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.
This Time
Wolfsheim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire is burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her ears
and she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"
and this night so much colder than every night
and she says, she likes winter and winter-trees
and the sun seens so far away tonight
in the dark and deep, frozen water the light
of the moon under which she dies
of the moon under which we cry
...death knocking at the door ... i must let him in ...
life like a river flows ... outside ... stay alive!
ten-thousand good reasons to survive ...
and she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"
walking through winter, through snow-white fields
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire's burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her ears
stay alive! ...my dear ... i kiss your cold hands ...
first time ... please stay alive ... i'm loving you ... you're
loving me ... imagine that you were at home ...
this night ... please try it!
don't leave me alone!
The song "This Time" by Wolfsheim describes the emotional struggles of a person walking through the snow-covered fields during the winter season. The cold and bleak environment creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, and the lost fire burning miles away evokes a feeling of hopelessness. The wind whispers stories in her ears, and the woman seems to be haunted by her thoughts. The haunting melody of the song sets the mood for this stark and melancholic picture of a situation.
As the song progresses, the woman asks a question: "do you hear these heavenly voices? do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?" This question represents the woman's inner conflict as she tries to find meaning in her life. She is searching for something that can give her hope and purpose. The bleak and dark winter night seems colder than ever, and she finds solace in the beauty of winter trees.
The song concludes with the woman urging herself to stay alive despite the death that's knocking at the door. She asks her lover to imagine that they are at home and pleads him not to leave her alone. The song portrays a sense of loss, despair, and a desperate longing for hope and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking through winter, through snow-white fields
The singer is traversing through a snowy landscape during the winter season.
colder than cold ... for several weeks
The weather is severely cold for an extended period.
and the lost fire is burning miles away
The warmth of the fire is absent and is being missed by the singer, who is far from its location.
and the wind whispers stories in her ears
The artist is feeling the effect of the wind, which is making various sounds that can speak to her.
and she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
The artist is enquiring whether the listener hears the melodious sounds of nature around them.
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"
The singer is inquiring if the listener can hear the call of the religious leader to pray.
and this night so much colder than every night
The current night is even colder than the previous ones.
and she says, she likes winter and winter-trees
The artist is fond of the winter season and the tree structures that are distinctive to winter.
and the sun seens so far away tonight
The artist perceives the sun as being further from sight than usual.
in the dark and deep, frozen water the light
The reflection of the moon on the ice-cold water is the only source of light available at this moment.
of the moon under which she dies
The singer is relating the moon with death, possibly indicating that the subject is in a perilous state.
of the moon under which we cry
The artist appears to link the moon with tragedy, which causes people to weep.
...death knocking at the door ... i must let him in ...
The subject perceives death as approaching, and they turn to accept its inevitability.
life like a river flows ... outside ... stay alive!
The subject compares life to a river that flows unceasingly and encourages the listener to keep fighting to remain alive.
ten-thousand good reasons to survive ...
The subject lists numerous reasons to continue fighting for survival.
walking through winter, through snow-white fields
This is a repetition of the beginning line of the song, indicating that the narrative is still present in the icy landscape.
and the lost fire's burning miles away
Another repetition of a previous line, emphasizing the artist's distance from her warmth source.
stay alive! ...my dear ... i kiss your cold hands ...
The subject pleads for her partner to hold on, drawing attention to their cold hands and kissing them as a gesture of affection.
first time ... please stay alive ... i'm loving you ... you're loving me ...
The singer speaks to their partner, emphasizing that their love is mutual and beseeching them to remain alive.
imagine that you were at home ... this night ... please try it!
The artist suggests that her partner should imagine being at home to comfort themselves on this cold and lonely night.
don't leave me alone!
The subject implores her partner not to abandon her in this isolation and uncertainty.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID KENT HIDALGO, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mario Rossetti
walking through winter, through snow-white fields
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire's burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her earsand she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"and this night so much colder than every night
and she says, she likes winter and winter-trees
and the sun seems so far away tonight
in the dark and deep, frozen water the light
of the moon under which she dies
of the moon under which we cry...death knocking at the door ... I must let him in ...
life like a river flows ... outside ... stay alive!
ten-thousand good reasons to survive ...and she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"walking through winter, through snow-white fields
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire's burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her earsstay alive! ...my dear ... I kiss your cold hands ...
first time ... please stay alive ... I'm loving you ... you're
loving me ... imagine that you were at home ...
this night ... please try it!
don't leave me alone! _
malnaaaaa
Beyond its musical brilliance, I have just realized how cleverly constructed this song is. When the death comes knocking, their worlds are separating, he's begging her to stay, tells her there's 10000 reasons for her to stay. She doesn't hear him, cause at the same time her tune is "do you hear this heavenly voices?" which of course he doesn't nor he wants to. That's why their respective songs are happening simultaneously yet separately since "death knocking at the door". After a while her song is gone and there's only one voice left in silence.
Aspennie
Honestly Wolfsheim are an honorary goth band, they may not fit exactly but it’s lyrics like these that really make them have the same value in the subculture
Pelu Crespins
This man is the Beethoven of modern times; he should be much more recognized, this song can only be composed by a genius, thanks God to let Wolfsheim sould fly!
Nola Riot
This song still happily breaks my heart years later.
dj LuVlESs
Stephanie Rahey YES happily heartbreaking!!!
ELS777
Beautiful song!!!
tg2772
AMAZING!! So much love this song <3
Mario Rossetti
walking through winter, through snow-white fields
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire's burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her earsand she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"and this night so much colder than every night
and she says, she likes winter and winter-trees
and the sun seems so far away tonight
in the dark and deep, frozen water the light
of the moon under which she dies
of the moon under which we cry...death knocking at the door ... I must let him in ...
life like a river flows ... outside ... stay alive!
ten-thousand good reasons to survive ...and she's asking: "do you hear these heavenly voices?
do you hear the preacher who wants you to pray?"walking through winter, through snow-white fields
colder than cold ... for several weeks
and the lost fire's burning miles away
and the wind whispers stories in her earsstay alive! ...my dear ... I kiss your cold hands ...
first time ... please stay alive ... I'm loving you ... you're
loving me ... imagine that you were at home ...
this night ... please try it!
don't leave me alone! _
jinaragunlark
Havent heard anything from them in years until yesterday... I remember all the words and now this one! It made me cry...
oleksa123
I love them.