He first started out in 1980 when he formed the band "Grauzone" with his brother. From 1982 on he sang solo and had his breakthrough in Switzerland in 1985 with the album "I tell this night".
In April 2007 he released his newest album: Eldorado. From his website:
"It seems that Stephan Eicher had this album in mind for a long time; almost fifteen years… Since « Carcassonne », when he was already thinking about reinventing himself, after six years of real success (Two people in a room, Combien de temps, Déjeuner en paix, Pas d’ami (comme toi…).
With 2003's generous "Taxi Europa", marked by continental climates, he went in a different direction, around the old continent. “By the end of this long tour, I couldn’t stand the idea of singing out loud. I felt like singing for myself or for someone. As a coincidence, I began to compose new songs in places where I couldn’t make so much noise. In the Camargue, there was a dog barking each time I started to sing. In Brussels, I had almost to whisper melodies to avoid waking up the child sleeping next to me. Progressively, I began to place my voice differently”.
Eldorado was born like that, in hushed silence, in the secret of the nights. And as usual with Stephan, the voice has opened the way. Softened, contained in intimacy, it drove all the instruments choices implicitly. It had to be organic, with grain, matter, in order to give more space to silences, a figurative instrumentation, almost a real original soundtrack which could tell what the voice was concealing."
Walking
Stephan Eicher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into the teeth of it's contented smile
Like a snake we crawled across it's feet
They witched in sleep
The city dreamed two drunk men walking
We were hungry and the trees were bare
We spat on their roots until our mouths were dry
It went in our mouths
The city dreamed of two fire eaters
But if not for just one word from a friend
By chance or by design
I would have broken my neck
On some dark stone steps
Singing "any town , is a good place to die"
Afraid of the kiss of getting burned on the lips
I lean just close enough to light my cigarette
I climb the steps with the key to my room
My hands are warm
My pockets are full of stolen fire
Like a fisT he arcs through ancient dust
Into the jaws of the beast the chrome and the rust
Like a Saint who turned his back on one kind word
He seldom sleeps
The radio, plays a drunk man walking
The lyrics of Stephan Eicher's "Walking in" describe a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with the world around the singer, as he wanders through a nameless city with a friend. The vivid imagery that the song evokes creates a sense of unease and tension, as they seem to be causing destruction with their very presence in the city. The lines "Like a wrecking ball we rolled through this town/Into the teeth of its contented smile" suggest a sense of rebellion against the status quo, disrupting the order of things by simply existing. The metaphoric language used to describe the singer's actions, such as "Like a snake we crawled across its feet" and "My pockets are full of stolen fire" add to the sense of danger and subversion that is being portrayed.
The song also depicts a sense of nihilism and despair, as the singer reflects on his own mortality and the ultimate pointlessness of existence. The line "If it promised to end this nameless emptiness/It went in our mouths" reveals a sense of desperation and a willingness to pursue anything that might offer some sort of escape from the emptiness that is haunting him. However, even as he contemplates his own mortality, there is a sense of defiance and rebellion against the idea of simply accepting his fate, as he sings "any town is a good place to die" while refusing to succumb to it himself.
The imagery used in the song is striking, and the feelings it evokes are complex and nuanced. There is a sense of rebellion and restlessness, mixed with a deep sense of sadness and despair, that makes the lyrics powerful and evocative. Ultimately, it leaves the listener with a feeling of uncertainty and unease, as though they too have been caught up in the singer's turbulent emotions and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a wrecking ball we rolled through this town
We entered this small town with a force to be reckoned with.
Into the teeth of it's contented smile
Despite the seemingly peaceful facade of the town, we explored its true nature.
Like a snake we crawled across it's feet
Just as a snake slithers across the ground, we made our way through the town in a similar fashion.
They witched in sleep
The residents of the town were unaware of our presence.
The city dreamed two drunk men walking
The town's dreams depicted two individuals wandering the streets while under the influence.
We were hungry and the trees were bare
We were in need while the environment around us wasn't able to provide for us.
We spat on their roots until our mouths were dry
We were so desperate that we resorted to behaving like animals in order to survive.
If it promised to end this nameless emptiness
We were willing to do whatever it took to overcome our overwhelming sense of emptiness.
It went in our mouths
We took any opportunity that came our way to improve our situation.
The city dreamed of two fire eaters
The town's dreams depicted two individuals capable of great feats, with the ability to withstand intense heat.
But if not for just one word from a friend
Without the guidance of a trusty friend, we wouldn't have made it this far.
By chance or by design
Whether our good fortune was intentional or simply a matter of luck, we were grateful for it either way.
I would have broken my neck
My safety was at risk, and I almost faced a serious injury.
On some dark stone steps
I was in danger of being injured on a staircase made of rough stones.
Singing "any town , is a good place to die"
I was feeling particularly pessimistic, even going so far as to suggest that any town would be a suitable place to pass away.
Afraid of the kiss of getting burned on the lips
I was hesitant to make any bold moves for fear of getting hurt or being rejected.
I lean just close enough to light my cigarette
I tried to remain just barely within the realm of safety as I lit a cigarette.
I climb the steps with the key to my room
With a key in hand, I climbed a staircase in order to reach my temporary lodgings.
My hands are warm
I was feeling confident and comfortable in my surroundings.
My pockets are full of stolen fire
I had taken items that didn't belong to me, and the sense of rebellion was empowering.
Like a fisT he arcs through ancient dust
An individual moved through a cloud of dust with determination and force.
Into the jaws of the beast the chrome and the rust
Someone was entering a dangerous situation or environment that was worn down and in need of repair.
Like a Saint who turned his back on one kind word
Someone remained stoic and unimpressed, even when receiving a compliment or act of kindness.
He seldom sleeps
This particular individual doesn't seem to require much rest or sleep.
The radio, plays a drunk man walking
From the radio, a song describing a person walking unsteadily while under the influence was playing.
Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.