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.
Von Wegen
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Off ways off ways off ways
von wegen von wegen von wegen ich weiss
off ways off ways of ways I know
von wegen von wegen von denen von denen ich weiss
of ways of ways of which of which I know
ich bin schon lange lange lange abgereist
I have been away a very very very long time
on ways of which of which I know
hab' meine zelte abgebrochen
have struck tents
lange lange lange ists her
such a long time ago
auf wegen von wegen von denen von denen ich weiss
on ways off ways of which of which I know
das gelände hinter mir hab ich immer weiter schön vermint
in the terrain to my rear I never stopped laying mines
von wegen von wegen von wegen ich weiss
off ways off ways of ways I know
hab' meinen verstand begraben
have buried my brain
wie meine seele im wüstenboden
like my soul in desert terrain
von wegen von wegen von wegen von wegen
off ways off ways of ways
vor mir links und rechts die wegelagerer: wartend - umsonst
to my left and to my right the highwaymen, waiting, in vain
auf wegen wegenwegenwegenwegenwegenwegenwegen
on ways ways-ways-ways-ways-ways-ways-ways
von denen ich weiss
of which I know
irrwegig abwegig umwegig
erroneous extraneous tortuous
zurück zu dir
return to you
warn immer schon so angelegt
were always laid out this way
unter und oberirdisch
under and overground
zurück zu dir
return to you
ich lebe von der belegschaft meiner zunge
I live off the white coats on my tongue
von den expektorationen meiner mutmasslichen seele
off the expectorations of my supposed soul
lös mich auf wie zucker
Dissolve me like sugar
wenn du die zeit dafür findest
if you find the time for it
machs sanft und plötzlich
do it gently and swiftly
im handstreich
by sleight of hand
oder einfach nur mit einem blick
or simply with a single look
es war alles schon mal da
it was all there once before
machs am besten noch während ich tanze
best you do it while I’m still dancing
ich tanze
still dancing
ich tanze
still dancing
du atmest wie ein funke, ohne körper mitten in mir
You breathe like a spark incorporeal inside me
sehnsucht ist die einzige energie
Addiction to desire is the only energy
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song Von Wegen is a reflection on the journey of the self and the experiences that have shaped it. The song portrays a sense of detachment from society, and the singer has left behind the conventional ways of life, choosing instead to embark on a journey of self-discovery. The opening lines of the song, "off ways off ways off ways," create a sense of detachment and distance from society. The repetition of the phrase "von wegen" emphasizes that the singer has taken an unconventional path that is not commonly taken. The singer expresses his disconnection from society and his journey to find himself, which involved leaving everything behind, such as in the line, " I have been away for a very long time."
The latter half of the song takes a more spiritual tone, with the singer seeking a connection with something deeper, something beyond the self. The lines "You breathe like a spark, incorporeal inside me, Addiction to desire is the only energy" speak to the idea of spiritual energy and finding meaning beyond the self. The song ends with the singer still dancing, a metaphor for living life in the moment and being present in each experience.
Line by Line Meaning
von wegen von wegen von wegen
Off ways off ways off ways
von wegen von wegen von wegen ich weiss
Off ways off ways of ways I know
von wegen von wegen von denen von denen ich weiss
Of ways of ways of which of which I know
ich bin schon lange lange lange abgereist
I have been away a very very very long time
auf wegen von denen von denen ich weiss
On ways of which of which I know
hab' meine zelte abgebrochen
Have struck tents
lange lange lange ists her
Such a long time ago
auf wegen von wegen von denen von denen ich weiss
On ways off ways of which of which I know
das gelände hinter mir hab ich immer weiter schön vermint
In the terrain to my rear I never stopped laying mines
von wegen von wegen von wegen ich weiss
Off ways off ways of ways I know
hab' meinen verstand begraben
Have buried my brain
wie meine seele im wüstenboden
Like my soul in desert terrain
von wegen von wegen von wegen von wegen
Off ways off ways of ways
vor mir links und rechts die wegelagerer: wartend - umsonst
To my left and to my right the highwaymen, waiting, in vain
auf wegen wegenwegenwegenwegenwegenwegenwegen
On ways ways-ways-ways-ways-ways-ways-ways
von denen ich weiss
Of which I know
irrwegig abwegig umwegig
Erroneous extraneous tortuous
zurück zu dir
Return to you
warn immer schon so angelegt
Were always laid out this way
unter und oberirdisch
Under and overground
ich lebe von der belegschaft meiner zunge
I live off the white coats on my tongue
von den expektorationen meiner mutmasslichen seele
Off the expectorations of my supposed soul
lös mich auf wie zucker
Dissolve me like sugar
wenn du die zeit dafür findest
If you find the time for it
machs sanft und plötzlich
Do it gently and swiftly
im handstreich
By sleight of hand
oder einfach nur mit einem blick
Or simply with a single look
es war alles schon mal da
It was all there once before
machs am besten noch während ich tanze
Best you do it while I’m still dancing
ich tanze
Still dancing
du atmest wie ein funke, ohne körper mitten in mir
You breathe like a spark incorporeal inside me
sehnsucht ist die einzige energie
Addiction to desire is the only energy
Contributed by Zachary H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stefan Schmoll
Extraordinär! 🤩🥰
Randolph Lautsch
... nochmals, Tausend Dank!!!!
Presko
Exellent j'adore ce titre !