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
Mysterious Ways
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even better than the real thing!
Johnny, take a walk with your sister the moon
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
She's slippery
You're sliding down
She'll be there when you hit the ground
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
Johnny, take a dive with your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things you can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel
(On your knees, boy)
She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
Lift my days, light up my nights
One day you will look back
And you'll see where
You were held, how
By this love while
You could stand there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
She moves in mysterious ways
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
We move through miracle days
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
She moves with it
She moves with it
Lift my days, light up my nights
The lyrics to KMFDM’s “Mysterious Ways” reflect on the idea of love being mysterious and incomprehensible. It uses Johnny and his sister as symbols to illustrate this notion. In the first verse, Johnny has been living a life of disconnection, and it is insinuated that he is running away from something he does not understand. His sister, the moon, is described as slippery and able to make Johnny slide down. However, she will be the one who is there once he hits the ground, and this mysterious force is deemed okay. This is further supported when the chorus asserts that this force (the female) moves in mysterious ways, and this is alright because she’s able to lift and light up their days and nights.
The second verse describes Johnny and his sister taking a walk in the rain, and his sister talking to him about the things that cannot be explained. Touch is said to heal, and hurting is said to steal. It is said that Johnny can kiss the sky only if he learns how to kneel. The female is described as the wave that turns the tide and who can see the man inside of the child. The chorus then repeats with the affirmation that this mysterious force is alright.
Overall, the song seems to be about the mystery of love and how it can fix even the most lost of individuals. There is something immensely healing and powerful about it that is almost magical. The use of Johnny and his sister as symbols enhance the idea that this force is something that is hard to grasp, yet essential for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Musical laughter to introduce the song
Even better than the real thing!
The mysterious ways of love are even better than a concrete reality
Johnny, take a walk with your sister the moon
Let the night sky guide you for a change
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
Let the light of the moon brighten your living space and your soul
You've been living underground
You've been hiding from the world and living in darkness
Eating from a can
You're living a life of survival, not enjoyment
You've been running away
You've been avoiding your problems and not facing your fears
From what you don't understand
You're running away from things you cannot comprehend
She's slippery
The love you seek and need is hard to grasp and hold onto
You're sliding down
You're losing control and falling deeper into your troubles
She'll be there when you hit the ground
The love you need will be there to catch you when you fall
It's all right, it's all right, it's all right
Everything will be okay
She moves in mysterious ways
The love you need moves in ways you can't understand
Johnny, take a dive with your sister in the rain
Embrace the storm and let it wash away your worries
Let her talk about the things you can't explain
Let the rain help you understand the things you cannot put into words
To touch is to heal
Physical contact can heal emotional wounds
To hurt is to steal
Inflicting pain on someone is a violation of their being
If you want to kiss the sky
If you want to feel limitless and powerful
Better learn how to kneel (On your knees, boy)
You must humbly submit yourself to the grandeur of life to experience true awe and wonder
She's the wave
The love you need is like a powerful force of nature
She turns the tide
The love you need can change the course of your life
She sees the man inside the child
The love you need sees the potential in you to become great
Lift my days, light up my nights
May the love you need brighten your existence both day and night
One day you will look back
Someday in the future
And you'll see where
You will reflect on your path
You were held, how
You were loved and supported
By this love while
By the unexplained love you needed
You could stand there
When you felt helpless and lost
You could move on this moment
You used this love as motivation
Follow this feeling
Allow your heart to guide you towards the things that matter
We move through miracle days
We go through life, experiencing inexplicable miracles along the way
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
The essence of life moves in ways we cannot grasp
She moves with it
The love you need moves in harmony with the unexplainable beauty of life
Lift my days, light up my nights
May the love you need brighten your existence both day and night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, LARRY MULLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N1XX1 F124Nc15
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
Even better then the real thing!
Johnny take a walk with your sister the moon
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand...
She's slippy
You're sliding down
She'll be there when you hit the ground
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
Johnny take a dive with your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things you can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel
(On your knees boy)
She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights
One day you will look... Back
And you'll see... Where
You were held... How
By this love... While
You could stand... There
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
We move through miracle days
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
She moves with it
She moves with it
Lift my days, light up my nights
Songwriters: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, LARRY MULLEN
Mysterious Ways lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Vacuum Blister #6
The first time I saw KMFDM live (1991), they played this song. It was only a few weeks after the U2 album came out.
I never knew they actually recorded it.
26 years later and I'm able to hear it again.
This brings back memories.
reyals
pdmccorkle yeah it was like not necessarily a bootleg but like an underground record that wasnt mass produced or released on a wide scale until the internet
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agogo_(album)
SW
I always thought this was better than the original.
Ryan Taylor
It was originally on the "Shut Up Kitty" compilation from 1993: https://youtu.be/cKiKBZjCDqk
TheFirstJedi
Lucia has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard.... P.S. Long live U2 and KMFDM!!! Two of my all-time favorites. :)
Jon Esworthy
@thefirstjedi That's not Lucia
The Void
Better than the real thing.
PoW WarPig
He was sick when he recorded the vocals for this , prolly one of the better tracks they covered ..
Penitant
I miss En Esch. Everytime I go to a KMFDM concert something is missing. The band can still kick ass, just not as strongly as they did with En there.
Ieva Kalēja
Great cover, very catchy.