Kruspe started the band in 2005, writing songs with ex-wife Caron Bernstein, when Rammstein decided to take time off from touring and recording. Kruspe has previously stated that the idea for Emigrate came to him around Rammstein's Mutter era.
On September 5, 2006, members of the Rammstein.de newsletter were sent an invitation to the Emigrate newsletter and given the chance to download the song "Wake Up", a sneak peek of the upcoming album. Three song samples were also posted on Emigrate's website: "My World", "Babe", and "Temptation". Fans voted "Babe" as being their favorite, and newsletter recipients were allowed to download "Babe" in its entirety starting November 29, 2006. Babe is the only one of these songs where the subject matter, a parent's unconditional love for their child, is not Bernstein's point of view, as she didn't have any children at the time. Kruspe then explained exactly how he felt, and she turned his feelings into lyrics. As opposed to "My World" which is entirely about her feelings of her life as it related to her world. On May 21, 2007, Emigrate's official website opened and "My World" was made available for download in its entirety to newsletter subscribers.
The video for "My World" has been released and can be viewed on the official website. The video was also included on the limited edition release of the album Emigrate. In addition to the video, "My World" is featured on the soundtracks to the third Resident Evil movie, Resident Evil: Extinction and True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet. The soundtracks to the previous two movies contained "Halleluja" and "Mein Teil" from Rammstein, respectively. On July 27, 2007, Kruspe made an appearance on Bruce Dickinson's rock show on BBC. A video for "New York City" has been released. Kruspe then left the Emigrate project aside due to Rammstein reuniting in the fall of 2007 to work on their new album Liebe ist für alle da which was released in October 2009, and also to take part in the subsequent Rammstein tour.
Joe Letz, who had appeared in the video for "My World", updated the Emigrate Facebook page on June 24, 2011, stating that Kruspe had been working on a new record.
On December 5, 2012, an announcement posted on the Emigrate Facebook page announced that demos were being recorded and reviewed, and studio time was being set up in January 2013 to begin official recording of an untitled second album.
In January 2013, Kruspe stated via the Emigrate Facebook page that drums were beginning to be mixed for the new record.
In January 2014, Kruspe, on the Emigrate Facebook page, posted that twenty tracks had been recorded for Emigrate and that mixing would be performed in Los Angeles, California, alongside Ben Grosse, with a projected release in the summer of 2014. On March 7, 2014, Kruspe announced the second album was complete and he is departing back to Berlin.
On July 22, 2014, a post was made to Emigrate's official Facebook page with a teaser trailer to Emigrate's new album, titled Silent So Long and an official release date of October 17, 2014.
On December 9, 2014, Emigrate's second album titled Silent So Long was released.
On July 26, 2018, a post on the official Facebook page announced the upcoming filming of a new music video with guests Benjamin Kowalewicz and Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent, inviting applications to participate in the recording.
Emigrate's third album, A Million Degrees, was released on November 30, 2018.
The fourth album - The Persistence of Memory - was released on November 12, 2021.
Emigrate
Emigrate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bureaucracy is such a drag
Behold a pale horse tonight
The men in black are out of sight
She comes
He comes
We come
Across the oceans in my mind
Across the skies I left behind
A land of opportunity
A land to fill my destiny
Emigrate [x4]
I've been alone a long, long time
So what, I take what should be mine
I've searched the sea of empty eyes
And severed all my familiy ties
A mercenary feeds my soul
A plastic world, no getting old
A monkey wears the age-old crown
The other monkeys getting down
She comes
He comes
We come
She comes
Welcome
Emigrate [x4]
Walk through fear
Leave you, dear
Never wanted to create a tear
Walk through fear
If you dare
Emigrate [x5]
The lyrics to Emigrate's song "Emigrate" speak of the desire to leave behind a stagnant life and explore new opportunities. The song begins with a reference to the American flag and bureaucracy being a drag, setting the stage for a longing to leave behind the familiar for something new. The line "behold a pale horse tonight, the men in black are out of sight" suggests a sense of foreboding and the idea of leaving quickly and under the cover of darkness.
The chorus of "She comes, he comes, we come, she comes" alludes to multiple people, perhaps a group of like-minded individuals looking to leave together. The imagery of crossing oceans and leaving behind skies suggests a physical and emotional distance from the familiar. The desire to fill one's destiny and take what should be mine is a strong theme throughout the song. There is a sense of rebellion and a willingness to walk through fear and leave behind loved ones if necessary. The repeated use of "emigrate" emphasizes the desire to change and start anew.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of seeking a new life free from constraints and limitations. The repeated use of "walk through fear" suggests that the journey to a new life may not be easy, but it is worth it for the chance of something new and better.
Line by Line Meaning
Eagle flies across a flag
The symbolic image of an eagle flying above a flag represents the sense of patriotism that is bestowed in American culture; free from any bureaucratic interventions.
Bureaucracy is such a drag
The excessive government formalities and red tape slow the pace of growth of any individual or organization.
Behold a pale horse tonight
The image of a pale-colored horse is a common biblical symbol of the end times or warning of impending death or catastrophe.
The men in black are out of sight
The system of power and control that oversees people's actions is not always visible, and those who control it choose to stay hidden.
She comes
The arrival of a change, new opportunity, or opportunity for a better life.
He comes
The same opportunity could be arriving for someone else, not necessarily the singer.
We come
The singer is including himself in a community of people who are taking advantage of the new opportunity.
Across the oceans in my mind
The artist is imagining the possibilities of life overseas and wondering how different it would be from their current reality.
Across the skies I left behind
The artist left behind the familiar sky and atmosphere with which they grew up and now searches for a new horizon.
A land of opportunity
A new place that provides the possibility of a better future.
A land to fill my destiny
A place where the singer believes their future can be fulfilled.
Emigrate [x4]
The chorus emphasizes the desire to leave and seek opportunities elsewhere, emigrating to a new land.
I've been alone a long, long time
The singer has been isolated or felt disconnected for an extended period of time leading up to this need for emigration.
So what, I take what should be mine
The singer decides that to search for what they deserve and that immigration is the way to claim it.
I've searched the sea of empty eyes
The singer has been looking around aimlessly without finding anything, and wondering about the meaningless life.
And severed all my family ties
The artist has cut ties with their family members to venture out into the unknown to seek a new beginning.
A mercenary feeds my soul
The new land is both a calling and a necessity for the artist that becomes a financial source to feed their soul.
A plastic world, no getting old
The new place that the singer is immigrating stands for an artificial life and the possibility of a financially affluent, fake future that can be achieved by anyone.
A monkey wears the age-old crown
The singer refers to the sheer vanity of those wearing the crown who are only interested in the riches, although they may not have earned them either honestly or in hard work.
The other monkeys getting down
The individuals standing around the person wearing the crown are comfortable in the shadow of the rich and powerful.
Welcome
The artist is in the midst of the new environment, and someone is welcoming them.
Walk through fear
The artist is encouraging himself or others to take a risk and face up to any risks that come as part of a new opportunity or situation.
Leave you, dear
The singer may have to leave someone important behind, to pursue a new opportunity that the other person may not be able or willing to chase.
Never wanted to create a tear
The artist has never intended to cause any heartache or hardship in those they care about, but the need to follow their dreams comes as a necessity.
If you dare
If the individual is ready to step up and face risk, change his or her circumstances, and seize the new opportunity.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Z. Kruspe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind