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.
Ruby
Wolfsheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and rolled and curled your tinted hair
ruby are you contemplating
going out somewhere
the shadow on the wall tells me the sun ist going down
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
that old crazy asian war
but I was proud to go
and do my patriotic chore
and ... yes it´s true, that I´m not the man I used to be
oh ruby, I still need some company
it´s hard to love a man whose legs
are bent and paralyzed
and the wants and the needs
of a woman your age ... ruby I realize
but it won´t be long
I´ve heard them say until I´m not around
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
she´s leaving now
´cause I just heard the slamming of the door
the way I know I´ve heard it slam one hundred times before
and if I could move I´d get my gun and put her in the ground
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
oh ruby, for god´s sake ... turn around
The song "Ruby" by Wolfsheim is a melancholic ballad that tells a story of a man named Ruby who is contemplating leaving his partner, who is portrayed as aloof towards him because of his physical disability. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is paralyzed and dependent on his partner for love and companionship. Despite his limitations, he expresses his desire to spend time with her, but she seems distant and indifferent towards him.
The verses describe Ruby getting ready to go out, painting her lips and curling her hair. The man takes notice of this and pleads with her not to take her love elsewhere. The chorus, "oh ruby, don´t take your love to town," is repeated multiple times throughout the song, adding to the sense of despair and hopelessness in the lyrics. The man reminisces about his past, mentioning his participation in a war, which has left him with disabilities. Although he is grateful for his service, he expresses regret that his physical condition has made him less of a man than he used to be.
Line by Line Meaning
you painted up your lips
You put on lipstick to look more attractive and desirable.
and rolled and curled your tinted hair
You styled and colored your hair to increase your appeal.
ruby are you contemplating
Ruby, are you thinking about or considering something?
going out somewhere
Are you planning to go out or leave?
the shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down
The darkness in the room indicates that it's getting late in the evening.
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
Oh Ruby, please don't cheat on me or fall in love with someone else while I'm gone.
it wasn´t me who started
I didn't start the event or situation being discussed.
that old crazy asian war
That past war conflict that was chaotic and involved Asian countries.
but I was proud to go
I felt satisfaction or happiness to serve my country as a soldier.
and do my patriotic chore
I did my duty as a citizen to help and defend my country.
and ... yes it´s true, that I´m not the man I used to be
And it's true that I've changed, I'm not the same person as I used to be physically and emotionally.
oh ruby, I still need some company
Ruby, I'm still lonely and crave companionship while I'm away.
it´s hard to love a man whose legs
It's challenging to love or stay committed to a man with physical disabilities, like paralyzed legs.
are bent and paralyzed
Whose legs are permanently twisted and unable to move.
and the wants and the needs
And the desires and requirements of a woman your age, Ruby.
ruby I realize
Ruby, I understand.
but it won´t be long
But I won't be gone for much longer.
I´ve heard them say until I´m not around
I overheard someone else mention that things will change when I'm no longer here.
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
Oh Ruby, please don't cheat on me or fall in love with someone else while I'm gone.
she´s leaving now
My significant other is departing or ending this relationship.
´cause I just heard the slamming of the door
I can tell someone is leaving because I heard the sound of the door closing loudly.
the way I know I´ve heard it slam one hundred times before
I recognize the sound of the door so well because I've heard it many times in the past.
and if I could move I´d get my gun and put her in the ground
If I had the physical ability to get up, I would grab my gun and kill her in revenge.
oh ruby, don´t take your love to town
Oh Ruby, please don't cheat on me or fall in love with someone else while I'm gone.
oh ruby, for god´s sake ... turn around
Oh Ruby, please reconsider your decision and come back to me for God's sake.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
philokiko
Você pintou seus lábios E enrolou e encaracolou seu cabelo tingido Ruby você está contemplando Indo a algum lugar A sombra na parede diz-me que o sol está indo embora Oh, Ruby, não leve seu amor para a cidade
Silke Meyer
I saw them live twice -great !
Burkhard Leferink
Die Stimme hat er sich beim lieben Gott persönlich abgeholt. Grandioser Sänger
7sterntaler
Immer wieder schön... auch nach Jahren! :)
La Yatita New Wave Rock Indie Pop
Uno De los mejores voz, estilo, música
mapleavenue77
Fantastic rendition!
Christian Lange
Wolfsheim ist einfach die beste Band weit und breit, sogar wenn nicht alles so perfekt läuft wie hier :-)
Alejandro Arce
Esto si es musica
Dannen Vance
My favorite cover ever.
philokiko
De uma mulher de sua idade... Ruby, eu realizo Mas não vai ser muito tempo Eu ouço eles dizerem até qundo não estou por perto Oh, Ruby, não leve seu amor para a cidade Ela está partindo agora Porque eu justamente ouvi a porta bater O jeito que eu sei, eu ouvi isto bater uma centena de vezes antes E se eu pudesse mudar eu pegaria minha arma e a mataria Oh, Ruby, não leve seu amor para a cidade