The part consisting only of onomatopoeia and drum beats were featured in the opening of the video for "Musique Non Stop", off the same album. In later versions of the songs (from "The Mix" and "Minimum-Maximum"), the onomatopoeia are used throughout the entire songs; "Musique Non-Stop" and "Boing Boom Tschak" are practically synonymous.
In Kraftwerks visual stage show, animations of the words are shown on-screen. However; in these, "Boom" is written as "Bumm" because that is a more German way of writing it.
The song, together with "Musique Non Stop" has been used as the final number in nearly all of Kraftwerk's late live concerts. The band members improvise during large parts of the song and exit the stage one by one after finishing their solo part.
Boing Boom Tschak
Kraftwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Music non stop, techno-pop
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak, boom
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The lyrics to Kraftwerk's song Boing Boom Tschak are quite simple and repetitive, consisting almost entirely of the title phrase repeated over and over again. However, this simplicity is actually quite intentional and symbolic of the band's overall artistic aesthetic. Throughout their career, Kraftwerk was known for their stripped-down, minimalist approach to music, prioritizing electronic sounds and repetition over more traditional approaches to composition. The incessant repetition of Boing Boom Tschak is therefore emblematic of this artistic philosophy, and is meant to evoke a sense of mechanical precision and repetition.
In addition to this symbolic interpretation, however, there are also more literal explanations for the song's lyrics. According to the band's founder, Ralf Hütter, the phrase "Boing Boom Tschak" refers to the sound of a drum machine, and was meant to emphasize the role of technology in modern music. In this sense, the song can be seen as a celebration of the rise of electronic music, and a rejection of more traditional, "organic" approaches to sound-making.
Line by Line Meaning
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The repetitive, metallic sound of a machine working tirelessly.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The constancy of the noise highlights the monotony of labor.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The repetition of heavy mechanical sounds mimics the assembly-line routine of a factory setting.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The lack of variation in noise draws attention to the cyclical nature of labor.
Music non stop, techno-pop
The relentlessness of the machinery provides the perfect background for the constant stream of techno music.
Music non stop, techno-pop
The uninterrupted sound of machinery, combined with upbeat music, represents the constant hum of modern society and technology.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The absence of lyrics and continuous mechanical sounds emphasize the ever-present presence of machines in our lives.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak, boom tschak
The addition of a new sound signifies progression and innovation within the mechanical world.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The constant repetition demonstrates the mechanization of modern life, where production and efficiency are prioritized over individuality and creativity.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The robotic and repetitive nature of the machine's sound reflects the dehumanizing aspect of mechanization on workers.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The lack of variation in sound emphasizes the mind-numbing and monotonous nature of work in a factory setting.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The consistency of the noise mirrors the precise functioning of machinery.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The constant repetition of sound mirrors the never-ending cycle of production and consumption that characterizes modern life.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The sound of machines blurs the line between work and leisure time, as technological advances make work possible beyond the confines of business hours.
Boing boom tschak, boing boom tschak
The repetition of sound emphasizes the monotony of the industrial age, where machines replaced hand labor on a mass scale.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RALF HUETTER, FLORIAN SCHNEIDER-ESLEBEN, KARL BARTOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind