In February 1991 Goethes Erben is formed as a group again. Mindy Kumbalek (keyboards, drums and saxophone) and Conny R. (guitars) make the trio perfect.
In this stocking they record their debut-album "Das Sterben ist ästhetisch bunt" ('Dying is aesthetically colorful') which makes the start of a triology and is published in February 1992 on the Hamburger Label DARK STAR. On this label the following albums are also published.
Short time before the release of the second album "Der Traum an die Erinnerung" ('The dream of the rememberance'), Conny R. leaves the band of her free will. Their Germany-tour in August 1992 makes the group popular in the country. Mindy Kumbalek and Oswald Henke are supported through Peter Seipt as a part-time-musician.
Until now their musical ways have changed a lot, their popularity increased, as well. They gave several concerts and tours, have had nearly 20 albums and 3 DVDs produced (not every single one was published).
Their musical genre is not easy to describe. However, they are officially classified in the "Neue Deutsche Todeskunst" ('New german art of death') genre.
Iphigenie
Goethes Erben Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Das Land vernarbt
Das Leid wütet gnadenlos
Der Hunger führt das Zepter
Nicht alle Kinder leben sorgenlos
Nur Iphigenie tanzt den ganzen Tag
Sie lacht gerne, liebt den Tag
Jeden Tag bis zu jenem Tag
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Keiner hat das Kind gesehen
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Sie spielt so gerne ganz allein
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Die Mutter ruft vergebens
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Umsonst sucht auch der Bruder
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Wo ist...
Ihr Vater schickte sie in die Metzgerei am Ort
Zu einem freundlichen kleinen dicken Mann
Und er mochte kleine Mädchen
Besonders ihr Fleisch
Es war so zart und Schlachtvieh war rar
Das Messer blitzt und tranchiert geschickt und lautlos ihren kleinen Körper
Stück für Stück
Trennt er das Fleisch von den Knochen
Es ist Sonntag Mittag
Die Familie sitzt zu Tisch
Der Braten riecht gar köstlich
Die Mutter sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
Der Vater sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
Der Bruder sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
Der Metzger weiß von nichts - Wo ist Iphigenie?
Der Braten mundet köstlich - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The lyrics to Goethes Erben's "Iphigenie" paint a chilling and disturbing picture of the horrors and atrocities committed during the Second World War. The song is set in the heat of summer in 1943, in a country that is scarred and ravaged by war, hunger, and suffering. Amidst this bleak and desolate landscape, we are introduced to the character of Iphigenie, a young girl who appears to be the only one able to find solace in dance and laughter. Her carefree and joyous existence is sharply contrasted with the darkness and misery surrounding her, as the lyrics remind us of the brutal reality that not all children live carefree lives.
However, the song takes an even darker turn as we discover the truth behind Iphigenie's disappearance. Her father sends her to a local butcher, a friendly and affable man who takes a liking to little girls, especially their flesh. The lyrics depict his gruesome and revolting act of carving and dismembering Iphigenie's body to use as meat for his shop. The family, sitting down to dinner on a Sunday, are oblivious to what has happened and ask repeatedly where Iphigenie is, while the smell of the roasting meat fills the air.
Line by Line Meaning
Sommer 1943
The time period when this story takes place
Das Land vernarbt
The country is scarred, possibly referring to the damages of war
Das Leid wütet gnadenlos
Suffering rages mercilessly, potentially a reflection of the chaos of war
Der Hunger führt das Zepter
Hunger rules everything, indicating a time of scarcity and deprivation
Nicht alle Kinder leben sorgenlos
Not all children live carefree lives, perhaps alluding to the horrors of war affecting everyone
Nur Iphigenie tanzt den ganzen Tag
Only Iphigenie dances all day, suggesting her innocence and joyfulness
Sie lacht gerne, liebt den Tag
She loves to laugh and enjoy each day
Jeden Tag bis zu jenem Tag
Every day until that day, hinting at a tragic event to come
Einem Freitag
On a Friday, setting the stage for the climax of the story
Wo ist Iphigenie?
Where is Iphigenie? The repeated question builds suspense and suggests that something has happened to her
Keiner hat das Kind gesehen
No one has seen the child, adding to the mystery and tension
Sie spielt so gerne ganz allein
She enjoys playing alone, again emphasizing her childlike innocence
Die Mutter ruft vergebens
The mother calls out in vain, indicating her growing concern for her missing daughter
Umsonst sucht auch der Bruder
The brother searches in vain, illustrating the desperate search for Iphigenie
Ihr Vater schickte sie in die Metzgerei am Ort
Her father sent her to the local butcher shop, setting the stage for the revelation of what happened to Iphigenie
Zu einem freundlichen kleinen dicken Mann
To a friendly, short, and chubby man, perhaps foreshadowing his true intentions
Und er mochte kleine Mädchen
And he liked little girls, an ominous sign of his twisted desires
Besonders ihr Fleisch
Especially their flesh, a chilling realization of the butcher's wicked thoughts
Es war so zart und Schlachtvieh war rar
It was so tender and meat was scarce, highlighting the gruesome nature of the situation
Das Messer blitzt und tranchiert geschickt und lautlos ihren kleinen Körper
The knife flashes and expertly dissects her small body without a sound, a horrific image of the butcher carrying out his heinous act
Stück für Stück
Piece by piece, describing the gruesome and methodical way in which he cuts up her body
Trennt er das Fleisch von den Knochen
He separates the meat from the bones, leaving no doubt as to his true intentions
Es ist Sonntag Mittag
It is Sunday afternoon, taking us back to the present moment
Die Familie sitzt zu Tisch
The family sits at the table, unaware of what has happened to Iphigenie
Der Braten riecht gar köstlich
The roast smells delicious, emphasizing the family's normalcy in their unawareness
Die Mutter sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The mother sits at the table - Where is Iphigenie? Her increasing anxiety is palpable
Der Vater sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The father sits at the table - Where is Iphigenie? The family's disconnection from her fate is poignant
Der Bruder sitzt am Tisch - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The brother sits at the table - Where is Iphigenie? His concern for her is evident
Der Metzger weiß von nichts - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The butcher knows nothing - Where is Iphigenie? His feigned innocence is chilling
Der Braten mundet köstlich - Wo ist Iphigenie?
The roast tastes delicious - Where is Iphigenie? Further emphasizing the family's ignorance of the tragedy that has occurred
Contributed by Caden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kristin Koenig
Dieser Song ist seit diesem Konzert eines meiner Lieblingslieder geworden.
Filiz 💖 ✌
Mein Lieblingslied ist Narbengarten
MordorCat
Грустно и жутковато, зная текст...
Julio Toro
gran tema donde esta ifigenia???? jajajjaj una historia de horror muy bueno
Cori Phäe
Die Violinistin sieht aus als ob sie Oswald nicht ausstehen kann und nur deshalb mit auf der Bühne steht, weil sie nicht im Supermarkt um die Ecke an der Kasse sitzen wollte.
Oswald ist genial in diesem Clip.
Selwyn Greenfrith
Everyone is special, but I'm very special. Deep state knows.
Andreas Herrmann
Etwas abartig
manuela claudia hanke
Liebgemeint... Ne Zwangsjacke wäre angebracht
MrBarokari
Zu Anfang wo er fragt "wo ist das Kind"....ist das eine Anspielung auf den Jungen der wegen dieser Drecksmusik ermordet wurde ?
Ronny Förster
Du verstehst es glaube ich nicht......