Goethes Erben (Goethe's inheritors) is a musical group from Germany started… Read Full Bio ↴Goethes Erben (Goethe's inheritors) is a musical group from Germany started in 1989 by Oswald Henke and Peter Seipt. The basic idea was to put spoken german words into the center of a music-theatre. After the releases of two demo-tapes and their debut-concert, Peter Seipt leaves the band in July 1990 to go his own musical way with The Seer. Oswald Henke is only working in his studio after that.

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.

Zinnsoldaten
Goethes Erben Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Geopfert auf dem Altar derer die sonst nur reden
Keine Aussage treffen
Aufgedunsen richten sie das Fest
Nun kleiner Zinnsoldat, das Spiel heißt überleben

Die Schlacht ist die Arena
Das Ende vorbestimmt
Durch all jene

Die dem blutigen Treiben zujubeln
Menschlein erfreu dich an deiner bunten Uniform
Irgendwann wir sie durchlöchert
und sicher nicht - vom Fraß der Motte
Und sicher nicht - vom Fraß der Motte
Und sicher ...

Euphorisch berauscht
zieht in die Schlacht
Singt und ruft das Grauen herbei
Ihr seid der Stier der eurer Tuch
blutrot färben wird
Ihr seid ...

Geblieben sind die Tränen
Der davon kam verlor ein Teil
Gemartert zieht der Verstand Bilanz und flieht
Körper wurden zerrissen
verstümmelt zum Krüppel geboren

Das Spiel - geht weiter
Die Schlacht ist die Arena
Das Ende vorbestimmt
Durch all jene
Die dem blutigen Treiben zujubeln
Menschlein erfeu dich deiner bunten Uniform
Irgendwann wird sie durchlöchert
Und sicher nicht - vom Fraß der Motte

Und sicher nicht - vom Fraß der Motte
Und sicher ...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Goethes Erben's song Zinnsoldaten seem to be a commentary on war and the people who cheer for it. The opening lines state that those who "sacrifice on the altar of those who only talk", who make no definitive statements, are the ones who are fattened and celebrate the battle. The song then speaks directly to the "small tin soldier", who must survive the game, emphasizing that the battle is the arena and the end is predetermined by the people who cheer for the violence.

The soldiers are depicted as being euphoric and bloodthirsty, calling out for the horror to come. They are the "bulls" who will shed blood and leave behind only tears. The verses continue to describe the physical toll of war, with bodies being torn apart and minds fleeing. However, the game continues, and the soldiers delight in their colorful uniforms. In the end, the song returns to the refrain that the uniforms will eventually be destroyed, but not by the moth.

Overall, the lyrics are a commentary on the cycle of violence and war, the people who cheer it on, and the ultimate futility of violence. The "small tin soldier" is just a pawn in the grand scheme of things, with his fate decided by others who merely watch.

Line by Line Meaning

Geopfert auf dem Altar derer die sonst nur reden
Sacrificed on the altar of those who only talk without making any statement

Keine Aussage treffen
Not making any statement

Aufgedunsen richten sie das Fest
Bloated, they organize the feast

Nun kleiner Zinnsoldat, das Spiel heißt überleben
Now, little tin soldier, the game is called survival

Die Schlacht ist die Arena
The battle is the arena

Das Ende vorbestimmt
The end is predetermined

Durch all jene
By all those

Die dem blutigen Treiben zujubeln
Who cheer for the bloody spectacle

Menschlein erfreu dich an deiner bunten Uniform
Little human, enjoy your colorful uniform

Irgendwann wir sie durchlöchert
Sometime it will be riddled with holes

und sicher nicht - vom Fraß der Motte
And certainly not from the moth's feast