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.

Seven Screws
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sieben Schrauben halten mich zusammen
Sieben Schrauben sieben Schrauben

Ich singe und ich singe
Bis das Hundertauge schläfrig wird
Ich stehl' die ganze Herde
Ich gehe rückwärts in meinen eigenen Spuren

Der Starke Mann er trägt ein Kleid
Ein Geschenk von mir er weiss es nicht
Es brennt sich tief in seine Haut

Sieben Schrauben halten mich zusammen
Sieben Schrauben sieben Schrauben
Eines Tages ziehe ich sie heraus
Ordne meine Fragmente nehme mich zusammen
Und mische das Alphabet
Ziehe aus dem Ozean der Möglichkeiten
Ein neues Ich uneindeutig
Für immer: Neu

Seven screws hold me together seven screws
Seven screws

I sing and I sing
Until the Hundred-eyes gets sleepy
The strong man now wears a dress
It burns it'self deep into his skin

Seven screws seven screws
One day I'll take them out
I reassemble all the parts
I rearrange the alphabet
And out of the sea of possibilities

I draw myself anew non-binary
I: forever new

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Seven Screws" reflect themes of identity, transformation, and personal liberation. The metaphor of the screws holding the singer together symbolizes a sense of being constrained or confined. The repetition of the phrase "seven screws" emphasizes their importance in maintaining this state.

The act of singing until the "Hundred-eye" (possibly a reference to a mythical entity with great insight) becomes sleepy suggests a release from societal expectations and norms. The singer's theft of a whole herd and walking backward in their own tracks may imply a desire to break free from established paths and conventions.

The mention of the strong man wearing a dress, unbeknownst to him, signifies a subversion of gender norms and the singer's role in challenging these constructs. The dress, which deeply ingrains itself in his skin, represents the transformative power of self-expression and the potential for personal growth through embracing one's true identity.

The second part of the song speaks of the singer's intention to remove the screws holding them together. This represents a decisive moment of self-liberation and the reassembling of their fragmented self. By rearranging the alphabet, the singer strives to redefine themselves beyond societal categorizations. Drawing from the vast ocean of possibilities, they envision a new and ambiguous self, forever fresh and liberated from fixed identities.

Overall, "Seven Screws" is a poetic exploration of breaking free from societal constraints, embracing one's true self, and the transformative power of personal liberation.

Line by Line Meaning

Sieben Schrauben halten mich zusammen
Seven screws hold me together

Sieben Schrauben sieben Schrauben
Seven screws

Ich singe und ich singe
I sing and I sing

Bis das Hundertauge schläfrig wird
Until the Hundred-eyes gets sleepy

Ich stehl' die ganze Herde
I steal the whole herd

Ich gehe rückwärts in meinen eigenen Spuren
I walk backwards in my own footsteps

Der Starke Mann er trägt ein Kleid
The strong man now wears a dress

Ein Geschenk von mir er weiß es nicht
A gift from me, he doesn't know it

Es brennt sich tief in seine Haut
It burns itself deep into his skin

Sieben Schrauben halten mich zusammen
Seven screws hold me together

Sieben Schrauben sieben Schrauben
Seven screws