The group's earliest incarnation included German drummer En Esch and British vocalist Raymond Watts, the latter of whom left and rejoined the group several times over its history. The trio recorded the band's earliest albums in Germany before Konietzko and Esch moved to the United States, where they found much greater success with seminal industrial record label Wax Trax!. German guitarist Günter Schulz joined in 1990; both he and Esch continued with the band until KMFDM broke up in 1999. Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 (Esch and Schulz declined to rejoin) on Metropolis Records, and by 2005 he had assembled a consistent line-up that included American singer Lucia Cifarelli, British guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White, and British drummer Andy Selway. Konietzko and Cifarelli moved back to Germany in 2007, while the rest of band stayed in the U.S. In addition to these core members, dozens of other musicians have worked with the group across its nineteen studio albums and two dozen singles, with sales totaling in excess of two million records worldwide.
Critics consider KMFDM to be one of the first bands to bring industrial music to mainstream audiences, though Konietzko refers to the band's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". The band incorporates heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, samples, and both male and female vocals in its music, which encompasses a variety of styles including industrial rock and electronic body music (EBM). The band is fiercely political, with many of its lyrics taking stands against violence, war, and oppression. KMFDM normally tours at least once after every major release, and band members are known for their accessibility to and interaction with fans, both online and at concerts. Members, singly or working together and with other musicians, have recorded under many other names, primarily Watts' PIG, Konietzko's Excessive Force, and Esch and Schulz's Slick Idiot.
KMFDM (Discogs): https://www.discogs.com/artist/11606-KMFDM
KMFDM (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (MySpace): https://myspace.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (Official Site): http://www.kmfdm.net
KMFDM (Reddit): https://www.reddit.com/r/kmfdm
KMFDM (SoundCloud): https://soundcloud.com/kmfdm_official
KMFDM (Store): http://kmfdm.fulfillmentmerch.com
KMFDM (Tumblr): https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/kmfdm
KMFDM (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kmfdmofficial
KMFDM (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/user/officialkmfdm
---Current Members---
Sascha Konietzko – vocals, guitar, bass, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
Lucia Cifarelli – vocals, keyboards
Jules Hodgson – guitar, bass, keyboards
Andy Selway – drums
Steve White – guitar
---Former Members---
En Esch – vocals, drums, guitar, programming
Raymond Watts – vocals, programming
Günter Schulz – guitar, programming
Mark Durante – guitar, steel guitar
Tim Skold – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming
Classic KMFDM Discography (1984-1999)
---Studio Albums---
1984 - Opium
1986 - What Do You Know, Deutschland?
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1989 - UAIOE
1990 - Naïve
1992 - Money
1993 - Angst
1995 - Nihil
1996 - Xtort
1997 - Symbols
1999 - Adios
---Compilations---
1986 - 84-86 (compilation)
1994 - Naïve/Hell to Go (remix)
1996 - Retro (compilation)
1998 - Agogo (compilation)
---Singles---
1987 - Kickin' Ass
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1988 - More & Faster
1989 - Virus
1990 - Godlike
1991 - Naïve + The Days of Swine and Roses (split with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult)
1991 - Split
1992 - Vogue
1992 - Money
1992 - Help Us/Save Us/Take Us Away
1992 - Sucks
1993 - A Drug Against War
1994 - Light
1994 - Glory
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel (The Moroder Mixes)
1995 - Brute
1995 - Trust
1995 - Year of the Pig
1996 - Power
1996 - Rules
1997 - Anarchy
1998 - MDFMK
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
1991 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your House
1992 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your World
1992 - En Esch - Cheesy
1993 - Excessive Force - Blizkrieg
1994 - Excessive Force - Gentle Death
1994 - KMFDM vs. PIG - Sin Sex & Salvation
---Modern KMFDM Discography (2002-present)
---Studio Albums---
2002 - Attak
2003 - WWIII
2005 - Hau Ruck
2007 - Tohuvabohu
2009 - Blitz
2011 - WTF?!
2013 - Kunst
2014 - Our Time Will Come
2017 - Hell Yeah
2019 - Paradise
2022 - HYËNA
2024 - LET GO
---Compilations---
2002 - Strum & Drang Tour Live (live)
2004 - WWIII Live 2003 (live)
2006 - Ruck Zuck (remix)
2008 - Brimborium (remix)
2008 - Extra Vol. 1 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 2 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 3 (compilation)
2009 - Krieg (remix)
2010 - Würst (compilation)
2010 - Greatest Shit (compilation)
2014 - We Are KMFDM (live)
---Singles---
2002 - Boots
2010 - Day of Light
2010 - Godlike 2010
2010 - Light 2010
2011 - Krank
2011 - Amnesia
2014 - Salvation
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
2000 - MDFMK - MDFMK
2001 - Schweinstein - Schweinstein
2001 - Slick Idiot - DickNity
2002 - Schweinstein - Son of Schweinstein
2003 - Slick Idiot - ReDickUlous
2004 - Slick Idiot - Screwtinized
2004 - Lucia - From the Land of Volcanoes
2006 - Slick Idiot - xSCREWciating
2006 - KGC - Dirty Bomb
2009 - Slick Idiot - Sucksess
2009 - Skold vs. KMFDM - Skold vs. KMFDM
2011 - OK●ZTEIN●OK - PROLET●KULT
2014 - En Esch - SPÄNK
Death & Burial Of C.R.
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow,
I killed cock robin
Who saw him die?
I, said the fly, with my little eye
I saw him die
Who caught his blood?
I, said the fish, with my little dish
Who'll make the shroud?
I, said the beetle, with my thread and needle
I'll make the shroud
Who'll dig his grave?
I, said the owl
Who'll be the parson?
I, said the rook, with my little book
I'll be the parson
Who'll be the clerk?
I, said the lark, if it's not in the dark
I'll be the clerk
Who'll carry the link?
I, said the linnet, I'll fetch it in a minute
I'll carry the link
Who'll be chief mourner?
I, said the dove, I mourn for my love
I'll be chief mourner
Who'll carry the coffin?
I, said the kite
If it's not through the night
I'll carry the coffin
Who'll bear the pall?
I, said the wren
Both the cock and the hen
We'll bear the pall
Who'll sing a psalm?
I, said the thrush
As she sat on a bush
I'll sing a psalm
Who'll toll the bell?
I said the bull
Because I can pull
I'll toll the bell
All the birds of the air
Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor cock robin.
These lyrics are an interpretation of the classic children's nursery rhyme, "Who Killed Cock Robin?" The singer goes through each step of the funeral process for the bird, with different birds taking on the roles of the pallbearers, clergy, and mourners. The mood is dark and melancholy as the birds mourn the loss of Cock Robin.
One interpretation of the song is that it is a reflection on the inevitability of death and the role that everyone plays in the cycle of life and death. It also shows the interconnectedness of all beings, as each bird takes on a specific role in the funeral procession. Additionally, there may be a commentary on power dynamics and the idea that even those who seem small and powerless, like the sparrow, can have a significant impact on others.
Overall, KMFDM's version of the nursery rhyme adds a haunting and macabre twist to the simple childhood tune, and offers a deeper reflection on the nature of death and mourning.
Line by Line Meaning
Who killed cock robin?
Asks who is responsible for killing Cock Robin, a symbol for an unidentified victim.
I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed cock robin
The sparrow admits to being responsible for the death of Cock Robin.
Who saw him die?
Asks who witnessed the death of Cock Robin.
I, said the fly, with my little eye I saw him die
The fly claims to have witnessed the death of Cock Robin.
Who caught his blood?
Asks who collected the blood of Cock Robin.
I, said the fish, with my little dish I caught his blood
The fish claims to have collected the blood of Cock Robin.
Who'll make the shroud?
Asks who will create the burial garment for Cock Robin.
I, said the beetle, with my thread and needle I'll make the shroud
The beetle claims to be able to make the shroud for Cock Robin.
Who'll dig his grave?
Asks who will dig the burial plot for Cock Robin.
I, said the owl
The owl offers to dig the grave of Cock Robin.
Who'll be the parson?
Asks who will be the officiating clergyman for Cock Robin's funeral.
I, said the rook, with my little book I'll be the parson
The rook offers to be the officiating clergyman for Cock Robin's funeral.
Who'll be the clerk?
Asks who will serve as the clerk during Cock Robin's funeral.
I, said the lark, if it's not in the dark I'll be the clerk
The lark offers to be the clerk during Cock Robin's funeral if it is not located in a dark area.
Who'll carry the link?
Asks who will carry the torch during Cock Robin's funeral procession.
I, said the linnet, I'll fetch it in a minute I'll carry the link
The linnet offers to carry the torch during Cock Robin's funeral procession.
Who'll be chief mourner?
Asks who will be the primary mourner during Cock Robin's funeral.
I, said the dove, I mourn for my love I'll be chief mourner
The dove offers to be the primary mourner during Cock Robin's funeral as it grieves for its loss.
Who'll carry the coffin?
Asks who will carry the coffin holding Cock Robin's body during the funeral.
I, said the kite If it's not through the night I'll carry the coffin
The kite offers to carry the coffin during Cock Robin's funeral, but only if it is during the day.
Who'll bear the pall?
Asks who will carry the cloth covering the coffin during Cock Robin's funeral.
I, said the wren Both the cock and the hen We'll bear the pall
The wren lays claim to both the cock and the hen in bearing the pall for Cock Robin's funeral.
Who'll sing a psalm?
Asks who will sing a psalm at Cock Robin's funeral.
I, said the thrush As she sat on a bush I'll sing a psalm
The thrush offers to sing a psalm at Cock Robin's funeral while sitting on a bush.
Who'll toll the bell?
Asks who will ring the funeral bell in honor of Cock Robin.
I said the bull Because I can pull I'll toll the bell
The bull offers to ring the funeral bell at Cock Robin's funeral due to its ability to pull the rope.
All the birds of the air Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, When they heard the bell toll For poor cock robin.
All the birds in the air felt sadness when they heard the bell tolling for Cock Robin's funeral, symbolizing mourning for the unnamed victim.
Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.