Witt was the guitarist/singer in Seventies Krautrock band Duesenberg. He released three albums with them, "Duesenberg" (1977), "Duesenberg 2" (1978) and "Strangers" (1979), before embarking on a solo career as a singer and actor.
He made a big comeback at the end of the 1990s, when he scored a major hit with "Die Flut", a duet with Peter Heppner, the singer of popular German synth pop group Wolfsheim. Witts album Bayreuth Eins (1997) scored platinum in Germany and Austria. Bayreuth zwei and Bayreuth 3 followed two resp. eight years later. His music in those days resembled the hard hitting sounds of Rammstein, albeit with a gothic touch, that owed a lot of inspiration to legendary German composer Richard Wagner.
Exil
Joachim Witt Lyrics
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Der mir die Haare kmmt
Und mir die Fe pudert
Wenn ich ans Sterben denk'
Ich bin auf einer Reise
Die mich vom leben trennt
Ich sehe keine Preise
Ich spre Nervenstrme
So streng wie Achselschwei
Sie peitschen mir die Sinne
Und knppeln meinen Geist
Wilde Liebe, unerhrter Drang
Treibt mich nach vorn in deinen warmen scho
Rcksichtslos und halbverdorben
Steh' ich dann vor dir
Sowas wie dich hab' ich noch nie gesehn'
Ich fhl' die Hitze steigen
Sie zieht mir ins Gehirn
Ich mchte Muskeln zeigen
Und falle auf die Stirn
Ich selbst bin meine Heimat
Ich brauche Zeit und Raum
Ich lebe oft die Freiheit
Und wenn auch nur I'm Traum
Wilde Liebe, unerhrter Drang
Treibt mich nach vorn in deinen warmen scho
Rcksichtslos und halbverdorben
Steh' ich dann vor dir
Sowas wie dich hab' ich noch nie gesehn
The song 'Exil' by Joachim Witt is a deep reflection of the state of the singer's mind. It expresses the need for someone to take care of him as he goes through a difficult phase of his life. He requires someone to brush his hair and powder his feet, especially when he contemplates death. The song, therefore, starts on a rather sombre note.
As the song progresses, Joachim reflects on the things he sees and the experiences he has had on his journey of self-discovery. He has severed ties with life and material possessions, and he no longer sees any value in things such as underwear, shoes and shirts. Instead, he feels and experiences everything on a deeper level. He speaks of feeling nerve impulses so intense they're like sweat on his armpits, and how they whip his senses, breaking his spirit.
Despite the deep sense of loneliness the singer feels, he looks to love and intimacy as a refuge. There's a desperate need to experience something raw with someone, regardless of the consequences. He sings of an unquenchable desire that drives him towards the comfort of the warm embrace of another, even if it's risky.
In conclusion, it's clear that the song 'Exil' is a raw emotional reflection of Joachim's state of mind. The lyrics are heavy with meaning, and the song is a deep dive into the psyche of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich brauche einen Pfleger
I need someone to take care of me
Der mir die Haare kmmt
Who will comb my hair
Und mir die Fe pudert
And powder my feet
Wenn ich ans Sterben denk'
When I think of dying
Ich bin auf einer Reise
I am on a journey
Die mich vom leben trennt
That separates me from life
Ich sehe keine Preise
I see no prices
Fr Schlpfer, Schuh und Hemd
For underwear, shoes and shirts
Ich spre Nervenstrme
I feel nerve impulses
So streng wie Achselschwei
As intense as underarm sweat
Sie peitschen mir die Sinne
They whip my senses
Und knppeln meinen Geist
And confuse my mind
Wilde Liebe, unerhrter Drang
Wild love, unheard-of desire
Treibt mich nach vorn in deinen warmen scho
Drives me forward into your warm embrace
Rcksichtslos und halbverdorben
Reckless and partly corrupted
Steh' ich dann vor dir
I stand before you
Sowas wie dich hab' ich noch nie gesehn'
I've never seen someone like you before
Ich fhl' die Hitze steigen
I feel the heat rising
Sie zieht mir ins Gehirn
It pulls into my brain
Ich mchte Muskeln zeigen
I want to show muscle
Und falle auf die Stirn
And fall on my forehead
Ich selbst bin meine Heimat
I myself am my home
Ich brauche Zeit und Raum
I need time and space
Ich lebe oft die Freiheit
I often live in freedom
Und wenn auch nur I'm Traum
Even if only in dreams
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.