Moderat's formation began back… Read Full Bio ↴Moderat are Modeselektor and Apparat.
Moderat's formation began back in 2002 in Berlin, Germany when Sascha Ring (aka Apparat) and Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary (aka Modeselektor) recorded an EP for the record label BPitch Control ("Auf Kosten der Gesundheit"). When it came time to begin working on an album, Moderat suddenly broke up.
Meanwhile Modeselektor set a milestone in German music history with their sophomore album, Happy Birthday!, including musicians such as Puppetmastaz, Maximo Park and Thom Yorke. Amongst a slew of remixes for the likes of Thom Yorke and Björk, Modeselektor also went on to tour with Radiohead across Japan in 2008.
Apparat, on the other hand, moved forward with his album Walls in 2007 (after his collaboration with Ellen Allien on "Orchestra of Bubbles"), taking a musical path that was more band-oriented and kept him on tour for several years running.
2008 saw the reunion of this project and the three members of Moderat went back to the studio to continue working together and finally released their 1st full album "Moderat" in April 2009. This is a monumental 'audio-visual declaration' album, which includes ten videos by Berlin's highly regarded visualists Pfadfinderei.
http://moderat.fm
Last Time
Moderat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind
Towering walls
They built a world outside
And I
Missed the wake-up call
To glory heavens be
There was a sea of sound
But it was silence
That stole my sleep
When I was dead asleep
Behind
Towering walls
They built a world outside
And I
Missed the wake-up call
When I break cripple legs
Through long winding streets
Fill me with suffering
And the people
Would see right through me
The lyrics of Moderat's song "Last Time" reflect on the feeling of being disconnected from the outside world. The singer had been asleep and missed the changes and progress that took place and the world continued to move forward without them. The "towering walls" could represent a physical barrier like a building or a mental and emotional barrier that kept the singer isolated and unaware. The phrase "missed the wake-up call" also carries double meaning; not only was the singer unaware of what was happening around them, but they also missed out on opportunities that could have helped them grow and succeed.
The second verse shifts the focus to physical movement and the ability to be seen. The singer mentions breaking "cripple legs" and wandering through "long winding streets". The phrase "cripple legs" could represent a physical disability, but it can also symbolize a feeling of being held back or immobilized in some way. The suffering that the singer wants to be filled with might represent a desire for empathy and understanding from others. The last line "And the people would see right through me" could represent a fear of being vulnerable and exposed to others.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was dead asleep
I was completely unaware of what was going on around me.
Behind
I was hidden from everything happening outside.
Towering walls
There were barriers that prevented me from being in touch with reality.
They built a world outside
People continued to live their lives despite my unawareness.
And I
I remained isolated and alone in my slumber.
Missed the wake-up call
I didn't experience the moment that everybody else did to wake up from their slumber.
My stony breath crawled
My breathing was slow and labored.
To glory heavens be
I was hoping for something greater beyond my current state of being.
There was a sea of sound
There was a lot happening around me that I couldn't hear.
But it was silence
What I couldn't hear was more powerful than what I could.
That stole my sleep
The silence prevented me from waking up.
When I break cripple legs
When I am struggling and in pain,
Through long winding streets
Through complicated and difficult situations,
Fill me with suffering
Let me feel the pain so that I know I am alive.
And the people
Others around me,
Would see right through me
Would be able to see that I am struggling and suffering.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GERNOT BRONSERT, SEBASTIAN SZARY, SASCHA RING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@krzysztofski4347
Reception of art is quite a personal matter, not something that I would refer to in a Youtube comment written to a stranger I don't care about. However I felt a need to explain that concept for you, because your mindset bothers me in a negative way, so I cannot leave this as it is, without a reply confronting this mindset.
Let's take the example of the child taking its first steps, which you seem to accept. When you look at the child and supposing you would cry, it's not just the light, which bounces off that little creature and makes it to your eyes and brain, that makes you cry, because that is meaningless. >The< meaning behind that scene is the thing that triggers your emotions. The meaning is what carries significance, and it is in your mind.
Now, I assume that you agree with the statement, that art can have meaning. Not a one, universal meaning, nor necessary the one which original author thought of, but one that somehow creates / is being triggered in your mind during the reception of art. If you don't agree with it, we have nothing to talk about anyway.
Now, you are not able to predict what the song meant to the person above, therefore you have no idea of meaning, and therefore, significance behind it. You are being just purely judgmental, closed in your own concept of "manliness". Furthermore, you said "uncontrolled emotion". Firstly, let me say it properly - you do not talk about controlling emotion, you are talking about suppressing it. And expressing emotions is a human trait. Suppressing emotions is what in my opinion creates psychos.
I think you would be surprised how strong and "manly" (in your meaning) a woman could be. And I would not be surprised to see how much of a "pussy" can a man be, especially the one which is barking the loudest about being strong.
Btw, nice movies concerning topic: Equilibrium, American Psycho. If someone will read trough and reach this point, please feel free to also recommend something :)
@TheNoTrump
When I was dead asleep
behind
Towering walls
They built a world outside
and I
missed the wake-up call
My stony breath crawled
to glory heavens be
there was a sea of sound
When I was dead asleep
behind
Towering walls
They built a world outside
and I
missed the wake-up call
When I break legs
Through long winding streets
Fill me with suffering
And the people
Would see right through me
@schoell88
I think the guy on the motorbike flees from the province. The video also stylizes the monotone life of the youth of the province and makes it somewhat beautiful in its sadness. Very poetic imagery.
@Xxhomeboyx
Yea! I think so too
@maxpayne3491
all things about missed youth are always actual(
@derpreue2038
Karl von Donnerbalken mir spricht das video aus der Seele sieht bei uns ähnlich aus also so der lebenstyle schule dann rumfahren chillen saufen dann abends ins Bett und am nächsten tag alles von vorne
@milztempelrowski9281
The whole 'heimat' thing is probably tru since u can see the hometown of at least one of those guys (Moderat) in the beginning. Rüdersdorf, a town next to Berlin.
The rest actually reminds me of the B1 (a highway in the eastern parts of Berlin) car-tuning/-racing-gang that actually exists/existed (don't know) and meets/met up over there.
Too me this feels more like:
Someone from this 'youth-gasstation-everybody-has-had-sth-with-everybody-already-crew' is now driving his bike somewhat 'recklesslish' tru the woods of east berlin (if I'm not mistaken) in remembrance of the good ol' times.
I really wonder why it still feels so sad tho.. Did they all die in a terrible car-crash? Probably not :) Probably everybody just went their ways and nobody stayed here with 'me' (the driver/ess(?)).
@jeronimoriveraguillemin
Life in cities can be very monotone too
@tinkthetank_
I lost a friend last year. This was our favourite song to listen to together. emotions are strong with this one.
@agecali7893
@100001 1 damn you seem more emotional over that comment than the person who lost their friend. lol you okay?
@sebastianlembcke5198
stay strong
@SCHINSKY
😢