In Extremo (abbreviated InEx, or just IE) began as two projects: a nameless, purely medieval band, and a rock band. They became known at that time through frequent appearances at medieval market meetings, at which they performed their acoustic pieces and sold CDs of their renditions of traditional songs. On April 11, 1995, during the recording for that year's season, Michael Rhein (alias Das letzte Einhorn, engl. "The Last Unicorn") found the project name "In Extremo, "Latin for "At The Edge".
Most of the band members perform under stage names. The initial members of the medieval band were Das letzte Einhorn (engl. "The Last Unicorn," vocals), Flex der Biegsame (engl. "Flex the Flexible," bagpipes), Dr. Pymonte (bagpipes), Conny Fuchs (who left the band before the official release date, due to her pregnancy, and was replaced by Dr. Pymonte) and Sen Pusterbalg (replaced shortly after the official release by Yellow Pfeiffer, engl. "Yellow Piper," bagpipes). The rock band originally consisted of Thomas der Münzer (engl. "Thomas the Coiner," guitar), Der Morgenstern (engl. "The Morning Star," drums), and Die Lutter (engl. "The Lutter," bass guitar). Der Münzer subsequently left the band and, as of 2000, the band's guitarist is Van Lange (engl. "The Long One"). As noted below, almost all of the band members play multiple instruments.
The increasing number of visitors, success of their CDs, and the popular interest, as well as cross-pollination from groups such as Corvus Corax and Bathory, encouraged In Extremo in 1995 to attempt to start a band combining bagpipes and other traditional instruments with rock guitars. The result was the current incarnation of In Extremo, a rock group that integrates modern instruments like the drum set, electric bass and guitar with the acoustic elements previously used for the medieval songs, and which plays both types of music as well as a hybrid of the two.[1]
In August 1996, they began work on the first In Extremo album, which already contained two tracks of the new rock project. Because the album had no official name, it became known as Gold because of the golden cover. In February 1997, like the single Der Galgen (engl. "The Gallows"), it quickly sold out in Medieval markets.
In Extremo played separately as a medieval and a rock band, until on March 29, 1997, when they played their first live rock concert. Since that time, they have given this date as their date of establishment. The two projects were officially merged on January 11, 1998. April 1998 saw the first "high occupancy" In Extremo concert in the Rabenstein castle in Brandenburg.
Over the years, their music became more heavy metal based, while at the same time becoming increasingly commercially successful. The classical instruments, however – bagpipes, shawms, and lutes – still play a large role. The band is likewise noted for their conspicuous stage costumes and known for using pyrotechnics in their concerts, including Der Morgenstern playing cymbals which have been set on fire.
On 26 February 2010 In Extremo announced that Der Morgenstern left the band because of musical differences via their homepage. On June 11, Florian "Specki T.D." Speckardt was announced as his replacement on drums. Since then, they have proceeded to release 3 albums: Sterneneisen, Kunstraub, and Quid Pro Quo, all of which have reached the top 10 in the German charts, with Sterneneisen and Quid Pro Quo both having number 1 positions for a time. Their 13th album, Kompass zur Sonne was released in May 2020.[2], but it was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On July 30th, 2020, they played an online livestream concert for Wacken World Wide.
Zigeunerskat
In Extremo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wer gibt, muss auch mischen
Das Herz gelenzt, Verstand begrenzt
Vom geilen Blatt besessen
Pik Bube, der Lude
Sticht die Herzensdame
Wer bedient den Eichelbauer?
Ein Ass im Ärmel, König Schellen
Ihr wisst: "...die so laut wie Hunde bellen"
Ja, die Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Sieben Herzen auf der Hand
Halt sie fest ein Leben lang
Wahre Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Sieben Trümpfe auf der Hand
Wir sind Sieger und charmant
Spiel und Lust, uns sei vergeben
Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben
Keiner hätte je gedacht
Die Karodame Trümpfe macht
Hosen runter, ich will sehen
Die Luschen werden baden gehen
Adam hat wie jeder weiß
Am Herzblatt sich gerieben
Unterm Tisch ist kein Gebein
Von Sünde frei geblieben
Trumpf ist Trumpf, Herz, Kreuz, Sieben
Ihr wisst wir sind die glorreichen Sieben
Ja, die Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Sieben Herzen auf der Hand
Halt sie fest ein Leben lang
Wahre Freiheit für die Sieben
Nichts geht über unser Spiel
Herz bedeutet uns sehr viel
Spiel und Lust, uns sei vergeben
Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben
Ja, die Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Sieben Herzen auf der Hand
Halt sie fest ein Leben lang
Wahre Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Sieben Trümpfe auf der Hand
So sind Sieger, gottverdammt
Spiel und Lust uns sei vergeben
Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben
The song Zigeunerskat by In Extremo is about the game of Skat, a popular card game in Germany. The first verse talks about how the game is played - everyone plays Skat, and whoever deals the cards also needs to shuffle them. The players are so focused on the game that they are possessed by the excitement of having a good hand. The second verse talks about the specific cards in the game, and how some have different values or abilities. The "Pik Bube" or Jack of Spades is referred to as a "Lude" or pimp, and can beat the "Herzensdame" or Queen of Hearts. The "Eichelbauer" or Jack of Acorns is another important card, and whoever has the most points at the end of the game "sahnt ab die Sahne" or "takes the cream."
Throughout the song, the band emphasizes the freedom and enjoyment of playing Skat, and how it brings people together. The chorus talks about how they love the freedom of having seven hearts/trumps in their hands, and how they will cherish them forever. They also mention how true freedom is having seven trumps in their hands, and how they are winners and charming. The final verse talks about how unexpected things can happen in the game, referencing the Karodame (Queen of Diamonds) as a card that can sometimes be surprisingly powerful. The band ends by reminding us that they are the "glorreichen Sieben" or "glorious seven," and that Skat is a fun and lighthearted way to enjoy life.
Line by Line Meaning
Überall da spielt man Skat
Skat is played everywhere
Wer gibt, muss auch mischen
Those who deal must also shuffle the cards
Das Herz gelenzt, Verstand begrenzt
The heart is controlled, the mind is limited
Vom geilen Blatt besessen
Possessed by an awesome hand
Pik Bube, der Lude
Jack of spades, the pimp
Sticht die Herzensdame
Beats the Queen of Hearts
Wer bedient den Eichelbauer?
Who will take care of the acorn farmer?
Wer sahnt ab die Sahne?
Who will win the cream?
Ein Ass im Ärmel, König Schellen
An ace in the sleeve, King of Bells
Ihr wisst: "...die so laut wie Hunde bellen"
You know: "...those who bark as loud as dogs"
Ja, die Freiheit ist was wir lieben
Yes, freedom is what we love
Sieben Herzen auf der Hand
Seven hearts in our hand
Halt sie fest ein Leben lang
Hold onto them for a lifetime
Wahre Freiheit ist was wir lieben
True freedom is what we love
Sieben Trümpfe auf der Hand
Seven trumps in our hand
Wir sind Sieger und charmant
We are winners and charming
Spiel und Lust, uns sei vergeben
Forgive us for our play and pleasure
Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben
Gypsy life is fun
Keiner hätte je gedacht
No one would have ever thought
Die Karodame Trümpfe macht
The queen of diamonds makes trumps
Hosen runter, ich will sehen
Pants down, I want to see
Die Luschen werden baden gehen
The losers will go for a swim
Adam hat wie jeder weiß
As everyone knows, Adam
Am Herzblatt sich gerieben
Rubbed against the heart card
Unterm Tisch ist kein Gebein
There are no bones under the table
Von Sünde frei geblieben
Remained free of sin
Trumpf ist Trumpf, Herz, Kreuz, Sieben
Trump is trump, heart, club, seven
Ihr wisst wir sind die glorreichen Sieben
You know we are the magnificent seven
Nichts geht über unser Spiel
Nothing beats our game
Herz bedeutet uns sehr viel
Heart means a lot to us
So sind Sieger, gottverdammt
So we are victors, goddamn it
Spiel und Lust uns sei vergeben
Forgive us for our play and pleasure
Lustig ist das Zigeunerleben
Gypsy life is fun
Contributed by Hudson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dan Vaz
I am from Mexico and do not understand German , it was 2012 the first time I listened this band and this amazing song. The rest is history... In Extremo for ever!!!
Jean Carlo Zea Salas
Mi canción favorita!
Matze D Luffy
Dieses Album 2012 in wacken nachts !. Keine andere Band hätte den gänsehaut aus der schlamm und Dreck Schicht raus geholt! Legendär träume davon immer noch ist und bleibt meine Lieblings festival moment und natürlich auch Lieblings Album
Morvein
Могу пересматривать это вечно!
Blabla Blabla
Einer der besten deutschen Bands👍😍meiner Meinung nach
Alberto hugo flores
In extremo por siempre !!!
kekpong
Mein Lieblingslied <3 war live so geil :D
MrMhtmht
Wahre Freiheit für die 7, ich denke das stößt den Jungs jetzt sehr bitter auf. Ruhe in Frieden.
Azardes
Habe ich auch gedacht. Sehr schade. :(
Dmitry Logvinov
W U N D E B A R !!!!!🇩🇪👍