Zeraphine is a gothic alternative band from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000… Read Full Bio ↴Zeraphine is a gothic alternative band from Berlin, Germany, formed in 2000 by Sven Friedrich (vocals, programming, lead song writing) and Norman Selbig (guitars) from the then-defunct Dreadful Shadows.

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.

Kannst du verzeihen
Zeraphine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ich bin heimlich umgekehrt
Ganz unversehrt ging ich zurück
Ich schlich; verraten?
Ein Teil von Dir war noch zu spüren

Du warst schon weg
Nur blauer Nebel und Deine Angst bei mir
Das Ende einer langen Reise, die hier beginnt

Kannst Du verzeihen
Ich treib' die Sehnsucht vor mir her
Kannst Du vergeben
Und der Wind schreit Deinen Namen

Das Rauschen der Blätter
Ganz plötzlich geht die Tür
Du siehst durch mich hindurch
Und stehst ganz nah vor mir

In Deinen Augen seh' ich Furcht
Deine Angst vor Dir
Den Anfang einer langen Reise, die hier zu Ende geht

Kannst Du verzeihen
Ich treib' die Sehnsucht vor mir her
Kannst Du vergeben
Und der Wind schreit Deinen Namen

Und ich dräng' Deinen Geist zum Träumen
An diesem Ort
Wo mir das Wissen den Glauben nahm

Kannst Du verzeihen
Ich treib' die Sehnsucht vor mir her
Kannst Du vergeben

Und der Wind schreit Deinen Namen in die
Nacht

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Zeraphine's "Kannst du verzeihen" speak of a protagonist who has returned home secretly and unscathed, feeling as though a part of their loved one was still with them. The singer reflects on a long journey that has come to an end, but also marks the beginning of a new one. The chorus asks whether the loved one can forgive and forget, as the singer carries their longing and desire forward. The sound of the wind calling the loved one's name is heard throughout the song, adding to the haunting and melancholic atmosphere.

The song is rich in symbolism, with blue mist representing the loved one's fear, the rustling of leaves and sudden door opening signifying change, and the singer urging the loved one to dream at a place where knowing took away faith. Through these images, the song explores the themes of loss, longing, and forgiveness, as well as journey and transformation. The haunting melody and atmospheric soundscapes add to the sense of melancholy and nostalgia that pervades the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Ich bin heimlich umgekehrt
I secretly turned back

Ganz unversehrt ging ich zurück
I returned unscathed

Ich schlich; verraten?
Did I sneak around; betrayed?

Ein Teil von Dir war noch zu spüren
I still felt a part of you

Du warst schon weg
You were already gone

Nur blauer Nebel und Deine Angst bei mir
Only blue mist and your fear with me

Das Ende einer langen Reise, die hier beginnt
The end of a long journey that begins here

Kannst Du verzeihen
Can you forgive?

Ich treib' die Sehnsucht vor mir her
I'm driven by longing

Kannst Du vergeben
Can you pardon?

Und der Wind schreit Deinen Namen
And the wind screams your name