Their most popular sound was comparable to that of Yes, but they also explored other progressive rock styles. Their sound was characterized by sometimes humorous approach to making music, exhibited in both the lyrics and in the chimeric sound of the instruments.
The band made nearly fifteen albums, from general hard rock album to concept albums. Their vocals are mostly in English, although some albums were released with German vocals for the home market and English vocals for export.
Rockpommel's Land
Grobschnitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a gang of stoney men was scuffing down the way
stoney noses, stoney heads armed with poisonious eyes
orches in their bushlike hands, smoking their stoney size
run away from this dangerous smoke wich wraps those cursed guys
it turns the air to dusty slime an little boys into flies
Ernie, the stoney men have left this place
that is your chance to win the race
Ernie walked for hours with the midday sun
was it the right or something-gone-wrong-way, that carried him on
right thru stoney desert and sand, all around no one was near
was it the way to ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND – little Ernie began to fear
Ernie thought of old Maraboo
he just was so fair
sadly he touched his magic feather
suddenly a rush moved the air
Don’t fear the shadow over you
it’s your old friend Maraboo
when you touched your feather he preceived your pain
and came to help you again
Full moon was shining at their journey’s end
Maraboo and Ernie reached ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND
The Valley Of The Caves, The Peak Of Liberty
The Great Gritty Grotto
wherein they saw Mr. GLEE
Suddenly little Ernie heard a thousand children singing
and whe he looked up, he saw their shadows filing
towards the Gritty Grotto shade, where a lattice bared the gate to Mr. GLEE
the good man touched the children’s hands
thru a space in the iron fence, and felt so free
The lattice burst down like the ice on the water
Ernie had touched it with his feather
and from drawers at the walls of the cave
hundreds of goblins tumbled down and danced and sang
Now we’re free in ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, one – two – three
We love thee and ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, Mr. GLEE
Now we’re free in ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, one – two – three
We love thee and ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, Mr. GLEE
The mornig awoke, blurning sun warmed the children
they walked hand in hand with each other
together with Ernie they escorted Mr. GLEE
home to their town wich now was free
Free from hate is ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, it ain’t too late
to open your gate to ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, don’t be afraid
The song "Rockpommel's Land" by Grobschnitt tells the story of a boy named Ernie who is on a journey to find a place called Rockpommel's Land. The journey is full of danger as he encounters gangs of stoney men with poisonous eyes and bush-like hands smoking a dangerous smoke which turns the air to dusty slime. Ernie takes refuge and avoids the stoney men, but he continues to walk through a stoney desert and sand, unsure of whether he is on the right path to Rockpommel's Land. He remembers Maraboo, a fair old man who gave him a magic feather, and when he touches the feather in desperation, Maraboo appears to help him on his way.
Eventually, Ernie reaches Rockpommel's Land, where he meets Mr. Glee, and together with a thousand children, they sing and dance, celebrating their newfound freedom in the Valley of the Caves, the Peak of Liberty, and the Great Gritty Grotto. They sing "Now we're free in Rockpommel's Land, we love thee and Rockpommel's Land, Mr. Glee." The next morning, they escort Mr. Glee back to their town, which is now free from hate, and the song ends with the message that it's not too late to open your gate to Rockpommel's Land and not be afraid.
The song appears to be a metaphor for finding a better place or world, where everyone is free from hate and can live in peace. Ernie is the symbol of hope and perseverance, and his magic feather is a symbol of faith that eventually, everything will work out. The stoney men and their dangerous smoke represent the obstacles that one must overcome to reach this better place. The thousand children singing and dancing represent the joy and freedom one will find in Rockpommel's Land.
Line by Line Meaning
Ernie found a hiding place, the only way to stay
Ernie needed to find a place to hide in order to survive
a gang of stoney men was scuffing down the way
Ernie saw a group of men made of stone walking in his direction
stoney noses, stoney heads armed with poisonious eyes
The stone men had noses and heads that looked like stone and had eyes that were dangerous
orches in their bushlike hands, smoking their stoney size
The stone men had flaming branches that looked like bushes which they were smoking
run away from this dangerous smoke wich wraps those cursed guys
Ernie needed to escape from the smoke that enveloped the stone men and was dangerous
it turns the air to dusty slime an little boys into flies
The smoke turns the air into a dusty and slimy substance and children can become sick from it
Ernie, the stoney men have left this place
Ernie was told that the stone men had left the area and it was safe again
that is your chance to win the race
This was Ernie's chance to escape and continue his journey
Ernie walked for hours with the midday sun
Ernie continued walking for hours under the scorching sun
was it the right or something-gone-wrong-way, that carried him on
Ernie was unsure if he was on the correct path or if he had taken a wrong turn
right thru stoney desert and sand, all around no one was near
Ernie walked through a desert-like terrain with sand and there was no one around him
was it the way to ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND – little Ernie began to fear
Ernie was afraid that he had taken the wrong path and may not reach his destination
Ernie thought of old Maraboo
Ernie thought of his old friend Maraboo
he just was so fair
Maraboo was always just and fair
sadly he touched his magic feather
Ernie touched his magical feather with a tinge of sadness
suddenly a rush moved the air
There was a sudden gust of wind that moved through the air
Don’t fear the shadow over you
Maraboo reassured Ernie not to be afraid of the shadow cast over him
it’s your old friend Maraboo
Maraboo was the source of that shadow
when you touched your feather he preceived your pain
Maraboo felt Ernie's pain when he touched his feather
and came to help you again
Maraboo came to Ernie's aid once more
Full moon was shining at their journey’s end
When Ernie and Maraboo arrived at their destination, it was a full moon night
Maraboo and Ernie reached ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND
Ernie and Maraboo finally arrived at ROCKPOMMEL's LAND
The Valley Of The Caves, The Peak Of Liberty
ROCKPOMMEL's LAND comprised of a valley filled with caves and a peak that symbolized freedom
The Great Gritty Grotto
There was a large, gritty grotto at ROCKPOMMEL's LAND
wherein they saw Mr. GLEE
Ernie and Maraboo saw Mr. GLEE inside the grotto
Suddenly little Ernie heard a thousand children singing
Ernie was surprised to hear a group of children singing loudly
and whe he looked up, he saw their shadows filing
Ernie looked up and saw the shadows of the children as they filed past him
towards the Gritty Grotto shade, where a lattice bared the gate to Mr. GLEE
The children were headed towards the grotto where the entrance was hidden behind a lattice gate that led to Mr. GLEE
the good man touched the children’s hands
Mr. GLEE gently touched the hands of the children
thru a space in the iron fence, and felt so free
Mr. GLEE felt free when he touched the children and reached his hand out to them through a gap in the iron fence
The lattice burst down like the ice on the water
When Ernie touched the lattice gate with his feather, it opened suddenly like the bursting of ice on water
Ernie had touched it with his feather
Ernie was the one who opened the gate with his feather
and from drawers at the walls of the cave
From various compartments on the cave walls
hundreds of goblins tumbled down and danced and sang
Hundreds of goblins came tumbling down from those compartments, dancing and singing
Now we’re free in ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, one – two – three
The goblins were now free in ROCKPOMMEL's LAND and they chanted this phrase
We love thee and ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, Mr. GLEE
The goblins expressed their love towards Mr. GLEE and ROCKPOMMEL's LAND
The mornig awoke, blurning sun warmed the children
The following morning, the sun began to burn brighter and the children began to feel warmer
they walked hand in hand with each other
The children walked together, holding hands
together with Ernie they escorted Mr. GLEE
Ernie and the children escorted Mr. GLEE to safety
home to their town wich now was free
They arrived home to their town, which was now liberate from oppression
Free from hate is ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, it ain’t too late
ROCKPOMMEL's LAND was free from any hatred and it was not too late for other people to join their cause
to open your gate to ROCKPOMMEL’s LAND, don’t be afraid
Everyone is welcome to join ROCKPOMMEL's LAND and they should not be afraid to do so
Contributed by Liliana V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vanomaden
Sitz hier und heul ... was war das ne geile Zeit .... <3 Mein erstes Konzert mit Kran als Vorband! Hammer
@YttriusHolm
Jesses... wie oft hab ich diese LP abgenudelt... zusammen mit Eloy der beste Progressive (Kraut)Rock der 70er...
@musicfreak57021
siehe 2xmusicfreak-Antwort: neben diesen beiden Gruppen gibt es noch viele weitere Perlen, die auf diesem hohen Niveau spielten...
@RalphMarbach
Kann mich noch gut an die Konzerte erinnern .Die hatten auch immer eine geile Lightshow mit Feuerwerk,Große Flex und Schneidbrenner 👍👍👍👍
@Dee_R
Für mich das größte Rockmärchen EVER...als Jugendlicher hat es mich sofort in seinen Bann gezogen und der Zauber wirkt bis HEUTE (...mit fast 60),
liegt aber auch an einer der für mich "most underrated" deutschen Bands aus Hagen: The One And Only GROBSCHNITT ... sooo GLAD to have known and seen YOU!!!
@genug6082
Wie die ersten Strahlen der Morgendämmerung öffnet diese Musik die Augen für neue Verheißungen und all die Wunder der Natur. Diese Werke, die unglaubliche Kräfte heraufbeschwören, berühren die Herzen, rufen Nostalgie hervor und erwecken die Liebe, das zerlumpte Leben und die Taubheit der erschöpfenden Kontrolleure...
@petebeatminister
Die deutsche Version von Genesis und deren Konzeptalben in den 70ern. Schade das das an vielen vorbeigegangen ist damals.
@musicfreak57021
s.o. musicfreak-Antwort: Im Vergleich zu heute war es früher viel mühsamer, sich speziell über die anspruchsvolle (Kraut)Rockmusik in Deutschland intensiv aufzuklären. Das Medienspektakel vor allem aus England und den USA hat uns zugedröhnt, während die Schatzsuche nach musikalischen Perlen im eigenen Land im Verborgenen blieb. Die wenigsten hatten auch damals wie ich das Glück, sich als Jugendlicher in einer 'Peergroup' von anspruchsvollen musicfreaks zu bewegen, aber heute lässt sich das alles nachholen und würdigen. Auch im Geschichtszweig der Musikwissenschaft wird immer mehr rückblickend erkannt, dass keine Ära der Musik vielseitigere Entwicklungen hervorgebracht hat wie die siebziger Jahre...
@petebeatminister
@@musicfreak57021 Vor allem anderen ging es damals wie heute ums Geld machen. Der Charts Mist wird einem an allen Ecken und Enden um die Ohren gehauen, wer was besseres sucht muß immer noch tief graben. Heute eigentlich noch mehr wie früher, trotz leichterem Zugang. Besonders enttäuschend: das ö/r Radio. Hoher Preis, niedrige Qualität.
@realrael3550
An mir nicht!