Herman Dune have worked with several other bands and singers such as Julie Doiron, Leah Hayes, and Laura Hoch.
Although the band has nine official albums, they have worked on many side projects, some of which include Kungen, Ben Haschish, Ben Dope, John Trawlings, Fountain Boats, Satan's Fingers, and Fast Ganz. They have also played as the backing band for recordings by Julie Doiron (ex-Eric's Trip) and Kimya Dawson (ex-Moldy Peaches). Both André and David-Ivar have also released numerous solo CDs (mostly self-released CDRs). André and David-Ivar each contributed a song to the 2006 album by Françoiz Breut, Une Saison Volée.
Official Site: www.hermandune.com
Label: http://www.label-gum.com/collections/hermandune
Discography
Albums
* Turn Off The Light (2000, Prohibited Records)
* They Go To The Woods (2001, Shrimper)
* Switzerland Heritage (2001, Prohibited Records)
* The Whys And The Hows of Herman Düne & Cerberus Shoal (2002, North East Indie)
* Mas Cambios (2003, Track & Field Records)
* Mash Concrete Metal Mushrooms (2003, Shrimper Records)
* Not on Top (2005, Track & Field Records)
* Giant (2006)
* Next Year in Zion (2008)
* Strange Moosic (2011, City Slang)
No Master
Herman Düne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A good sign that they really knew each other
But the weather and the music were bad
So we sticked to the table we had
We all wore reading spectacles
But didn't get too political
One of us was back from israel
I had spent the night in a jail
[the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass]
[we have no master, we have no master]
The election took place on a brooklyn roof
I said nothing and sat aloof
But you are at war with angels
So you look at the earth from angles
And when i don't approve
I'm only thinking of a better move
And when i take you for a ride
You know i'm on your side
[no master]
[our forces: we make choices to live longer and faster]
[the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass]
[we have no master, we have no master]
You were mocked in the east-end
Bullied by your girlfriend
But you rose from your ashes and you play
The game of getting wasted and lay
I was your witness
Your link to the holy press
The story of your strife
Is in my book of life
I'm writing it down cause i know it's good
I'd write a lot more if i could
Think, hold the pen
And still be a man among men
[no master]
On 1 or 2 of your audio tape
Between the screams of your room-mate
I must have dropped a line
That i'd like to hear again sometime
[our forces: we make choices to live longer and faster]
[the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass]
[we have no master, we have no master]
[we have no master]
The lyrics of Herman Dune's "No Master" are full of complex imagery, allusions and metaphors that create a multi-layered and ambiguous narrative. The song seems to describe a group of friends hanging out in a bar or cafe, exchanging stories and experiences. The use of dialects like Bavarian and references to Israel suggest an international and diverse group, but they all share a sense of unity and camaraderie, as indicated by the line "we have no master." The song also touches on themes of political apathy ("didn't get too political") and rebellion against societal norms ("The game of getting wasted and lay").
The song's chorus, "our forces, we make choices to live longer and faster," can be interpreted in many ways. It could refer to the group's determination to live life to the fullest, or it could be a comment on the pressure to achieve success quickly and relentlessly. The line "the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass" suggests a sense of danger or threat lurking outside the safety of the group. Ultimately, the song seems to be a celebration of friendship and individuality, with the repeated assertion that "we have no master" serving as a rallying cry for freedom and autonomy.
Line by Line Meaning
He switched to bavarian when he spoke to her
The fact that he spoke in Bavarian to her shows that they share a familiarity.
A good sign that they really knew each other
Their conversation in Bavarian showed that they are very close.
But the weather and the music were bad
The weather and the music were not up to their expectation.
So we sticked to the table we had
They had to make do with the table they already had.
We all wore reading spectacles
Everyone was wearing glasses to improve their vision.
But didn't get too political
They did not engage in political discussions.
One of us was back from israel
One of them had recently returned from Israel.
I had spent the night in a jail
The artist had previously been jailed.
[our forces: we make choices to live longer and faster]
They are committed to making choices that enable them to live life to the fullest.
[the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass]
This line can be interpreted in different ways. One of these interpretations could be that the barking house dog stands for warning about trivial things, while the gun dogs they pass could be seen as far more dangerous things, which they choose to ignore.
[we have no master, we have no master]
They are free spirits who are not bound by societal norms or expectations.
The election took place on a brooklyn roof
The election might signify a change or a decision they made while they were on a Brooklyn roof.
I said nothing and sat aloof
The singer did not express his opinion and kept to himself.
But you are at war with angels
The person he is talking to is probably conflicted over something good or bad.
So you look at the earth from angles
They take different perspectives before making any decision.
And when i don't approve
The artist does not agree with their decisions.
I'm only thinking of a better move
The artist believes that he has a better alternative.
And when i take you for a ride
The singer is taking them on a journey.
You know i'm on your side
They can be trusted by the person he is talking to.
You were mocked in the east-end
The person he is talking to was ridiculed in the past.
Bullied by your girlfriend
Their girlfriend might have treated them badly in the past.
But you rose from your ashes and you play
The person he is talking to overcame the obstacles and is playing the game of life.
The game of getting wasted and lay
They are living the life without worrying about the future.
I was your witness
The artist was there to witness their good and bad times.
Your link to the holy press
The singer connects and communicates with people who can help them achieve something great.
The story of your strife
The singer knows their story of struggle.
Is in my book of life
Their story is important to the singer and it's something he will never forget.
I'm writing it down cause i know it's good
The artist is documenting everything because he knows it's worth remembering.
I'd write a lot more if i could
The artist wished he could write down everything they shared.
Think, hold the pen
The singer believes that careful thinking is important in making important decisions.
And still be a man among men
They can still be one of the guys while being thoughtful and wise.
On 1 or 2 of your audio tape
The person he is talking to recorded something but only one or two tracks are interesting.
Between the screams of your room-mate
The person he is talking to lived with someone who was loud or irritating.
I must have dropped a line
He thinks he might have missed something important.
That i'd like to hear again sometime
He wishes to hear whatever it was that he missed.
[we have no master]
They continue to be free spirits with no one controlling them.
[our forces: we make choices to live longer and faster]
They are determined to live life to the fullest by always making the right choices.
[the house dog barks, the gun dogs pass]
This line can be interpreted in different ways. One of these interpretations could be that the barking house dog stands for warning about trivial things, while the gun dogs they pass could be seen as far more dangerous things, which they choose to ignore.
[we have no master, we have no master]
They are free spirits who are not bound by societal norms or expectations.
Contributed by Juliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.