Tocotronic is a German rock band formed in 1993. Similar to Blumfeld or Die… Read Full Bio ↴Tocotronic is a German rock band formed in 1993. Similar to Blumfeld or Die Sterne, Tocotronic not only innovated German language rock music, but also inspired a number of later bands, such as Wir sind Helden. Their influence on pop culture is widespread, from fashion (Tocotronic made the combination of 1970s style track suit tops with cheap second-hand ad-shirts famous in Germany) to the playful and weird look of their early records.

Tocotronic are from Hamburg and are released on L'Age D'Or, together with Die Sterne - forming the so-called Hamburger Schule ("Hamburg school"). However, they dislike this classification; they rather like to see their music as "discursive-rock", which emphasizes their rather intellectual approach to pop music.
Despite having never been overly commercially successful - only "Schall & Wahn" made it to the top of the German charts, most other albums merely in the top 5-, Tocotronic have a steady fanbase in Germany and their records have been reviewed in mainstream newspapers and music magazines alike.
The band members are bassist Jan Müller, drummer Arne Zank, and guitarist and singer Dirk von Lowtzow. Starting with the album "Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen" a second guitarist and keyboard player, Rick McPhail, has joined the band. He used to play with Tocotronic at live shows before.

Discography:

Studio Albums:
* Digital ist besser (1995) (Digital is better)
* Nach der verlorenen Zeit (1995) (After the lost time)
* Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren (1996) (We're Coming To Complain)
* Es ist egal, aber (1997) (It Doesn't Matter, But)
* K.O.O.K. (1999)
* Tocotronic (2002)
* Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen (2005) (Pure Reason Must Never Prevail)
* Kapitulation (2007)
* Schall & Wahn (2010)
* Wie wir leben wollen (2013)
* Tocotronic (Das rote Album) (2015)
* Die Unendlichkeit (2018)

Chaos
Tocotronic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ich bin die ganze Nacht gefahr'n
Um dein Gesicht nochmal zu sehen
Auf der Autobahn
Gejagt von Geistern und Ideen

Die Wörter fliegen hoch
Eine Litanei
Ich fahr vorbei

Linien im Asphalt
Ich knall mich voll
Mit bizarrem Glück
Unter dem Wagenrad
Sackt der Sinn zurück

Die Vögel singen bald
Ihr Retournell
Ich fahr zu schnell

Unter deiner Decke
Ein freundlicher Empfang
Kannst du mich verstecken
Damit ich leben kann?

Ich bin die ganze Nacht gefahr'n
Um dein Gesicht nochmal zu sehen
Auf der Autobahn
Gehetzt von Geistern und Ideen

Jetzt will ich bei dir bleiben
Bis der Tag anbricht
Chaos spricht

Unter deiner Decke
Ein freundlicher Empfang
Kannst du mich verstecken
Damit ich leben kann?

Unter deiner Decke
Ein freundlicher Empfang
Bitte nicht recken
Damit ich leben kann

Unter deiner Decke
Ein freundlicher Empfang

Unter deiner Decke
Fasst mich das Chaos an

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Tocotronic’s song "Chaos" describe the singer’s journey to see someone they care about. The singer explains that they’ve been driving all night on the autobahn, chased by ghosts and ideas. They have a litany of thoughts and emotions – maybe trying to work up the courage to see this person, or maybe processing the experience of the drive. They pass lines in the asphalt and feel a sense of strange luck. But as their mind begins to spin, they start to lose their grip on reality. The birds sing and then the chaos speaks – the singer is overwhelmed and can’t keep up.

The lyrics repeat the idea of seeking refuge, specifically under this person’s blanket or within their embrace. The singer wants to stay until the sun rises and they can no longer avoid their problems. They want to be hidden away, so that they can live. It's possible that the person they're driving to see is a source of comfort for them, and they're hoping to find solace in their arms.

This song is clearly layered with emotion and meaning, but the true interpretation is open to the listener. It's up to the individual to determine who the person is, and what kind of impact they have on the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

Ich bin die ganze Nacht gefahr'n
I have been driving all night

Um dein Gesicht nochmal zu sehen
to see your face once again

Auf der Autobahn
on the highway

Gejagt von Geistern und Ideen
chased by ghosts and ideas

Die Wörter fliegen hoch
words are flying high

Eine Litanei
a litany

Ich fahr vorbei
I pass by

Linien im Asphalt
lines in the asphalt

Ich knall mich voll
I fill myself up

Mit bizarrem Glück
with bizarre luck

Unter dem Wagenrad
under the wheel