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.
ich bins
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nichts was ich trinken kann
Ich beiss mir in die zunge
Und trinke was ich kann
�ffne eine and´re Tür
Mach nicht auf
Keine nummern, keine Zahlen
Das Freizeichen schreit mich an
Nichts kann uns trennen
Nichts wie raus aus diesem Traum
Ja ja ja â?? Hallo?
�ffne eine and´re Tür
Mach nicht auf
Die reine Leere
Abgeworfen offenbar
Nichts als Licht
I'm Null Komma nichts
Draussen ist ein neuer Tag â?? irgendwo
Nur nicht hier â?? nirgendwo
�ffne eine and´re Tür
Mach nicht auf
Leere Menge ohne Elemente
Alle Elemente
Aber
Alle Elemente in Aufruhr bringen
Einen Besen zerhacken
Feuer anfachen
Mælstrøm in diesem Zimmer
�ffne eine and´re Tür
Mach nicht auf
Schatten meiner selbst
Ich bin´s
Schatten meiner selbst
�ffne eine and´re Tür
Mach nicht auf
Mein Gast wartet
Wartet schon lange
Macht es sich I'm Schrank bequem
Wartet geduldig
Mein Gast wartet
Mein Gast will endlich gehen
Mein Gast wartet
Aber
Diese Tür öffne ich nicht
Solang meine Mitte noch leuchtet
Weil meine Mitte noch leuchtet
Weil meine Mitte noch ungefragt leuchtet
Mach mich auf
Mach mich auf
Mach mich auf den Weg
Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s
Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s Ich bin´s
Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts Nichts
Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil
Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing Nothing
Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer Leer
The song "Ich bins" by Einstürzende Neubauten is characteristic of the band's experimental and avant-garde approach to music. The lyrics, which are sung in German, are full of obscure and enigmatic imagery that leaves room for different interpretations.
The song seems to be about a dream-like state where the singer is trying to escape from something. The opening lines express a sense of deprivation, as the singer sees nothing and can't find anything to drink. The following lines suggest some tension, as the singer bites their tongue and drinks whatever they can. The refrain, "Öffne eine andere Tür, mach nicht auf" ("Open another door, don't open [this one]") implies a desire to escape or to enter a different reality.
The rest of the lyrics are more abstract, combining images of emptiness, chaos, and waiting. The last lines, "Solang meine Mitte noch leuchtet, mach mich auf den Weg" ("As long as my center still shines, make me open up and go"), suggest a need for change or transformation, but the reasons for this change are not clear.
Overall, "Ich bins" is a complex and cryptic song that invites repeated listens and different interpretations. It showcases Einstürzende Neubauten's unique approach to music, which combines industrial and noise elements with poetic imagery and emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich sehe nichts
I cannot see anything
Nichts was ich trinken kann
There is nothing for me to drink
Ich beiss mir in die zunge
I bite my tongue in frustration
Und trinke was ich kann
I drink whatever I can find
�ffne eine and´re Tür
I try to open another door
Mach nicht auf
But it won't open
Ich höre nichts
I cannot hear anything
Keine nummern, keine Zahlen
No numbers or digits are available
Das Freizeichen schreit mich an
The busy signal screams at me
Nichts kann uns trennen
Nothing can separate us
Nichts wie raus aus diesem Traum
We must wake up from this dream
Ja ja ja â?? Hallo?
Yes, yes, yes – who is this?
Die reine Leere
Complete emptiness
Abgeworfen offenbar
Thrown away, obviously
Nichts als Licht
There is nothing but light
I'm Null Komma nichts
In no time at all
Draussen ist ein neuer Tag â?? irgendwo
Outside, there is a new day – somewhere
Nur nicht hier â?? nirgendwo
Just not here – nowhere
Leere Menge ohne Elemente
An empty set with no elements
Alle Elemente
All the elements
Aber
But
Alle Elemente in Aufruhr bringen
To stir up all the elements
Einen Besen zerhacken
To hack up a broom
Feuer anfachen
To start a fire
Mælstrøm in diesem Zimmer
A maelstrom in this room
Schatten meiner selbst
A shadow of myself
Mein Gast wartet
My guest is waiting for me
Wartet schon lange
He has been waiting for a long time
Macht es sich I'm Schrank bequem
He makes himself comfortable in the closet
Wartet geduldig
He waits patiently
Mein Gast will endlich gehen
My guest wants to leave
Aber
But
Diese Tür öffne ich nicht
I will not open this door
Solang meine Mitte noch leuchtet
As long as my core still shines
Weil meine Mitte noch leuchtet
Because my core still shines
Weil meine Mitte noch ungefragt leuchtet
Because my core shines without being questioned
Mach mich auf
Let me go
Mach mich auf den Weg
Let me hit the road
Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil Nihil
Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty
Empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: ALEXANDER HACKE, BLIXA BARGELD, F.M. STRAUSS, MARK CHUNG, N.U. UNRUH, ANDREW CHUDY, F. M. STRAUSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind