While being an extremely successful producer for the international Music Industry in the 1980s, today his genius as a solo artist is mainly remembered by music enthusiasts and electronic music insiders. The German electronic artist Bob Humid claims to be influenced a lot by Hine's highly developed production skills where audio-edits were to a large extent meaningful and precise. Rupert Hine was a enthusiastic user of the Fairlight CMI, the world's first Sampling Synthesizer.
Immunity
Rupert Hine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Immunity my way of hiding when the truth hurts me
My way of cruising through what won't let me be
It's my discovery
No vexation
No frustration
Least of all no pain or penetration
And no contamination
Immunity my way of hiding when the truth hurts me
My way of crusing through what won't let me be
It's my discovery
No sensation
No elation
Processed all my thought communication
I've tamed imagination
Out of reach
But never out of touch
My frozen smile could never be enough
Once I wanted you but love cost me too much
Immunity it's my discovery
Immunity my way of hiding when the truth hurts me
My way of crusing through what won't let me be
It's my discovery
Fake events and discontent
The whole world's bent
On leaving just a monument
Immunity... (etc
Rupert Hine's song Immunity is a powerful portrayal of the lengths to which some individuals go in order to avoid facing the harsh realities of life. The lyrics illustrate the singer's newfound "immunity" - a way of hiding from the pain, frustration, and disappointment that inevitably come with loving and living. This immunity is represented as a discovery, something that the singer has found through self-preservation, and is symbolized throughout the song as a sort of cocoon or barrier that the singer has constructed to protect themselves from the outside world.
The lyrics also suggest that this immunity has come at a cost - the singer has cut themselves off from feeling sensation or elation, and tamed their imagination to avoid any penetrating thoughts or feelings. Despite the fact that the singer's emotions have been muted, they are still out of reach but never out of touch - still able to glimpse the world from a distance, but unable to fully engage with it.
Overall, the song is a haunting reflection on the lengths we will go to protect ourselves from the pain and complications of life, and the cost that this self-preservation can incur.
Line by Line Meaning
Immunity it's my discovery
The ability to be unaffected by emotional pain is something I've found and embraced.
Immunity my way of hiding when the truth hurts me
Being emotionally immune allows me to avoid facing painful truths.
My way of cruising through what won't let me be
My immunity acts as a vehicle that allows me to easily navigate past anything that might cause me distress.
No vexation
There's no annoyance or frustration caused by my immunity.
No frustration
The immunity shields me from any feelings of frustration or irritation.
Least of all no pain or penetration
I'm not feeling any emotional pain and nobody is affecting me in a significant way.
And no contamination
My immunity protects me from getting emotionally affected by negative energy around me.
No sensation
I don't feel anything that would cause me emotional distress.
No elation
Nor do I feel any positive emotions, such as joy or happiness.
Processed all my thought communication
I'm analyzing everything I think and say, and I'm not allowing myself to be emotionally affected by any of it.
I've tamed imagination
I'm not allowing my imagination to run wild or to cause me to feel any emotions.
Out of reach but never out of touch
While I may seem distant or unapproachable, I am still aware of my surroundings and able to interact with the world.
My frozen smile could never be enough
Even though I may look happy on the outside, I know that I'm not truly feeling anything on the inside.
Once I wanted you but love cost me too much
I used to be open to love, but I realized that it caused me too much pain and so I've become immune to it.
Fake events and discontent
I'm surrounded by people who are pretending to be happy, but who are actually unhappy and dissatisfied.
The whole world's bent on leaving just a monument
Everyone is so focused on their own legacies and what they'll be remembered for that they're not truly living in the present.
Immunity... (etc.)
My emotional immunity is still protecting me and keeping me from becoming emotionally affected by the world around me.
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Salamanteri
Rupert Hine – Immunity (1981) CD version 1989
01 I Hang On To My Vertigo 00:00
02 Misplaced Love 05:00
03 Samsara 09:14
04 Surface Tension 14:23
05 I Think A Man Will Hang Soon 18:44
06 Immunity 23:09
07 Another Stranger 27:03
08 Psycho-Surrender 31:50
09 Make A Wish 36:00
+ Bonus Tracks
10 Scratching At Success 42:18
Jos Schakenraad
Rupert played live in my tiny home town back then (21-7-1981, rural Winterswijk, The Netherlands). No one over there had ever heard of Hine, but many just decided to visit the concert as a way to spend a nice summer evening, not really interested in the music at all.
As an early teenager (I was 14 at the time) I had been mesmerised for a while by Hine and had played my parents' copy of Immunity (LP) many many times. My mum got a copy from her brother who owned and still owns a record strore.
Hine has a special place in my musical heart. He has shaped my sense for 'the uncanny' in music which I explored later on through f.i. the work of the Legendary Pink Dots.
Hine's been a pioneer in electronic pop music and was far ahead of many contempories in blending different sounds and keeping an eye on the over all sound quality.
His collaboration with Jeanette Obstoj shouldn't be underestimated. Her lyrics are brilliant. Listen f.i. to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUS9C2fz40w
piratasdecordoba
I remember when this came out 1981, I was stunned because this was so different and had such a dark note. Still a great album.
Genomizer
I LOVE THIS DARKNESS Rupert has going on on this album, especially track number 5, so many echoes like Depeche Mode, so many wonderful similarities, no wonder I first loved THIS album by Rupert back in 1981 and then Depeche Mode from 1981! Rupert was sooooo much ahead of his time, so much. The whole of this "Immutiny" album sounds like released today, 2021!!!!
Paul Wilson
The female spoils perfect song.
Pete H
I loved this album, Waving Not Drowning had some really dark moments too.
MopTop Baku
Bought the LP when it first came out and I'm still listening to it after 40+ years. Absolutely wonderful music.
Salamanteri
Rupert Hine – Immunity (1981) CD version 1989
01 I Hang On To My Vertigo 00:00
02 Misplaced Love 05:00
03 Samsara 09:14
04 Surface Tension 14:23
05 I Think A Man Will Hang Soon 18:44
06 Immunity 23:09
07 Another Stranger 27:03
08 Psycho-Surrender 31:50
09 Make A Wish 36:00
+ Bonus Tracks
10 Scratching At Success 42:18
1967haze
This album is a masterpiece.
darkninja
Big fan of the 80s, started to collect some records and never heard of this fellow. The album art defintely mesmerized me so I grabbed it…Turns out this dudes pretty great! I dig that he uses an alternative style during this era, can’t wait to find more on him! RIP
Raymond Duck
As an anxious, awkward teen, growing up in Canada this new music spoke to me. It is a part of my lifetrack now in my 50s.
Danny Miles
Thats great Raymond. Thought i would respond as your comment is recent. Me too, i had all Ruperts albums in the 80s. I felt there was no one on the planet who could make music like him. Immunity and Wildest Wish To Fly are incredible albums. The latter was on constant play for me.