Vanadium-I-Ching
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics

The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song Vanadium-I-Ching paint a dark and apocalyptic scene, with vivid and unsettling imageries of destruction, death and decay. The opening lines ask whether the listener can hear the noise of beating hearts and see the vultures circling above a burning building. The second stanza repeats the question about vultures, this time directly addressing a beloved person, whose soul is described as "ignited". The third stanza urges the beloved to come closer and speak in the language of contagion, while the last stanza asks if they can see corpses dancing.

The use of animal symbolism underscores the sense of doom and despair, portraying humans as animals scavenging for survival. The repeated address to a "beloved" person suggests a strong emotional connection that is being tested by the harsh reality of destruction and death. The mention of "Seuchensprache" or the language of contagion furthers the theme of decay and the spreading of disease. The ambiguity of the song's meaning invites different interpretations, but it conveys a sense of urgency and looming danger that makes it a powerful and haunting piece of music.