Einstürzende Neubauten is an ever-changing musical entity, originally forme… Read Full Bio ↴Einstürzende Neubauten is an ever-changing musical entity, originally formed in Berlin, Germany, on the 1st April 1980. Neubauten were initially seen as part of the second wave of industrial bands, filling the space left when Throbbing Gristle terminated their mission. Neubauten's early output fit the term "industrial" well, as it (ab)used the sounds of machinery, metal-on-metal, construction-site equipment, and treated tape loops, creating harsh soundscapes and rhythmic textures reminiscent of krautrock. Their inclusion on the record label Some Bizarre, with acts like Foetus, Coil, and Test Dept., consolidated this position as new industrial pioneers.

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.

Neun Arme / Die Nacht
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

eigentlich
hatte ich
neun Arme
vertrocknet
im Sonnenlicht
eigentlich
war'n Beine
wie Tentakeln

verkümmert
im Tageslicht
--------------------------------------------------
Die Nacht hat schwarze Ränder
Lenin schaut hinaus
Ein Hund verkriecht sich unter dem Bett
und neben dem Grammofon
Am Haken der Gehenkte
bekommt 1000 Nadelstiche
von einem gemütlichen Vollmondgesicht
Was kümmert´s ihn?
Was kümmert ihn das noch?
Vom Balken hängt das nächste Opfer
Korsage und rote Strümpfe
gespreizt, empfängnisbereit
Draußen warten die Voyeure
frühe Paparazzi
Wer hat hier das sagen?
Wer hat die Hand im Spiel?
--------------------------------------------------
eigentlich
will ich in die Nacht
will meine
Fangarme

zurück
zurück!

Overall Meaning

The first paragraph of the song "Neun Arme / Die Nacht" by Einstürzende Neubauten talks about the singer's body being mutated, the physicality of the singer's body. The singer seems to have arms that are dried up and legs that are like tentacles and have atrophied in daylight. The use of "eigentlich" (actually) in this section implies that the body being described should not have these properties, but somehow they exist. It hints at some sort of implied past, which could be inferred to suggest that something has happened to cause these mutations. The imagery in this opening section is one of physicality, almost like a science-fiction or horror story, with the use of tentacles and dried up limbs. It is unclear if the singer is describing themselves or something else, like a figure in a story or myth.

The second paragraph of the song is primarily focused on the night and its darkness. The imagery is macabre, with Lenin and a dog lurking in the darkness. The setting is unclear, but the sense is of something other than a safe and cozy home. The singer describes a hanging body that is receiving abuse from the moon, and notes that the person being hung doesn't seem to care. The section ends with the singer asking who is in charge and who is manipulating the situation. The themes of power and control are apparent in this section, but the implications are left unclear.

The final paragraph of the song is a plea to return to the darkness of the night, and to regain control over the limbs described in the first paragraph. The use of "Fangarme" (tentacles) again hints at a mutated body, but the use of "zurück" (back) suggests that this state existed before, and can be returned to. The singer is looking for escape, but it is not clear from what. The tension between what is real and imagined is present throughout the entire song, leaving the meaning of the lyrics open to interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

eigentlich
Initially

hatte ich
I had

neun Arme
Nine arms

vertrocknet
Dried up

im Sonnenlicht
In the sunlight

eigentlich
Initially

war'n Beine
There were legs

wie Tentakeln
Like tentacles

verkümmert
Atrophied

im Tageslicht
In the daylight

Die Nacht hat schwarze Ränder
The night has black edges