Life = Leben
Front Line Assembly Lyrics


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Air is still
Chaotic thrill
Burns his will
Another kill
No control
Determined fole
Blackened hole
Stories told
One to another
We are bought and sold
One to another
For whom the bell tolls
Thrill A Kill A
He's a chill/er
No creator
Manipulator
Degenerator
A people hater
Psychotic burnout
Douse the flame out
This persecutor
Weird intruder
Forgone conclusion
Severe illusion




Disturbed emotion
Greased with lotion

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Front Line Assembly's song Life=Leben depict the chaotic and destructive nature of humanity. The first verse starts with the description of a still air, which creates a sense of eerie tension. Then, the lyrics move on to describe the thrill of chaos that burns a person's will and leads them to commit acts of violence, as symbolized by "another kill." The lack of control is highlighted as the determined fole, or fool, marches towards a blackened hole. The stories people tell each other are those of buying and selling, emphasizing the idea that humans behave like commodities. The last line of the verse refers to the novel For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemingway, which explores the themes of love and sacrifice in the Spanish Civil War and signals towards the idea of a final tolling bell for everyone.


The second verse continues with the same theme of violence and chaos, describing a thrill-kill mentality that creates a pathological desire to manipulate and destroy. The usage of terms like "degenerator," "people hater," and "psychotic burnout" highlights the author's condemnation for such extreme behaviors. The verse ends with the image of a flame being extinguished, suggesting a loss of vitality and purpose. The final verse talks about the disturbed emotions that pervade the minds of such individuals, greased with consuming desire and lubricated with false ideals. The overall feel of the song is one of despair and futility, highlighting the darker side of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Air is still
The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful


Chaotic thrill
A chaotic rush of excitement


Burns his will
His determination is consuming him


Another kill
Another life taken for selfish reasons


No control
No ability to restrain oneself


Determined fole
A decisive role in something


Blackened hole
A dark and ominous place


Stories told
Tales of what happened


One to another
From one person to another


We are bought and sold
Our lives are controlled by external forces


For whom the bell tolls
Someone is about to die


Thrill A Kill A
The excitement of taking another life


He's a chill/er
He is a killer with no remorse


No creator
There is no higher power in control


Manipulator
Someone who influences others for their own benefit


Degenerator
A destructive influence on society


A people hater
Someone who despises humanity


Psychotic burnout
A person who has lost control and gone insane


Douse the flame out
Eliminate the source of their madness


This persecutor
Someone who is hunting down others


Weird intruder
A strange and unwelcome presence


Forgone conclusion
An inevitable outcome that cannot be changed


Severe illusion
A misperception that causes intense distress


Disturbed emotion
A heightened state of mental disturbance


Greased with lotion
Covered up with phony friendliness




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL LEEB, CHRIS BRYAN PETERSON, CHRISTOPHER PETERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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