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.

Perpetuum Mobile
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ich bin unterwegs
In einer Melange aus Jetlag und Alkohol
In einem Bus mit hundert Sachen
Ich bin unterwegs
Mit meiner unsichtbaren Eismaschine
Mit meinem unsichtbaren, offenen Kamin

Ich checke ein

Mit meinem unsichtbaren Haus mit Garten
Und meinem unsichtbaren Herd von Gaggenau
Sie sitzen neben mir im Flugzeug
Und später trinken wir zusammen leer die Minibar
Manchmal bleiben sie über Nacht im „Hotel-storage“
Order fahren „overnight“ mit dem „Technik-Truck“ der Crew
Mein unsichtbares Haus mit Garten
Und mein unsichtbarer Herd von Gaggenau
Von A nach B
Von A nach B
Von A nach B der Liebe wegen
Von A nach B
Von A nach B
Von A nach B der Liebe wegen
Von A nach B
Von A nach B
Von A nach B der Liebe wegen
Der Liebe

Elevator
Car
Airplane
(Ein Croissant, ein Keks)
Moving walkway
Weißwein
Airplane
(Ein vegetarisches Bordmenü mit Nudeln)
Bus
Rolltreppe
Taxi
Fahrstuhl
(Einen Gin and Tonic)

Perpetuum mobile
Perpetuum mobile
Perpetuum mobile

(Von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
Mit meiner unsichtbaren Eismaschine (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
Mit meinem unsichtbaren, offenen Kamin (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
Mit meinem unsichtbaren Haus mit Garten (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
Mit meinem unsichtbaren privaten Zeppelin (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
(Der Liebe wegen)
(Der Liebe wegen)
(Der Liebe wegen)

(Der Liebe wegen)
(Der Liebe, der Liebe wegen)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Einstürzende Neubauten's song Perpetuum Mobile paint a picture of a constant and endless journey from place to place, always on the move. The singer is traveling in a bus at a high speed, experiencing a mix of jetlag and alcohol. They describe themselves as having an invisible ice machine and an invisible, open fireplace, as if these objects are essential to their travels. They check into hotels with their invisible house and garden, and cook with their invisible Gaggenau stove. They seem to be constantly in transit, moving from planes to elevators, escalators, taxis, and more. The song suggests that this nomadic life is driven by love, as the repeated line of "Von A nach B der Liebe wegen" ("From A to B because of love") suggests.

The song seems to be exploring the theme of movement and travel as a way of life. The singer's constant movement could be seen as a metaphor for the difficult and ever-changing nature of modern life. By emphasizing the invisible objects that the singer carries with them, the song also suggests that there is more to human existence than just what is visible on the surface. Ultimately, the song seems to suggest that even in this constant state of movement, love remains a central and guiding force.

Line by Line Meaning

Ich bin unterwegs
I am traveling

In einer Melange aus Jetlag und Alkohol
In a blend of jet lag and alcohol

In einem Bus mit hundert Sachen
In a bus going at full speed

Ich bin unterwegs
I am traveling

Mit meiner unsichtbaren Eismaschine
With my invisible ice machine

Mit meinem unsichtbaren, offenen Kamin
With my invisible and open fireplace

Ich checke ein
I check in

Mit meinem unsichtbaren Haus mit Garten
With my invisible house and garden

Und meinem unsichtbaren Herd von Gaggenau
And my invisible Gaggenau stove

Sie sitzen neben mir im Flugzeug
They sit next to me in the airplane

Und später trinken wir zusammen leer die Minibar
And later we drink the minibar empty together

Manchmal bleiben sie über Nacht im „Hotel-storage“
Sometimes they stay overnight in the hotel storage

Order fahren „overnight“ mit dem „Technik-Truck“ der Crew
Or they drive overnight with the crew's technical truck

Von A nach B
From A to B

Von A nach B der Liebe wegen
From A to B for love

Elevator
Elevator

Car
Car

Airplane
Airplane

(Ein Croissant, ein Keks)
(A croissant, a cookie)

Moving walkway
Moving walkway

Weißwein
White wine

(Ein vegetarisches Bordmenü mit Nudeln)
(A vegetarian meal with noodles)

Bus
Bus

Rolltreppe
Escalator

Taxi
Taxi

Fahrstuhl
Elevator

(Einen Gin and Tonic)
(A gin and tonic)

Perpetuum mobile
Perpetual motion

(Von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
(From A to B, from A to B, from A to B)

Mit meiner unsichtbaren Eismaschine (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
With my invisible ice machine (From A to B, from A to B, from A to B)

Mit meinem unsichtbaren, offenen Kamin (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
With my invisible, open fireplace (From A to B, from A to B, from A to B)

Mit meinem unsichtbaren Haus mit Garten (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
With my invisible house and garden (From A to B, from A to B, from A to B)

Mit meinem unsichtbaren privaten Zeppelin (von A nach B, von A nach B, von A nach B)
With my invisible private zeppelin (From A to B, from A to B, from A to B)

(Der Liebe wegen)
(For the sake of love)

(Der Liebe, der Liebe wegen)
(For the sake of love, for the sake of love)

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Blixa Bargeld, Alexander Hacke, Jochen Arbeit, Rudolph Moser, Andrew Chudy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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