Kemmler's career began as a member of a trio named Hubert Kah, consisting of Hubert Kemmler (vocals, keyboards), Markus Löhr (guitars, keyboards) and Klaus Hirschburger (bass) at the time of the New German wave 1982 commercial success with the singles "Rosemarie", "Sternenhimmel" ("Starry Sky") and "Einmal Nur Mit Erika... (Dieser Welt Entfliehn)" ("Just Once With Erika ... To Escape This World"), and with the albums Meine Höhepunkte ("My High Points") and Ich Komme ("I'm Coming"). During this time, Kemmler caused quite a stir by his TV appearances, wearing a nightdress or straitjacket. Before Kemmler's music career, he studied law at the University of Tübingen.[2]
As of 1984, the band began working with producer Michael Cretu. After a German album Goldene Zeiten (1984), the band recorded the English-language albums Tensongs (1986) and Sound of My Heart (1989), which were partly successful internationally. Together with Michael Cretu, Kemmler wrote and produced songs for other artists, including "Dancing into Danger" by Inker & Hamilton, "Liebe Auf Den Ersten Blick" by the band Münchener Freiheit and a number of tracks by Sandra such as "Maria Magdalena", "Heaven Can Wait". Hubert Kemmler also contributed backing vocals to most of Sandra's hit singles between 1985 and 1989.[3]
Kemmler fell ill in the latter 1980s with depression and withdrew from music completely. After his recovery, he appeared with a new version of the band in 1996 with the self-titled Hubert Kah and the singles "C'est La Vie" and "Sailing". The production with classic elements was not commercially as successful as hoped for by Kemmler. In 1998, a new single "Love Chain" and a Best Of CD were released. Kemmler then became ill again and had to undergo medical treatment.[1]
In 2005, Kemmler began his second comeback with the album Seelentaucher ("Soul Diver"). The first single was called "No Rain". The album featured a mixture of English and German language tracks.[4]
In the spring of 2007, Kemmler went as Ice King Kini in the musical Princess Lillifee, on tour in Germany. On 26 May 2007, he was one of four guests of honor at the acoustic concert of the band ASP on the Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2007 in Leipzig.
Kemmler recorded new songs with Sandra for her new album Stay in Touch, which was released in late 2012.
Sailing
Hubert Kah Lyrics
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to be true?
My ship has gone astray
Who's the rival
in this duel?
I'm losing my way
Mummy, Mummy
Tell me why
I'm so helpless
like a child
but damned to grow old
I've been sailing
Sailing away from me
Now I'm praying
I can see myself
between invisible tides
I've been sailing
Heading nowhere
Longing for
a habour for my heart
Isolation
grows'n grows
Now I'm falling apart
I've been sailing
Sailing away from me
Now I'm praying
I can see myself
between invisible tides
I've been sailing
Sailing away from me
I'm praying
I've been tempted and fell
Feels like I'm sailing to hell
Oh-oh
Once upon a time
there was love in every smile
The life I lived was mine
I knew I could fly
What did I do
To deserve this pain?
why oh why can't I
find peace of mind?
All my waiting -
was it all in vain?
Or can I be saved
by a woman like you?
What I need is love
I've been sailing...
The lyrics to Hubert Kah's song "Sailing" express a sense of loneliness and desperation as the singer recognizes that he has lost his way in life and is in need of help. He starts off by asking for someone to "help me to be true" indicating that he needs guidance and support in order to stay on the right path. He speaks of his ship going astray and mentions a rival in a duel, which may be a metaphor for an internal struggle he is facing. Despite wanting help, he feels helpless and child-like, which creates a sense of vulnerability and sadness.
The singer then turns to his mother and questions why his heart is getting cold. He recognizes that he is growing older, but he feels as though he's lost his way and doesn't know how to find his path again. He speaks of sailing away from himself and heading nowhere, which further adds to his sense of despair. He longs for a harbor for his heart, a safe place where he can find shelter from the storms of life.
As the song progresses, the sense of isolation and desperation grows, and the singer feels as though he is falling apart. He mentions being tempted and falling, which could be a reference to a mistake he made or a bad decision that has led to his current situation. He speaks of sailing to hell and refers to a time when there was love in every smile, indicating that he once had happiness in his life, but now he feels lost and alone.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sailing" are poignant and emotional, expressing a sense of longing and desperation for a way to find one's way in life. Through the use of metaphors and imagery, the singer creates a powerful message that resonates with many people who have experienced similar struggles in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you help me
The singer is requesting assistance from someone.
to be true?
The singer wants to be genuine or authentic.
My ship has gone astray
The singer's life or plans are not going as originally intended.
Who's the rival
The artist is facing a challenge or competition with another person.
in this duel?
The challenge the artist is facing is a struggle or fight for success.
I'm losing my way
The singer is confused and directionless.
Mummy, Mummy
The singer is calling out to their mother for help or comfort.
Tell me why
The artist is asking for an explanation or reason behind their struggles.
this heart is getting cold?
The artist's emotions are starting to become numb or detached.
I'm so helpless
The artist feels powerless and unable to change their circumstances.
like a child
The singer's vulnerability and lack of control make them feel childlike.
but damned to grow old
The artist feels trapped and stuck in their current situation, with no hope for improvement or change.
I've been sailing
The singer has been journeying or moving through life.
Sailing away from me
The singer feels like they are losing themselves or their identity in their journey.
Now I'm praying
The singer is asking for divine intervention or guidance.
I can see myself
The artist wants to reconnect with themselves and their true identity.
between invisible tides
The artist is struggling to navigate difficult, unseen obstacles in their life.
Heading nowhere
The singer feels like they are not making progress or achieving their goals.
Longing for
The singer yearns for something they currently lack.
a habour for my heart
The artist wants a place of safety or security for their emotions.
Isolation
The artist feels alone and disconnected from others.
grows'n grows
The artist's loneliness and emotional distance is increasing.
Now I'm falling apart
The singer is losing control and breaking down emotionally.
I've been tempted and fell
The artist has made mistakes or given into temptation in the past.
Feels like I'm sailing to hell
The singer feels like their life is headed towards a negative outcome or consequence.
Once upon a time
The singer is reminiscing about the past.
there was love in every smile
The singer remembers a time when they felt loved and happy.
The life I lived was mine
The artist had control over their life and decisions in the past.
I knew I could fly
The artist felt empowered and capable.
What did I do
The singer is questioning what led them to their current situation.
To deserve this pain?
The singer feels like they are suffering unjustly.
why oh why can't I
The artist is expressing frustration and confusion.
find peace of mind?
The artist wants to feel calm and contented.
All my waiting -
The artist has been hoping or waiting for something to change.
was it all in vain?
The singer questions whether their efforts and waiting were pointless.
Or can I be saved
The artist is hopeful that they can still find a way out of their situation.
by a woman like you?
The singer is looking for someone to save or help them, potentially a romantic partner.
What I need is love
The singer believes that love is the solution to their problems.
Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.