Childhood:
Samy Deluxe grew up with his mothers family as his Sudanese father left Germany when Samy was just two years old. Shortly after this event his half-sister was born. After living in Barmbek for many years they then moved to Eppendorf, a generally better-off suburb of Hamburg. Given this contrast - he certainly did not come from a well-off background - and his constant problems at school with teachers who he often defied, he looked for a release and a way to express himself away from school. He soon discovered music.
Style:
Samy modelled himself on American hip hop. This gave him a great sense of caring for his family, although he boasts of having had a good relationship with his mother and the people who looked after him. He practised all year long writing lyrics and spitting them, he has outstanding freestyling skills. Even his fiercest rivals have admitted that he is one of the best Freestylers in Germany.
Audacious and eloquent, Samy initially chose an aggressive style, based on imaginative use of metaphors, complex overlapping rhymes and his own melodic flow. He favours constructing contantly changing pictures rather than telling long stories. Critics find fault with his limited content and repetitive subjects, but Sam Semillia (as he calls himself, taken from the non-toxis form of the cannabis plant, Sinsemilia) has responded by saying that he can only rap in the style and about the subjects that feel real to him.
Starting Out:
Before working with Dynamite Deluxe he was a member of German Hip Hop group "No Nonsens". He became very well known due to his many guest appearances on the CDs put out by hip hop artists such as Freundeskreis, the Stieber Twins, Main Concept, Eins Zwo, Ferris MC, Absolute Beginner, Das Bo and 5 Sterne Deluxe. It was the latter group in particular that he performed many concerts with. He also took it upon himself to do the festivals all over Germany in order to make a name for himself.
Hochmut
Samy Deluxe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Persönlichkeitsprofil, in dem „Arschloch“ steht
Wollt mich grade ändern, doch es war zu spät, ah
Geh' morgens nach dem Aufstehen kurz den Jakobsweg
Find' mich selbst, verlier' mich dann wieder, während der Tag vergeht
Ich dimme heimlich meinen Heiligenschein
Und transformier' dann zu einem Teufel, rechtzeitig zu meinem Nachtgebet
Als ob die Realität ihm zu surreal ist? Hä?
Bin es nur ich, der die Welt nicht versteht?
Der denkt, es liegt vielleicht daran, dass er zu genial ist?
Ich glaub', ich hab' ein Problem
An den meisten Tagen will ich gar keinen sehen
Paar Zweifel? Ne, ich hab' ganzen Kopf voll mit
Klein'n Gedanken, die mich von der Spur abbringen wie Rollsplitt
Hab' 'n Totalschaden, wollt es lange nicht wahr haben
Doch nach vier Jahrzehnten akzeptiere ich die Tatsache
Ich hinterfrage mehr, als es mir recht ist
Fand den Sinn des Lebens und verlor dann mein Gedächtnis
Ich dachte, alles geht um mich, alles geht um mich
Alles geht um mich, nur um mich, nur um mich
Doch der Hochmut kommt vorm Fall
Ich ließ damals den rechten Weg links liegen
Sitz' in selbstgebauten Kriegsgebieten, hoff', ich find' Frieden
Verzweifelt versunken in sinnlosen Sinnkrisen
Abgeschottet, ich will all die Infos nicht mitkriegen
Will bloß das, was schief lief, wieder hinbiegen
Stürze in die Tiefe wie Lilienthal, ich will fliegen
Doch im goldenen Käfig, hat der Vogel sich die Flügel gestutzt
Und sich verfangen in einem Lügenkonstrukt
Seine Seele lastet schwer unter dem psychischen Druck
Seine Lebensfreude wurd'von Schuldgefühlen verschluckt
Seine Perspektiven wurden von seinem Ego zerstört
Scheint, das Raubtier zähmte mit der Zeit den Löwendompteur
Seine Taten sprechen lauter als es Worte jetzt können
Es gibt keinen Weg zurück, wenn man zu fortschrittlich denkt
Öffentliche Selbstfindung wie ein Forschungsprojekt
Viele scheitern im Showbiz, nenn' das den Vorführeffekt, ah
(I don't know, no, no)
Ich gehe raus auf die Reise, um allein zu sein
Suche nach Liebe und (?) in der Einsamkeit
Und falls ich es schaff', mir selber zu verzeihen, hoff' ich, ihr tut das auch
Aus dieser Kraft
Bau' ich mir Stück für Stück meine Zukunft auf
Verehrtes Publikum, Sie waren Zeuge von „Hochkultur“
In the song "Hochmut" by Samy Deluxe, the lyrics delve into the artist's personal journey of self-discovery and the struggles that come with it. The first verse begins with a glimpse of the artist's introspection, as he reflects on his own personality profile and his realization that he has been labeled as an "asshole." He contemplates the desire to change himself but acknowledges that it may be too late. The reference to the Jakobsweg (Camino de Santiago) suggests that he embarks on a spiritual pilgrimage to find himself, but ultimately he ends up losing himself again as the day passes.
The artist admits to secretly dimming his "halo" and transforming into a devil, alluding to the dualities within his own nature. He questions whether he is the only one who feels like reality is too surreal and if it is because he is too genius for his own understanding. He acknowledges a problem within himself, noting that most days he does not want to face anyone. He reveals that his mind is filled with doubts and small thoughts that distract him from his path, like loose gravel diverting a vehicle. He acknowledges that he has suffered severe damage but only accepted this fact after four decades, implying a long journey toward self-acceptance.
The chorus emphasizes the artist's past belief that everything revolved around him, that he was the center of the world. However, he recognizes that pride comes before a fall, referring to the concept of "Hochmut" (arrogance) in the German title of the song, and the inevitable consequences of such an attitude.
The second verse continues the artist's introspection, describing how he deviated from the right path in the past and now finds himself trapped in self-made war zones, hoping to find peace. He feels desperate and lost in meaningless crises of purpose, consciously choosing to isolate himself from the overwhelming amount of information. He expresses the desire to rectify what went wrong, likening his descent to the famous aviator Otto Lilienthal's unsuccessful attempt at flying. However, he realizes that in the "golden cage," he has been prevented from spreading his wings and has become entangled in a web of lies. The weight of this situation has taken a toll on his soul, drowned his joy of life with guilt, and destroyed his once-promising perspectives. He suggests that the predator (his ego) has tamed the lion tamer (his inner self), reshaping his actions and making them louder than words. He further explores the idea that there is no turning back once one starts thinking too progressively, using the analogy of a public search for self as a research project. He mentions the many failures in the entertainment industry, alluding to the phenomenon of being put on display against one's will.
The bridge reveals the artist's desire to go on a journey, seeking solitude in order to find love and redemption. He hopes to not only forgive himself but also receive forgiveness from others. From this strength, he starts rebuilding his future piece by piece, addressing the audience as respected witnesses of what he calls "Hochkultur" (German for "high culture"), potentially referring to the elevated state he aspires to attain through personal growth and artistic expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Persönlichkeitsprofil, in dem „Arschloch“ steht
In my personal profile, the word 'asshole' is written, reflecting my flaws and shortcomings
Wollt mich grade ändern, doch es war zu spät, ah
I wanted to change myself, but it was too late, ah
Geh' morgens nach dem Aufstehen kurz den Jakobsweg
After waking up in the morning, I briefly walk the Way of St. James
Find' mich selbst, verlier' mich dann wieder, während der Tag vergeht
I find myself, then lose myself again as the day goes on
Ich dimme heimlich meinen Heiligenschein
I secretly dim my halo
Und transformier' dann zu einem Teufel, rechtzeitig zu meinem Nachtgebet
And then I transform into a devil, just in time for my nighttime prayer
Bin ich der Einzige, der sich so fühlt
Am I the only one who feels this way?
Als ob die Realität ihm zu surreal ist? Hä?
As if reality is too surreal for him? Huh?
Bin es nur ich, der die Welt nicht versteht?
Is it just me who doesn't understand the world?
Der denkt, es liegt vielleicht daran, dass er zu genial ist?
Who thinks maybe it's because he's too brilliant?
Ich glaub', ich hab' ein Problem
I think I have a problem
An den meisten Tagen will ich gar keinen sehen
Most days, I don't want to see anyone
Paar Zweifel? Ne, ich hab' ganzen Kopf voll mit
A few doubts? No, my head is full of them
Klein'n Gedanken, die mich von der Spur abbringen wie Rollsplitt
Small thoughts that derail me like loose gravel
Hab' 'n Totalschaden, wollt es lange nicht wahr haben
I have a total breakdown, didn't want to accept it for a long time
Doch nach vier Jahrzehnten akzeptiere ich die Tatsache
But after four decades, I accept the fact
Ich hinterfrage mehr, als es mir recht ist
I question more than I should
Fand den Sinn des Lebens und verlor dann mein Gedächtnis
Found the meaning of life and then lost my memory
Ich dachte, alles geht um mich, alles geht um mich
I thought everything was about me, everything was about me
Alles geht um mich, nur um mich, nur um mich
Everything revolves around me, only me, just me
Doch der Hochmut kommt vorm Fall
But arrogance comes before the fall
Ich ließ damals den rechten Weg links liegen
Back then, I ignored the right path
Sitz' in selbstgebauten Kriegsgebieten, hoff', ich find' Frieden
I sit in self-built war zones, hoping to find peace
Verzweifelt versunken in sinnlosen Sinnkrisen
Desperately immersed in meaningless crises of meaning
Abgeschottet, ich will all die Infos nicht mitkriegen
Isolated, I don't want to receive all the information
Will bloß das, was schief lief, wieder hinbiegen
I just want to fix what went wrong
Stürze in die Tiefe wie Lilienthal, ich will fliegen
I plunge into the depths like Lilienthal, wanting to fly
Doch im goldenen Käfig, hat der Vogel sich die Flügel gestutzt
But in the golden cage, the bird clipped its wings
Und sich verfangen in einem Lügenkonstrukt
And got caught in a web of lies
Seine Seele lastet schwer unter dem psychischen Druck
His soul weighs heavily under psychological pressure
Seine Lebensfreude wurd'von Schuldgefühlen verschluckt
His joy of life was swallowed by guilt
Seine Perspektiven wurden von seinem Ego zerstört
His perspectives were destroyed by his ego
Scheint, das Raubtier zähmte mit der Zeit den Löwendompteur
It seems the predator tamed the lion tamer over time
Seine Taten sprechen lauter als es Worte jetzt können
His actions speak louder than words can now
Es gibt keinen Weg zurück, wenn man zu fortschrittlich denkt
There's no going back if you think too progressively
Öffentliche Selbstfindung wie ein Forschungsprojekt
Public self-discovery like a research project
Viele scheitern im Showbiz, nenn' das den Vorführeffekt, ah
Many fail in showbiz, call it the presentation effect, ah
Ich gehe raus auf die Reise, um allein zu sein
I go on a journey to be alone
Suche nach Liebe und (?) in der Einsamkeit
Searching for love and (?) in solitude
Und falls ich es schaff', mir selber zu verzeihen, hoff' ich, ihr tut das auch
And if I manage to forgive myself, I hope you do too
Aus dieser Kraft
From this strength
Bau' ich mir Stück für Stück meine Zukunft auf
I build my future piece by piece
Verehrtes Publikum, Sie waren Zeuge von „Hochkultur“
Esteemed audience, you were witness to 'high culture'
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Samy Deluxe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind