Some critics say that Rio Reiser created a new image of a German folk singer; he was even called a "Schlager" artist (a genre of German folk music), and a "Volksmusik" musician (sometimes translated as "folk music", but in a literary sense it means music of the people). To other critics, Rio Reiser was simply a singer in a rock band. However, Reiser sometimes approved of being referred to a Volksmusik musician, because he thought that this would simply mean he sang music for the people.
His father was an engineer for Siemens AG, and the family moved several times because of his father's work; they lived in Berlin, Oberbayern, Nürnberg, Mannheim, and Stuttgart. Reiser was never really able to feel at home in any of these places. Many of his friends said, when they were asked in an interview which was broadcast on the TV-channel arte in 1998, that he started playing music to create a place where he felt at home.
Reiser was known by his friends as someone who had a very special mind of his own. For example he managed to persuade his mother Erika Möbius that he was allowed to stop attending school and start an apprenticeship in a studio for photography. She believed that he was an autodidact; he never learned things when he was taught by someone else. Thus he taught himself how to play cello, guitar, the piano and other instruments.
He decided to change his name from Ralph Möbius to Rio Reiser because of the autobiographical novel Anton Reiser by Karl Philipp Moritz. During his teenage years Rio Reiser was a big fan of The Beatles and later of The Rolling Stones.
After he left school, Reiser started as a singer for the rock band The Beat Kings where he met his good friend R.P.S. Lanrue. Later he ended his apprenticeship at the photographic studio and left The Beat Kings, to be able to go to Berlin. In Berlin he composed the first Beat-Opera, which wasn't successful at all.
In 1970 Reiser recorded his first single with the band Ton Steine Scherben. Their original name was actually "Was ich fand, waren Ton, Steine, Scherben". In that same year the group performed their first public concert and recorded their first full length record. Ton Steine Scherben were musically successful, though not commercially.
In 1985 Reiser and the band finally split because of financial reasons. Reiser had a large debt with the group, but his solo career went so well that he was free from debt in a short time. His first solo record-album was called König Von Deutschland ("King of Germany") which was produced by his manager Georges Glueck. Many of his friends from the Ton Steine Scherben-days didn't like the fact that Reiser was suddenly a commercially successful musician.
Rio Reiser was also politically active. He was member of the Die Grünen and later after the German reunification he joined the PDS.
Reiser's sixth and last solo record was Himmel und Hölle (Heaven and Hell). Reiser wrote and performed most of his songs entirely by himself, although he was sometimes accompanied by his long time friend R.P.S. Lanrue.
Rio Reiser died on August 20, 1996 from a circulatory collapse after internal bleedings, probably as a result of a hepatitis C infection, at his home in Fresenhagen.
Shit-Hit
Rio Reiser Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
als ich noch jung und hübsch war,
frisch und knackig aussah,
niemals meinen Körper schonte
und bei meinen Eltern wohnte.
Ging dann nachts das Licht aus,
holte ich mein Döschen raus,
denn meine kleine Pfeifen
Ja, ja, ja, täglich einmal,
einmal täglich Haschisch, nasch ich.
Ja, wir lieben unser Dope,
wir lieben unsere Trips
und die verrückten Kicks, Kicks, Kicks.
Mescalin für die Queen,
LSD in den Kaffee. Olé!
Ach, was waren das für Zeiten!
Mittags eß ich Körnermehl,
abends gibt es Weizengel,
dazu mach ich Gymnastik,
durch und durch Elastik.
Meide allen Plastikschund,
ich lebe also kerngesund.
Nur meine kleine Pfeifen
(Was ist mit deinen Pfeifen?)
kann ich mir nicht verkneifen.
(So, so!)
Ja, ja, ja, täglich einmal,
einmal täglich Haschisch, nasch ich.
Ja, wir lieben unser Dope,
wir lieben unsere Trips
und die verrückten Kicks, Kicks, Kicks.
Kokain für die Queen,
Bilsenkraut für die Braut.
Ach, was waren das für Zeiten!
Heut bin ich fast dreißig, (Lüge!)
verrückt und nicht mehr fleißig.
Ich hasse das Normale, (Normale?)
das Farblose und Fahle,
geh liebend gerne tanzen
und pflege meine Pflanzen.
Nur meine kleine Pfeifen
(Ist was mit deinen Pfeifen?)
kann ich mir nicht verkneifen.
(Du, du!)
Ja, ja, ja, täglich einmal,
einmal täglich Haschisch, nasch ich.
Ja, wir lieben unser Dope,
wir lieben unsere Trips
und die verrückten Kicks, Kicks, Kicks.
Frischer Afghane für die Dame,
Opium ins Ministerium.
The song "Shit-Hit" by Rio Reiser reflects on the lifestyle of a young adult who indulges in drugs, specifically hashish, and the experiences and feelings associated with it, both positive and negative. Rio Reiser uses irony throughout the song to paint a picture of a person who is aware of the harmful consequences of drug use, yet continues to participate in it nonetheless.
The first stanza describes the singer's youthful and carefree attitude towards drug use. The second stanza is a juxtaposition of this carefree attitude with a more conscientious approach towards nutrition and exercise, while maintaining his addiction to hashish. The third stanza is a reflection of the singer's current state of mind, where he has become disillusioned with the structures of society and has turned to more alternative methods of self-expression, including growing plants and dancing. The song ends by suggesting the singer's exposure to harder drugs, such as cocaine and opium.
Overall, the song is a critique of the societal norms that stifle individuality and creativity, with a focus on the positive and negative impacts of drug use. Rio Reiser uses humor and irony to explore this complex topic.
Line by Line Meaning
Ach, was waren das für Zeiten
Reflecting on past times
als ich noch jung und hübsch war,
When Rio was young and good-looking
frisch und knackig aussah,
He was fresh, bright and full of vitality
niemals meinen Körper schonte
He never held back on using his body
und bei meinen Eltern wohnte.
And was still living with his parents
Ging dann nachts das Licht aus,
When the lights went out at night
holte ich mein Döschen raus,
He would get his stash
denn meine kleine Pfeifen
Referring to his pipe
kann ich mir nicht verkneifen.
Something he can't resist
Ja, ja, ja, täglich einmal,
He indulges himself once a day
einmal täglich Haschisch, nasch ich.
Referring to his consumption of cannabis
Ja, wir lieben unser Dope,
We love our drugs
wir lieben unsere Trips
We love our psychedelic trips
und die verrückten Kicks, Kicks, Kicks.
And the crazy highs and sensations
Mescalin für die Queen,
Referencing the use of mescaline for the queen
LSD in den Kaffee. Olé!
Adding LSD to his coffee
Mittags eß ich Körnermehl,
Describing his healthy eating habits
abends gibt es Weizengel,
And what he eats in the evening
dazu mach ich Gymnastik,
And he exercises
durch und durch Elastik.
He is very agile and flexible
Meide allen Plastikschund,
He tries to avoid all plastic junk
ich lebe also kerngesund.
Living healthily
Nur meine kleine Pfeifen
Despite all this
(Was ist mit deinen Pfeifen?)
Asking about his pipe
kann ich mir nicht verkneifen.
He still can't resist his vices
Heut bin ich fast dreißig, (Lüge!)
Now he is almost thirty - or lying about his age
verrückt und nicht mehr fleißig.
He is now crazy and not very productive
Ich hasse das Normale, (Normale?)
He hates normality
das Farblose und Fahle,
He hates dullness and grayness
geh liebend gerne tanzen
He loves dancing
und pflege meine Pflanzen.
And he takes care of his plants
(Ist was mit deinen Pfeifen?)
Asking again about his pipe
(Du, du!)
Confirming that he still enjoys his vices
Frischer Afghane für die Dame,
Making a reference to buying fresh hashish
Opium ins Ministerium.
And referencing opium use in the government
Contributed by Bentley H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Noah
Grüße gehen raus an Abi Andreas Müller
Tuchez
shit 22 Stunden zu spät
Berret138
Haha ist echt so erstmal gönnen
S k8
🤝🤝
ActionChong
Haha Same reason 😆👌🏻💪🏻
Mr Mojo Risin
rio ist pure Energie!
Massifi
Das Lied ist auch abgesehen vom lyrischen Inhalt großartig. Wie einem das nicht gefallen kann und man das dann noch öffentlich angeben muss, ist mir unverständlich. Keine Freude im Leben? Womöglich :)
punkisredjo
Mensch, ich hab gestern gemerkt das det mit dem Joint-Drehen gar nich so leicht is wies aussieht...aber ich hab ja zeit zum üben :D
Lisbeth Salander
als ich das das erste mal hörte,verstand ich:hole ich mein würstchen raus: lach
Buderus69
Heut ais dem nichts an dieses lied gedacht, war mal bei einer JBO special CD mit dabei