The first demo-tape "Nostalgische Atavismen" sold more than 500 copies in the worldwide underground, slowly spreading the news that "Samsas Traum" someday might become more than a very strange little band with even stranger german vocals. After recording and releasing two more demo- and promo-tapes, the band signed their record deal with "Trisol Music Group Germany" (London After Midnight, Sopor Aeternus, L'âme Immortelle) on the 1st of march 1999, exactly three years after the bands foundation. The chief-manager of "Trisol" got to know about "Samsas Traum" randomly; he was phoning "Orkus Magazine" concerning adverts, and the person in charge listened to the bands' latest promo-release while talking to him.
Gorgass
Samsas Traum Lyrics
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Ich tat nur, was ich sollte, war hauptsächlich darin begabt.
Zu folgen und gehorchen, niemals zu hinterfragen
Und das Leid tausneder Menschen bis nach Bielefeld zu tragen.
Es war nicht immer einfach, das übersehn die Meisten,
Für das Wohle meines Volkes diesen Henkersdienst zu leisten,
Verstehn Sie doch: Ich habe mich der Aufgabe gebeugt,
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Dreh ganz weit den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Ab mit dir ins Gorgass.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Bodo, dreh den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Dr. Bodo Gorgass.
Neunzehn Neunundvierzig trat das Grundgesetz in Kraft,
Und damit war die Todesstrafe in ganz Deutschland abgeschafft:
Zynisch, dass ich, der ich mich durchs Töten profilierte,
Plötzlich, von der Gnade meiner Feinde profitierte.
Ich, der gottgleich über andrer Seelen hat gerichtet,
Ich, der niemals heilte, ich, der Kranke hat vernichtet,
Vierundvierzig lange Jahre waren mir dann noch gegeben,
Ausgerechnet ich, Vergasungsarzt, ich durfte leben.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Dreh ganz weit den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Ab mit dir ins Gorgass.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Bodo, dreh den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Dr. Bodo Gorgass.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Dreh ganz weit den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Ab mit dir ins Gorgass.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Bodo, dreh den Hahn auf,
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Dr. Bodo Gorgass.
The lyrics of Samsas Traum's song "Gorgass" explore the life of a man who was a professional executioner during a time when the death penalty was still legal in Germany. The lyrics are narrated from the perspective of the executioner who justifies his actions through the belief that killing was necessary for the greater good. He speaks of how he was born with the gift of following orders without questioning them and that he carried the burden of the suffering of "thousands of people" to Bielefeld. He takes pride in his job as an executioner and in his ability to take a life. He even goes so far as to say that he was convinced of the need for murder, showing a complete lack of remorse for his actions.
The song is called "Gorgass", which refers to Dr. Bodo Gorgass, a physician who was responsible for the gassing of disabled people and prisoners during the Nazi period. The song mentions the year 1949 when the basic law was passed in Germany, which abolished the death penalty. The executioner in the song faces the irony of the situation as he, who once took pride in legally taking lives, now relies on the mercy of his enemies to live out his life. The chorus of the song echoes the idea of turning on the gas - "Dreh auf, dreh auf, dreh ganz weit den Hahn auf, Hahn auf, Hahn auf, ab mit dir ins Gorgass" (Turn on, turn on, turn the valve all the way, valve on, valve on, off to Gorgass with you), where "Gorgass" is used as an ironic euphemism for the gas chambers that the executioner once operated.
Overall, the lyrics of "Gorgass" deal with the theme of guilt and justification. It portrays a character who was convinced of his actions, whether right or wrong, and refused to question the morality of his actions. The song highlights the dark history of Germany's past and serves as a reflection on the consequences of committing atrocities in the name of a higher ideal.
Line by Line Meaning
Man könnte, wenn man wollte, behaupten: Ich hab Glück gehabt.
One could say, if they wanted to, that I was lucky.
Ich tat nur, was ich sollte, war hauptsächlich darin begabt.
I only did what I should have, I was mainly skilled at following and obeying, never questioning.
Zu folgen und gehorchen, niemals zu hinterfragen
To follow and obey, never to question.
Und das Leid tausender Menschen bis nach Bielefeld zu tragen.
Carrying the suffering of thousands of people as far as Bielefeld.
Es war nicht immer einfach, das übersehn die Meisten,
It was not always easy, most overlook that fact.
Für das Wohle meines Volkes diesen Henkersdienst zu leisten,
Performing this execution service for the benefit of my people.
Verstehn Sie doch: Ich habe mich der Aufgabe gebeugt,
You must understand: I submitted myself to this task.
Von der Notwendigkeit des Mordens war ich immer überzeugt.
I was always convinced of the necessity of murder.
Dreh auf, dreh auf,
Turn up, turn up,
Dreh ganz weit den Hahn auf,
Turn the knob all the way
Hahn auf, Hahn auf,
Open the valve, open the valve,
Ab mit dir ins Gorgass.
Off to Gorgass with you.
Neunzehn Neunundvierzig trat das Grundgesetz in Kraft,
The Basic Law came into effect in 1949,
Und damit war die Todesstrafe in ganz Deutschland abgeschafft:
And thus the death penalty was abolished throughout Germany:
Zynisch, dass ich, der ich mich durchs Töten profilierte,
Ironically, I who made a name for myself through killing,
Plötzlich, von der Gnade meiner Feinde profitierte.
Suddenly, benefited from the mercy of my enemies.
Ich, der gottgleich über andrer Seelen hat gerichtet,
I, who judged over other souls god-like,
Ich, der niemals heilte, ich, der Kranke hat vernichtet,
I, who never healed, I, who destroyed the sick,
Vierundvierzig lange Jahre waren mir dann noch gegeben,
Forty-four long years were given to me then,
Ausgerechnet ich, Vergasungsarzt, ich durfte leben.
Of all people, me, the gas doctor, was allowed to live.
Contributed by Aria W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.