After the acclaimed goth rock band Dreadful Shadows decided to split and go their separate ways, Sven and Norman collaborated with ex-Dreadful Shadows producer Thommy Hein on a project called Helix. However, since the Helix name was under copyright by another band, they were forced to rename themselves Zeraphine - taken from the Hebrew bible's concepts of the 'seraph' (or seraphim), which is a class of angel in traditional Judaism. This concept was purposely taken as an ironic gesture, given Sven's lyrics are often critical of organized religion. Once Zeraphine, the band signed onto the Drakkar Entertainment record label.
Originally, additional band members Manuel Senger (guitars), Michael Nepp (bass), and Marcellus Puhlemann (drums) joined the project as studio musicians. This changed after their debut album was released, and each member began contributing music and ideas to all following releases.
Zeraphine's debut album, 'Kalte Sonne' (2002), gained notoriety for it's lyrics; unlike Dreadful Shadows, whose songs were written entirely in English, Sven elected to pen an album completely in German, citing that "I simply tried to transfer my style of writing to my mother tongue and I liked it quite a lot. I always thought it would be impossible." Their following album, 'Traumaworld' (2003), saw Sven return to English, with only two songs written in German. Tonally, the album's lyrics were harsher, as the band drew inspiration from their feelings on the Iraq war. However, when it came to promoting the album, the more upbeat 'Be My Rain' (2003) was chosen as the single. A music video was made for 'Be My Rain' (consisting of live footage), and a limited promo CD was released, featuring album, radio, and club mixes of the title track, and a cover of the Depeche Mode song 'In Your Room'.
In 2004, Zeraphine joined HIM on an acclaimed tour of Europe, which exposed the band to an even wider audience. In anticipation for the tour, Zeraphine hit the studio again to record the single 'New Year's Day' (2004), featuring a cover version of the U2 song, and two other original tracks. Promptly after the tour finished, Zeraphine again entered the studio and churned out another single, 'Die Macht In Dir' (2004), which promised a full album at the beginning of the following year; The single, as well as the title track, consisted of alternative versions of 'Kaltes Herz', 'Die Macht In Dir', (and on the limited edition release) 'Until I Finally Drown'. 'Blind Camera' (2005) was released with a positive response by both fans and critics, and sent Zeraphine on the road once more, headlining their own trip across Europe. A particular point of well-reception was the balance in German and English lyrics - nearly half the songs on 'Blind Camera' are written in German. The record itself was written as a semi-concept album, dealing with themes such as perception and reality.
In 2006, Zeraphine announced that they were severing their ties with their label, Drakkar Entertainment, so that they could have more creative control over their next record. 'Still' (2006), released on the Phonyx Records label (a record label managed by the band themselves, and producer Thommy Hein), was handled with noticeably less 'polish' than their previous albums. This was per the band's decision to move to a less studio-oriented, more live sounding style of recording. Two editions of the album were released, a regular and an enhanced version; the enhanced featuring an additional song, and the music video (and outtakes) to the title track and single, 'Still'. The record's title is meant to represent both it's German and English meanings, commenting on the duality of the album's lyrical content.
The band was decidedly less active in 2007, when Sven and Norman rejoined Dreadful Shadows for live shows exclusively. Also during this time, Sven began working on a side project, an electronic solo project titled Solar Fake. A compilation album was also released during this time, titled 'Years in Black' (2007), by Phoynx Records and Drakkar Entertainment; It contained songs from all four albums, and while no unreleased material was put on it (an update on their official website cited such an act as a 'fan rip-off'), the currently out-of-print radio mix of 'Be My Rain' was added in place of the album version. Zeraphine continued to tour and do festivals throughout 2007 and 2008, with a few new songs slipping into setlists during the later half of 2008.
As of March 2009, it is rumored that the band is working on a fifth album.
Die Welt kann warten
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Die Gedanken unerkannt
Ein Hauch von Dir verdrängt die Nacht in mir
Vergänglichkeit rinnt durch meine Hand
Abgesehen vom Vergessen ist nichts, was bleibt
Was bleibt?
Die Welt kann noch warten
Im Zwang ihrer selbst
Besteht die Zeit nur aus Narben an mir
Wozu gibt es Ewigkeit?
Die Welt kann noch warten
Im Wahn, ungestört
Besteht die Zeit nur aus Narben an mir
Wozu gibt es Ewigkeit?
Dein eigenes Bild
Im Spiegel unbewegt
Die Stimme lautlos in meinem Kopf
Ein Meer versiegt
Und man ertrinkt darin
Abgesehen von der Zeit ist nichts, was bleibt
The lyrics in Zeraphine’s song “Die Welt kann warten” speak to the fleeting nature of life and the futility of trying to hold onto something that is ultimately impermanent. The opening lines paint a picture of a white room filled with unacknowledged thoughts, but a faint trace of someone else’s presence lingers, like a memory not yet forgotten. The singer acknowledges the transience of everything, and wonders if the morning (the future) is still far away, as a way of grappling with the unknown and uncertain.
The chorus begins with a resigned acceptance that the world can wait, as the past and the present merge into a blur of scars that constitute the singer’s life. The repetition of the phrase “Wozu gibt es Ewigkeit?” (“What is eternity for?”) serves as a reminder that even though the idea of something lasting forever may be appealing, it’s not always possible or even desirable. The second verse moves from the physical to the mental, as the singer confronts their own image in the mirror and hears a voice that they recognize as their own, but that sounds muted and inaccessible. The metaphor of a sea running dry and drowning in it serves as a poignant contrast to the idea of time that keeps ticking away no matter what we do.
Overall, the song presents a melancholic message that invites the listener to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of loss, but also offers a sense of catharsis and acceptance in the face of these realities.
Line by Line Meaning
Ein weißer Raum
The mind is a blank canvas
Die Gedanken unerkannt
Thoughts remain unknown
Ein Hauch von Dir verdrängt die Nacht in mir
The presence of someone else can ease the dark feelings inside
Vergänglichkeit rinnt durch meine Hand
The fleeting nature of time and life
Abgesehen vom Vergessen ist nichts, was bleibt
Memory is the only lasting thing
Was bleibt?
What really remains?
Ist der Morgen noch unendlich weit?
Will tomorrow ever come?
Die Welt kann noch warten
The world can wait
Im Zwang ihrer selbst
Caught up in its own force
Besteht die Zeit nur aus Narben an mir
Time leaves scars
Wozu gibt es Ewigkeit?
What's the point of eternity?
Im Wahn, ungestört
Unaffected by illusions
Dein eigenes Bild
Your own reflection
Im Spiegel unbewegt
Staring back without moving
Die Stimme lautlos in meinem Kopf
The voice inside my head is silent
Ein Meer versiegt
A sea dries up
Und man ertrinkt darin
And one can drown in it
Abgesehen von der Zeit ist nichts, was bleibt
Apart from time, there is nothing that remains
Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.