With 2 million albums sold (1 million of which were sold in Switzerland, which only has 7 million habitants), they managed to get multi-platinum awards in different parts of the world.
Influences include Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Aerosmith. Singer Steve Lee is especially fond of Whitesnake and has based his singing style on their lead singer David Coverdale.
Gotthard also performed "Immigrant Song" (originally by Led Zeppelin) live and it featured exclusively on a CD by Classic Rock (a long running monthly UK rock magazine). "Hush" was also performed live and can be found on Made In Switzerland album.
Another cover of a song they have recorded is "The Mighty Quinn", originally called Quinn The Eskimo, by Bob Dylan.
Singer Steve Lee was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 5th 2010. A truck struck him while he was stopped on the side of a desert road in Nevada (USA), putting on rain gear.
Current line-up:
Nic Maeder: Vocals
Leo Leoni: Lead Guitar
Freddy Scherer: Rhythm Guitar
Marc Lynn: Bass
Hena Habegger: Drums
Downtown
Gotthard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like so many times before
While listening to the music, loud and proud
I'm movin' on
Every time it's the same
I hear you callin' my name, my name
I've been away for too long
Oh, you know I miss you
Downtown, downtown
It's always the same
Downtown, downtown
I hear the sound of every heartbeat
When the night is comin' down, down
I know exactly the place
Where all my friends are goin' to be
It's easy to see
Every time it's the same
I know, you're callin' my name, my name
I've been away for too long
Can't wait to see you again
Oh, you know I miss you
Downtown, downtown
It's always the same
Downtown, downtown, right!
The opening lines of the song "Downtown" by Gotthard portrays the feeling of driving on a highway while listening to music. The lyrics convey that the person has been in this situation many times before, seemingly indicating a regular routine. While the music is loud, the person continues to move forward, suggesting that the person is driving away from something or someone. As the song progresses, the lyrics take a more sentimental turn, and the theme of longing for someone becomes more apparent. The singer hears a voice calling his name, indicating that he has been distant from someone who he cares about. He declares that he has been away for too long and cannot wait to see this person again. The chorus "Downtown, downtown, it's always the same" suggests that the person he misses may be located in the downtown area where they have regularly met before.
The song's verses continue to emphasize the significance of his feelings, with the singer picturing the places where he will find his friends, and stating that it is easy to see where he is headed. The song implies that the downtown area holds special significance as it is the place where the singer's heart is drawn towards. The line "I hear the sound of every heartbeat when the night is coming down," emphasizes the power of the emotions that the singer is experiencing. The chorus repeats itself, suggesting the strong desire to be reunited with the person he is missing.
Overall, the song "Downtown" by Gotthard presents a tale of longing for someone special through its explanatory lyrics, and the chorus portrays a strong desire to reconnect with the person who has been missed.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm driving down a highway
I am on the road, moving forward like I have done many times before
Like so many times before
I have done this repetitive act many times before
While listening to the music, loud and proud
I enjoy blasting my favorite tunes and having the sound be noticeable to others
I'm movin' on
I am moving forward and not dwelling on the past
Every time it's the same
This situation occurs frequently and follows a predictable pattern
I hear you callin' my name, my name
I can hear your voice calling out to me
I've been away for too long
I have been gone for an extended period of time
Can't wait to see you again
I am excited and eager to reunite with you
Oh, you know I miss you
I have strong feelings of longing and yearning for you
Downtown, downtown
The place I am headed to is downtown
It's always the same
The circumstances and occurrences I experience down there remain constant
I hear the sound of every heartbeat
The palpable excitement and energy emanating from the atmosphere can be felt
When the night is comin' down, down
As the night falls, the energy and excitement intensify
I know exactly the place
I am familiar with the specific location I am heading to
Where all my friends are goin' to be
I know for a fact that all my friends will be there
It's easy to see
It is evident and clear where my friends and I are meeting up
Downtown, downtown, right!
I emphasize and affirm that it is definitely downtown that I am going to
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Chrissie Hynde
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind