Formation
The band was founded in 1987 by Markus Reinhardt and Pompejo Ricciardi. Reinhardt's brother Oliver Reinhardt joined the band sometime afterward. After producing a demo tape, co-founder Ricciardi left the band and was replaced by Peter Heppner. Heppner had known the band from mutual friends and from growing up in the same neighborhood in Hamburg. Oliver Reinhardt departed the band, leaving the current lineup as Peter Heppner (vocals) and Markus Reinhardt (electronics).
After producing two new demo tapes, Wolfsheim applied at various labels, until they caught the attention of Strange Ways Records, which has since published all their records.
No Happy View & Popkiller
In 1991, the single "The Sparrows and the Nightingales" was released, followed by the single "It's Not Too Late (Don't Sorrow)" and their first album "No Happy View" in 1992. While No Happy View was recorded in two weeks, the sophomore "Popkiller" (1993) was given more time to be produced. This allowed Wolfsheim to incorporate more classical elements.
In 1995, Wolfsheim released a compilation, "55578", which stayed on the German Media Control Charts for five weeks. Its name is the postal code for Wolfsheim, Germany.
Dreaming Apes
The third album "Dreaming Apes" was released in February 1996, followed by Wolfsheim's first tour. On this tour the live album "Hamburg Rom Wolfsheim" was recorded and published in October 1997.
It was in 1998 when Wolfsheim received public attention, after Heppner had recorded a duet "Die Flut" (The Surge) with Joachim Witt. This song was a major hit, reaching number two on the German Single Charts.
Spectators
"Spectators", the fourth album, was released in February 1999 and went to number two on the German album charts. That summer, Wolfsheim played at many of the major German festivals and also played their first show outside of Germany, at Belgium's Eurorock Festival.
In 2001, Heppner recorded more songs as a guest artist. His collaboration with "Schiller", "Dream of You", received heavy rotation on MTV Germany. He also collaborated on "Glasgarten" with "Goethes Erben". These collaborations brought Wolfsheim still more attention. Also in 2001, Metropolis Records brought Wolfsheim to American audiences, releasing Spectators in the United States. Recordings from the Spectators tour were released as a DVD Kompendium in April 2002.
Casting Shadows
"Casting Shadows", their fifth studio album, was released in March 2003. The single "Kein Zurück" debuted at number five on the Media Control Charts, later reaching number four, and staying in the top ten for 10 weeks. Casting Shadows itself reached the top position on the album charts. In March and April 2004, Wolfsheim went on their first tour in the USA.
On January 17th, 2008, it was announced on the band's official website that the collaboration between Markus Reinhardt and Peter Heppner is reaching its end. According to the press release, the reasons for this are attributed to ongoing disputes concerning the future of Wolfsheim. Heppner's ambitions to launch a solo career meant that any plans for the production of a new Wolfsheim album would be suspended for 2009.
The disputes peaked when Peter Heppner signed a multi-album solo record deal in late 2005 and Markus Reinhardt, considering this a breach of contract and a disregard for the basic interests of Wolfsheim, filed a lawsuit to exclude Heppner from the Wolfsheim partnership so that Wolfsheim could continue without him. In spring 2008, Reinhardt's lawsuit was rejected.
Everyone Who Casts a Shadow
Wolfsheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when your step leaves a track you seem to be going on
I know myself... I know my shades... but I don´t see no light
And if there's a track, it means no turning back
No matter what you try
Everyone who feels his heartbeat seems to be still alive
But from time to time there is more to life than just a muscle working deep inside
And to find the truth it needs much more than just a look into an eye
The lyrics of Wolfsheim's song "Everyone Who Casts a Shadow" reflect philosophical reflections on the elusiveness of truth and the nature of human existence. The opening lines "Everyone who casts a shadow seems to stand in the sun / And when your step leaves a track you seem to be going on" serve as a metaphor for the sense of purpose and direction that people feel in life. However, the following line "But I don't see no light / And if there's a track, it means no turning back / No matter what you try" reveals the singer's perception of being lost and lacking meaning, despite the appearance of having a path to follow.
The second stanza shifts the focus from physical bodily function to emotional states of being, as the singer states "Everyone who feels his heartbeat seems to be still alive / And by a look into your eyes I seem to know if you're lying." These lines convey the idea that human emotions and intentions can be sensed and interpreted through physical gestures and subtle cues. However, in the final lines "And to find the truth it needs much more than just a look into an eye," the singer explores the limitations of such observations and the need for a deeper understanding of one's inner self and motivations.
Overall, "Everyone Who Casts a Shadow" is a contemplative song that prompts the listener to reflect on the complexities and mysteries of human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone who casts a shadow seem to stand in the sun
People who are visible and present seem confident and successful.
And when your step leaves a track you seem to be going on
Actions leave evidence and committing to something means no turning back.
I know myself... I know my shades... but I don´t see no light
I understand my own flaws, but I don't see a way out of them.
And if there's a track, it means no turning back
No matter what you try
Once a decision is made, there's no changing the outcome no matter how hard you try.
Everyone who feels his heartbeat seems to be still alive
People who are aware and connected to themselves know they're alive.
And by a look into your eyes I seem to know if you're lying
I can often tell if someone's being honest or dishonest just by looking at them.
But from time to time there is more to life than just a muscle working deep inside
Sometimes, there's more to someone's story than just what's on the surface.
And to find the truth it needs much more than just a look into an eye
In order to truly know someone or something, you need to dig deeper and look beyond first impressions.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARKUS REINHARDT, PETER HEPPNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind