John Watts recorded and performed as 'John Watts' during 1981-83 before forming The Cry in 1984. Watts later continued with a new incarnation of Fischer-Z in 1987, with him being the only original member. Albums were released with a similar line-up until 1995 when John Watts returned to being 'J M Watts', 'Watts' and John Watts. In 2002 the moniker was revived once more for the album "Ether". There was a 2004 reunion of the original band for one short show which featured on the Garden Party DVD which was released along with the Fischer-Z Highlights 1979-2004 25th anniversary compilation album.
After this John continued performing and recording solo with the most recent album being 2005's 'Real Life Is Good Enough', "It Has To Be" (2006) and "Morethanmusic & Films" (2009).
In august 2010 John Watts had a couple of shows in the Netherlands with his current band (Sam Walker on drums and Matthew Gest on keyboard) playing good old Fischer-Z repertoire. He presented this band as "the new Fischer-Z". Though John Watts focuses on his solo efforts more than on Fischer-Z (no new releases under that name) lately he revives the band when concert tent to be focused on that period of his live.
Berlin
Fischer-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The signed pictures of film stars who stayed here in eras
That knew of no wall.
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
Part of the old world lives
On this island in Germany
And still out there through the window at six in the morning. The essence survives.
Come they told me, down to the dark clubs at night
They'll surprise you , the one's who are asleep when it's light
So outrangeous, like tropical birds in a cage
Out from underneath their stones.
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
Young faces new ideals, in search of paradise
They merge into the history, the theatre of memories
That make up the feel of
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
The lyrics to Fischer-Z's song "Berlin" tell the story of exploring a room in the city of Berlin, filled with signed pictures of famous film stars who stayed there during a time when the city was divided by the infamous Berlin Wall. The lyrics mention "the old world" still living on the island in Germany and "the essence" of Berlin surviving through the eras. The song speaks of venturing "down to the dark clubs at night" and encountering people who are "outrageous, like tropical birds in a cage". Further, the lyrics suggest that the city is a place for young faces and new ideas, as they merge into the history and theatre of memories that make up the feel of Berlin.
The lyrics of "Berlin" by Fischer-Z paint a vivid picture of the city during a period of tremendous change and upheaval. The image of the signed pictures of film stars from a pre-wall era reinforces the idea that the city was a very different place before the physical and ideological division. The song speaks of the "essence" of Berlin surviving through the years, suggesting a deep resilience and history that can't be erased by political changes. The song uses powerful metaphors, such as the "outrageous tropical birds in a cage", to represent the people of the city who are living in difficult and constrained circumstances, but who still find ways to assert themselves and their individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
These sore red eyes explore the room again.
The singer, with their tired eyes, looks around the room once more.
The signed pictures of film stars who stayed here in eras
That knew of no wall.
The pictures on the wall commemorate the film stars who visited the city when there was no Berlin Wall dividing it.
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
The refrain of the song, repeating the word Berlin several times.
Part of the old world lives
On this island in Germany
And still out there through the window at six in the morning. The essence survives.
In this part of Germany, some of the old world remains, and even at six in the morning, the essence of the city can be seen through the window.
Come they told me, down to the dark clubs at night
They'll surprise you , the one's who are asleep when it's light
So outrangeous, like tropical birds in a cage
Out from underneath their stones.
People advised the artist to go to the dark clubs at night, where those who sleep during the day can surprise them. The people there are like tropical birds trapped in a cage, finally coming out from underneath their stones.
Young faces new ideals, in search of paradise
They merge into the history, the theatre of memories
That make up the feel of
Berlin...Berlin... Berlin...Berlin...
There are young people in Berlin with new ideas, searching for paradise. They become a part of the city's history, which is like a theater of memories that create the unique feel of Berlin.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DIDI GUTMAN, SABINA SCIUBBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
manny oliveira
A piece of artistic 1980's music from one of the best bands in the world. These guys were ahead of their time. John Watts is genius! Fischer-Z very much underrated!
Kristian Ingstrup Frederiksen
Probably one of the Best New wave bands ever. Saw canadian Fisher Z at Roskilde festival a generation ago. They embrased the anciety of the cold war like few others. My gratitude
richard finlayson
their music really captures the vibe of the 80s,...edgy,paranoid, angry,the feeling of being controled, trying to empower yourself....great social realism, verry powerful. red skies is the most complette, fully formed version of their vision
cibriosis
vibe of the 80s..what you just said captures our hier und jetzt..scary indeed
Allos enas
I saw them in Athens around 79, i still remember them, awasome trio, and that characteristic voice of John Watts, able to get high notes, lyrical and aggressive at the same time . I saw them along with Police, Fall, Tom Robinson, Lene Lovich. Of all of them i thought they were the best, i thought that i saw them just before becoming great. I felt bad they did n't make it (2 and a half really good LPs) and too bad Watts was confused politically.
Dave Lazzari
I forget how much I liked this band. Excellent album
Dagmar Gr
Du wirst alt Digga, sagen meine Kids mir immer. But History repeats
da_hooliii
One of their best songs.
Paolo Longo
An explosion of wonderful great memories ! Thanks for posting
Aleinikov65
I played this song in a school rock band, at age of 17, in Berlin, at the drums.....good memories ...(I was born 1965)