Tankard were formed by three classmates, Andreas "Gerre" Geremia, Axel Katzmann and Frank Thorwarth. At the time, the band was known as Vortex and Avenger until the current name of Tankard was discovered by the band in a dictionary. Their first song written was called "Ray Death", a song about nuclear war and their first gig was played in a local classroom in 1983. As the band were not permitted to drink alcohol in the school, they smuggled their beer in with milk cartons. Soon after, band member Bernhard Rapprich left the band as his conservative father did not want him "hanging around with a bunch of drunks" and was replaced by Andy Bulgaropulos.
In 1984, Tankard signed to Noise Records after narrowly missing out on signing with Steamhammer during a gig where guitarist Andy Bulgaropulous made the mistake of wearing a blue sweatshirt with a deer on the front creating the wrong image and causing Steamhammer to retract their offer of a contract.
Members:
* Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (1982)- Vocals
* Frank Thorwarth (1982) - Bass
* Olaf Zissel (1994)- Drums
* Andy Gutjahr (1998)- Guitars
Former Members:
Guitars:
*Axel Katzmann (1982-1995)
*Andy Bulgaropulos (1982-1998)
*Bernhard Rapprich (1982)
Drums:
*Oliver Werner (1982-89)
*Arnulf Tunn (1989-1993)
Underground
Tankard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We found this place
Thousands of years
We crossed the interstellar space
World after world
Sowing the seeds
Another planet
For a new genetic breed
This atmosphere is hostile
That's why we have to meet
Underground
You're like a death-bringing storm
Come, see your ancestors
Underground
We gave them mind
Taught our love
And then retired deep down
To the planet's core
Over the time
Their cultures grew
But they developed violence,
And that was new
This atmosphere is hostile
That's why we have to meet
Underground
You're like a death-bringing storm
Come, see your ancestors
Underground
Religion is the root of sin
Killing the weak
They let the genocide begin
They know no bounds
They learned to lie
The human race has failed
And now they're gonna die
This atmosphere is hostile
That's why we have to meet
Underground
You're like a death-bringing storm
Come, see your ancestors
Underground
You had the earth for a while
Destroyed it all, mile for mile
And so you're gonna die
Our wrath will cover the sun
Because we have to move on
Your corpses will remain
Underground
Tankard's song "Underground" explores the concept of an advanced alien race searching for a new genetic breed on a hostile planet. The opening lyrics suggest that these aliens had been traveling for thousands of years crossing the interstellar space from world to world until they landed on Earth. This new planet offered an opportunity to sow the seeds of a new genetic breed by selectively breeding humans. The genetic experiment was conducted at a time when life on Earth was hostile and violent, and humans were vulnerable. The aliens gave humanity a new consciousness, taught them love, and then retreated to the planet's core, allowing humans to develop independently.
However, over time, the aliens' genetically modified breed began to devolve into violence due to religious and cultural differences. The result was the genocide of the weak by the strong, and the human race has failed. The aliens' disappointment is implicit in the final lyrics, which speak of their wrath covering the sun in a movement to a new world as humanity dies out.
The composition of the lyrics enforces the idea that everything comes to a destructive end, and it is the fate of all species on Earth to wind up underground. The song is a warning against the dangers and ethical implications of interfering in another species' evolution. Overall, the lyrics offer a sobering reflection on humanity's troubled past and uncertain future.
Line by Line Meaning
Long time ago
In the distant past
We found this place
We discovered this location
Thousands of years
Many millennia
We crossed the interstellar space
We traversed the void between stars
World after world
Planet after planet
Sowing the seeds
Planting new life
Another planet
An additional world
For a new genetic breed
To cultivate a new species
This atmosphere is hostile
The air is hostile
That's why we have to meet
That's why we must gather
Underground
Beneath the surface
You're like a death-bringing storm
You are a destructive force
Come, see your ancestors
Come and witness your forebears
We gave them mind
We granted them consciousness
Taught our love
Shared our compassion
And then retired deep down
And then withdrew to the planet's depths
To the planet's core
To the center of the world
Over the time
Over time
Their cultures grew
Their civilizations flourished
But they developed violence,
But they turned to aggression
And that was new
And that was unusual
Religion is the root of sin
Faith is the source of wrongdoing
Killing the weak
Murdering the defenseless
They let the genocide begin
They permitted mass murder
They know no bounds
They have no limitations
They learned to lie
They became adept at deception
The human race has failed
Humanity has fallen short
And now they're gonna die
And now they will perish
You had the earth for a while
You had possession of the planet for some time
Destroyed it all, mile for mile
You annihilated it completely, piece by piece
And so you're gonna die
And thus you will meet your end
Our wrath will cover the sun
Our anger will obscure the star
Because we have to move on
As we must continue our journey
Your corpses will remain
Your remains will persist
Underground
Beneath the surface of the planet
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
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