OOMPH! is an industrial rock band from the neue deutsche härte scene.
Read Full Bio ↴OOMPH! is an industrial rock band from the neue deutsche härte scene.

OOMPH! consists of:
Robert Flux (guitar, mixing)
Andreas Crap (lead guitar, keyboards)
Leo (live drums)
Hagen (live bass)
Der Schulz (lead vocalist)

The band was formed in 1989 in Wolfsburg, Germany. They are one of the founders of the fusion of hard metal music and industrial sounds known as Neue Deutsche Härte.

OOMPH! owed a lot to Nitzer Ebb in their self-titled debut (1992). OOMPH!'s change of style for the successor "Sperm" (1994), with a more guitar-driven metal sound mixed with their electronic roots, inspired numerous musicians, most famously Rammstein, to follow their lead. (Rammstein have cited OOMPH! in several interviews as their main inspiration.)

OOMPH! released their first album on Jor's Machinery label, then releasing their consecutive albums on its sister-label Dynamica. They stayed with Jor, until his labels disappeared during the acquisition by Sanctuary Records at around 1996/1997.

Following Dynamica OOMPH! finally signed with Virgin Schallplatten. With the benefits of major-label status OOMPH! gained a larger following, and toured with labelmates Skunk Anansie in 1999. Between 1998 and 2001 they released three albums on the Virgin label, fulfilling their contract, but did not continue, feeling that the record company never fully explored their potential.

In 2004 OOMPH! released their first single "Augen auf!" on a new label, this time on Supersonic Records, part of the Sony BMG group of music companies. It marks their first Number One hit ever in Germany, thus eventually bringing forth their major commercial breakthrough. It became part of the FIFA 2005 soundtrack.

The band's ninth record, GlaubeLiebeTod was released in March 2006, including the controversial single "Gott ist ein Popstar" and its follow-up "Das letzte Streichholz", the third single was Die Schlinge.

In 2007, they won the third Bundesvision Song Contest (a contest between the sixteen states of Germany) for Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) with "Träumst du?", which featured Marta Jandová from Die Happy.

While OOMPH! are not widely known within the United States, the band did perform at a New York festival in 1993. In Europe they have performed at M'era Luna, Ozzfest, Dynamo Open Air and Wacken Open Air.

Ego
Oomph! Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ich hab mich abgekühlt an dir
Ich hab mich ausgehöhlt mit dir
Ich hab mich abgenutzt an dir
Ich hab mich aufgelöst in dir
Ich hab mich totgekämpft an dir
Ich hab mich totgehofft an dir
Ich hab mich totgesucht in dir
Ich hab mich totgelebt an dir

Du bist die Nacht die mich entblößt
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist die Macht, die mich erlöst
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist das Nichts, das mich verhüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist das Licht, das mich erfüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich

Ich hab mich abgemüht an dir
Ich hab mich abgequält mit dir
Ich hab mich ausgezehrt an dir
Ich hab mich ausgeträumt an dir
Ich hab mich totgeschrien an dir
Ich hab mich totversucht an dir
Ich hab mich totgewollt an dir
Ich hab mich totgefroren an dir

Du bist die Nacht die mich entblößt
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist die Macht, die mich erlöst
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist das Nichts, das mich verhüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist das Licht, das mich erfüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich

Du bist die Nacht, die mich ernährt
Du bist die Macht, die mich verzehrt
Du bist der Raum, der mich verhüllt
Du bist der Traum, der sich erfüllt

Du bist die Nacht die mich entblößt
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist die Macht, die mich erlöst
Leg deine Arme um mich
Du bist das Nichts, das mich verhüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich

Du bist das Licht, das mich erfüllt
Leg deine Arme um mich

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Oomph!'s song "Ego" depict a toxic and addictive relationship, where the singer is consumed and exploited by the other partner. The first stanza lists a series of actions that the singer has taken towards the other person and how they have affected them. They have cooled off, hollowed out, worn out, disintegrated, fought to death, hoped for death, searched for it, and even lived their life to death - all while being with the other person. The second stanza brings in the contrasting emotions that the singer feels about the person - they are the night that exposes them but also the power that saves them, the nothingness that covers them but also the light that fills them. In the third and final stanza, the singer shows that they cannot let go of the person despite how destructive the relationship is, and almost seems to worship them. The person is the night that feeds them, the power that devours them, the space that conceals them, and the dream that comes true.

Overall, the lyrics of "Ego" are dark and intense, showing the pain and pleasure that can come from an unhealthy attachment. The song warns against letting one's ego and desires control them to the point of sacrificing their well-being and sanity for someone else.

Line by Line Meaning

Ich hab mich abgekühlt an dir
I have cooled down with you

Ich hab mich ausgehöhlt mit dir
I have hollowed out with you

Ich hab mich abgenutzt an dir
I have exhausted myself with you

Ich hab mich aufgelöst in dir
I have dissolved in you

Ich hab mich totgekämpft an dir
I have fought to the death with you

Ich hab mich totgehofft an dir
I have hoped for death with you

Ich hab mich totgesucht in dir
I have searched for death in you

Ich hab mich totgelebt an dir
I have lived to death with you

Du bist die Nacht die mich entblößt
You are the night that exposes me

Leg deine Arme um mich
Wrap your arms around me

Du bist die Macht, die mich erlöst
You are the power that redeems me