it is.
Gut... So!
Expressing satisfaction or approval with the way things are going or turned out.
Vielleicht war das Ungeheuer das
Suggesting that a certain monster or being might have been responsible for something.
Ja, das kann sein
Agreeing that the previous statement is a possibility.
Vielleicht auch nicht
Acknowledging that the previous statement could also be false or incorrect.
Der Nächste bitte!
Asking for the next person or item in line to continue with whatever is happening.
Keine Hemmungen mehr bis zur Sintflut!
Encouraging or granting permission for actions without inhibition or restraint until the end of the world.
Na und, dann Nagel doch!
Dismissively challenging someone to do whatever they are threatening or talking about doing.
Hört ihr heute Laßt euch sagen: Einen Engel als Beute werden wir erschlagen
Making an announcement or proclamation that they will defeat and overpower an angel or being.
Hab' meine Verstand begraben, meine Seele im Wüstenboden
Admitting that they have lost their mind, and that their soul is lost or stuck in a desolate place.
...und ich will nich länger warten Bis Gottes unendlicher Hoden Endlich in Flammen aufgeht
Expressing a desire for God's destruction or downfall, and using vulgar language to emphasize it.
Engel der Vernichtung
Referring to an angel of destruction or annihilation.
Eingeschlossen in Schlafsaalträume Betend zum neuen Engel der immernoch mein Engel ist
Feeling trapped or confined in their thoughts or dreams, and still praying to their angel, even though they are potentially aligned with destruction.
Wie ein Schatten über mir schwebend berauscht am Klang der Waffen werden mein Engel und ich Gott abschaffen
Feeling invigorated and intoxicated by the sound of weapons, preparing to join their angel in eliminating God.
Contributed by Alex S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.