Hannes Wittmer grew up in a village close to Würzbug, the city where he began sport studies. He quit those to move to Hamburg, where he started working in the music industry. His first album, "Bodenangst", was released in 2009, first with Retter des Rock Records, before it was rereleased with a municipal label, under the pseudonym Spaceman Spiff. It comes from the characters Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson, who often daydreams and fantasizes about being Spaceman Spiff.
In 2010, he releases a split album along with Finn-Ole Heinrich, "Du drehst den Kopf, ich dreh den Kopf", which gathers stories by Heinrich and songs by Spaceman Spiff. That same year, he receives the music price Krach und Getöse. His second solo album, "und im Fenster immer noch Wetter", is released one year later, in 2011. After a longer break, his third album, "Endlich Nichts", is released in 2014 with the label Grand Hotel van Cleef.
http://www.spaceman-spiff.de/
Treibsand
Spaceman Spiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wenn ich träum bin ich unverwundbar
bitte gib mir noch zeit
und reiß mir nicht die augen auf
hier im treibsandkasten der jugend
ist fast nur noch stein
meine hände zu groß für die förmchen
meine augenlider sind schwer
aber der sandmann kommt nicht mehr
weil ich nicht an ihn glaub
wer glaubt hier auch schon an mich
aber schneidet mir die zunge ab
ich werd immer noch summen
mhmhmhmm
man wächst und wächst bis man irgendwann
sich irgendwo den kopf stößt
denn die welt ist zu klein
für all die
astronauten und superstars
wir suchen die alternative
zu dem was wir sollen
den größten gemeinsamen teiler
von können und wollen
dabei ist doch alles was fehlt
nur dass alles da ist
und irgendwas wahr ist
von diesem film der gestern
im kopfkissenkino noch lief
jetzt gibts nicht mal ein drehbuch
also das sind die karten
ein arsch voll zeit
den kopf voll musik
und in meiner hand
noch ein bißchen sand
The lyrics of "Treibsand" by Spaceman Spiff describe the feeling of being lost and trapped in one's own world. The singer is wearing a bulletproof pajama, feeling invincible and safe inside his dreams. However, he asks for more time and begs not to be interrupted, as he is stuck in a "quicksand box" of youth where there is almost only stone. He can't fit his big hands inside toy molds, and the castles he tries to build are too small.
The following lines reflect his frustration and disappointment: "My eyelids are heavy but the sandman never comes anymore because nobody believes in me." The singer is aware of his solitude and the impossibility of his dreams becoming true. Still, he will keep humming even if they cut out his tongue. The song also touches on relationships and the inevitable disappointment when one hits their head against the limitations of the world.
Some interpretations suggest that the lyrics refer to the artist's personal experiences. Spaceman Spiff is a project of the German musician Hannes Wittmer, who started recording his songs when he was a student in the early 2000s. As a young artist, he may have felt trapped in his own universe and struggled to find his place in an industry dominated by commercial and superficial values.
Line by Line Meaning
mein schlafanzug ist kugelsicher
My pajamas are bulletproof, which makes me invulnerable when I am dreaming.
wenn ich träum bin ich unverwundbar
When I dream, I am invincible and cannot be harmed.
bitte gib mir noch zeit
Please give me more time to figure things out.
und reiß mir nicht die augen auf
Don't force me to open my eyes and see reality before I'm ready.
hier im treibsandkasten der jugend
Here in the sandbox of youth, where everything feels uncertain and unstable.
ist fast nur noch stein
Things have become hard and inflexible, with little room for imagination or creativity.
meine hände zu groß für die förmchen
I have outgrown the toys and tools of childhood and need something more substantial.
und die burgen so klein
The castles I used to build seem insignificant and pointless now.
meine augenlider sind schwer
I am tired and struggling to keep my eyes open.
aber der sandmann kommt nicht mehr
I can't fall asleep easily anymore, even with the help of the Sandman.
weil ich nicht an ihn glaub
I have lost my sense of wonder and belief in magical things.
wer glaubt hier auch schon an mich
I feel like no one believes in me or my potential anymore.
aber schneidet mir die zunge ab
Even if you take away my voice or ability to speak, I will still find a way to express myself.
ich werd immer noch summen
I will hum or make sounds to communicate if I have to.
man wächst und wächst bis man irgendwann
We keep growing and changing until one day, we hit a wall or obstacle.
sich irgendwo den kopf stößt
We bump our heads and realize that the world is too small for all of us to be astronauts or superstars.
denn die welt ist zu klein
The world is limited in its resources and opportunities, and we have to find ways to compromise and share.
für all die astronauten und superstars
Not everyone can be a hero or a celebrity, no matter how much we may dream or wish it were so.
wir suchen die alternative
We are searching for a different way of doing things, something that suits us better.
zu dem was wir sollen
We are trying to find an alternative to the expectations and pressures placed upon us.
den größten gemeinsamen teiler
We are looking for something that we can all agree on, that can bring us together and unite us.
von können und wollen
Something that can bridge the gap between what we are capable of and what we desire.
dabei ist doch alles was fehlt
The solution may be simpler than we think, and everything we need may already be present.
nur dass alles da ist
We just need to recognize and appreciate what we have, rather than constantly yearning for more.
und irgendwas wahr ist
We need to find something that is true and authentic, something that we can all believe in.
von diesem film der gestern
Something that resonates with us, like a movie we saw recently or a story we heard.
im kopfkissenkino noch lief
Something we can't forget or shake off, like a vivid dream we had last night.
jetzt gibts nicht mal ein drehbuch
But life isn't scripted or planned out for us like a movie, and we have to figure things out on our own.
also das sind die karten
So these are the cards we've been dealt, and we have to play them as best we can.
ein arsch voll zeit
We have a lot of time on our hands, but we don't know how to use it wisely.
den kopf voll musik
We have a lot of ideas and inspiration, but we don't know how to turn them into action.
und in meiner hand noch ein bißchen sand
We have some raw materials to work with, but we have to figure out how to turn them into something meaningful and valuable.
Contributed by Christian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Soph Soph
Immer noch eins meiner absoluten Lieblingslieder! Ich kann mich noch genau erinnern, wie ich es zum ersten Mal live gehört und mich sehr verstanden gefühlt habe 💖💖💖
PieceOK
endlich hör ich mal wieder Treibsand von dir in einer tollen qualität : ) super Auftritt, super Lied
IrgendwoImNiemandsland
Voll schön!
givemeakingdom
das gefällt mir wirklich sehr :)
Hams Hansi
Hat jemand die tabs oder chords davon?