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
Mercy
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I WENT through HEAVEN AND HELL
I WENT FROM ROME TO BAGDAD
TOO MANY STORIES TO TELL
I LIVED through TOO MANY AEONS
I'VE RISEN UP AND I FELL THE FALL
I HAVE BEEN THERE AND I HAVE DONE THAT
MY TIME IS RUNNING LIKE WATER
DEEPER I DIVE THE DEEPER
LAST OF NINE LIVES OF THE CAT
I SAVED MY SOULD FOR THE REAPER
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT
MERCY IS ALL YOU GET
DO WHAT YOU WON'T REGRET
FREEDOM'S YOUR SELF-RESPECT
The lyrics to KMFDM's song "Mercy" speak to a life filled with experiences, both good and bad. The singer has gone through too many people, perhaps indicating that they have had many relationships or connections with others. They have also experienced heaven and hell, suggesting a range of emotional and spiritual highs and lows in their life. The line "I went from Rome to Baghdad" speaks to the idea of expansive travel and the knowledge and perspective gained from such experiences. All of these experiences lend themselves to "too many stories to tell."
The singer has also lived through many aeons, or vast periods of time. They have experienced both success and failure, having "risen up and fallen." They claim to have "seen it all and all," indicating a jaded perspective on life. In the midst of all this experience, the singer recognizes that their time is finite and "running like water." They compare themselves to the "last of nine lives of the cat," a reference to their resilience and ability to survive even in the face of adversity. The final stanza appears to offer advice or a message to the listener - that mercy is all we get in life, and that we should do what we won't regret. Ultimately, freedom and self-respect are paramount.
Line by Line Meaning
I WENT through TOO MANY PEOPLE
I have interacted with a lot of people in my life.
I WENT through HEAVEN AND HELL
I have experienced both the good and bad sides of life.
I WENT FROM ROME TO BAGDAD
I have traveled far and wide.
TOO MANY STORIES TO TELL
I have accumulated a lot of life experiences and stories to share.
I LIVED through TOO MANY AEONS
I have lived through many different eras and time periods.
I'VE RISEN UP AND I FELL THE FALL
I have experienced both success and failure in my life.
I HAVE BEEN THERE AND I HAVE DONE THAT
I have experienced a lot in my life.
I'VE SEEN IT ALL AND ALL
I have witnessed and experienced a lot of things in my life.
MY TIME IS RUNNING LIKE WATER
My time on this earth is passing quickly.
DEEPER I DIVE THE DEEPER
The further I delve into life, the more complex it becomes.
LAST OF NINE LIVES OF THE CAT
I am running out of chances in life.
I SAVED MY SOULD FOR THE REAPER
I have taken care of myself in preparation for death.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT
Asking for clarification or understanding of a statement.
MERCY IS ALL YOU GET
In the end, all you receive is mercy and forgiveness.
DO WHAT YOU WON'T REGRET
Make choices that you won't regret in the future.
FREEDOM'S YOUR SELF-RESPECT
Maintain your freedom and self-respect in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SASCH KEGEL KONIETZKO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimritzheimer7465
this might be my favorite kmfdm album
@MarqJagger582
damn this song is good
@user-sx1en9zc3j
TAMPABAY FLORIDA LOVE THIS !!!!!!!!!!
@FirstnameLastname-py3bc
This is one mighty track!
@Andf-kc4xx
every song is a good song by KMFDM
@comatose9907
Someone needs to make an hour version so I don't have to keep restarting this.
@werewitch9466
put it on loop!
@acayette
right mouse click on the video -> loop
thank me later :D
@clownfishofficial
Just listen to the whole album over and over
@Rivn98
"Do what you won't regret."