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.
River Of You
Zeraphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's running much too fast
I'm a hostage on my own
The air I breathe is stale
And I'm planning my escape
Without a destination
While I'm embraced by the waters cold
Within my fantasy it's new
I'm asking for hope in (you)
(You) name my fate
I'm lost on the waves without (you)
(You) never break
I'm lost in the river of you
So my runs very slow just like a flood of tears
When they've all dried up
That river flows one more and I try to catch a ray of light
From the sky at night
Will I ever rest my eyes upon your face
And you fade again
I will never really know if you lost me too
I'm asking for hope in (you)
All of my thoughts, all of the words get tangled
The waves ride high again
Your lips seem close to mine
I'm losing hold in the river of (you)
The lyrics of Zeraphine's "River of You" convey a feeling of being trapped in a desolate place, represented by a cold and fast-moving river. The singer feels like a hostage, captive in their own circumstances, and is without any real direction as they plan their escape. There is a sense of longing for someone to guide them through their difficult situation, someone who can name their fate and give them hope.
As the singer is embraced by the cold waters, they know that the person they long for is far away. Yet, within their mind, they create a fantasy in which the person is there with them, providing the hope and direction they so desperately need. The line "I'm lost in the river of you" is particularly poignant, expressing the feeling of being swallowed up by their own imagination and the hope for something better.
The second half of the song continues in this vein, with the singer expressing a sense of desperation as they try to catch a glimpse of that hope. The river has slowed down, but it is still flowing, representing the passage of time and the singer's inability to escape their situation. The final lines indicate that the singer is losing their grip on their fantasy, their thoughts and words getting tangled, and the lips of the person they long for slipping away.
Overall, "River of You" is a song that expresses the need for hope, direction, and someone to guide us through difficult circumstances. It speaks to the human experience of feeling trapped and in need of something or someone to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
On a river so grey
Amidst an emotionless scene, I feel trapped, lost and uncertain
That's running much too fast
The chaos of life adds to my confusion and I am unable to keep pace
I'm a hostage on my own
I am my own prisoner; trapped within my thoughts and fears, while drowning in emotions
The air I breathe is stale
My environment is suffocating, and I struggle to find clarity
And I'm planning my escape
In the midst of the chaos, I hope to find a means of escape
Without a destination
I am unsure of where this escape will take me, or if it will bring me any comfort
While I'm embraced by the waters cold
I am encompassed by cold, dark and murky waters that persistently swallow me
I know you're far away
Despite my proximity to the river, I am still far from realizing my desires
Within my fantasy it's new
Imagination offers me new possibilities, but they don't necessarily align with my reality
I'm asking for hope in (you)
In my desperation, I put my faith and trust in whatever you offer to overcome this distressing situation
(You) name my fate
Destiny is in your hands, and I am dependent on whatever decision you make on my behalf
I'm lost on the waves without (you)
Without you, I am lost in the turbulent sea of life
(You) never break
You remain a strong and steadfast presence in my life, always available to offer guidance and comfort
I'm lost in the river of you
In the midst of my doubts and fears, I am overwhelmed by the thought of you
So my runs very slow just like a flood of tears
My journey is slow, a tearful journey filled with sorrow and struggle
When they've all dried up
As I move through this difficult passage, I can no longer find the tears to express my emotions
That river flows one more and I try to catch a ray of light
In my search for a brighter future, I try to grab onto a positive sign that will lead me to find solace in the midst of this dark path
From the sky at night
The glimpse of light that I catch from the darkness serves as my anchor amidst an unexpected universe filled with chaos
Will I ever rest my eyes upon your face
Longing for a time when I will be able to seek your comforting touch, to find peace in your company once again
And you fade again
Just as quickly as you appear, your image disappears once more, leaving a cold void in its wake
I will never really know if you lost me too
Doubts and questions creep in as I question the emotions of the person I have put my faith in
All of my thoughts, all of the words get tangled
My mind is in disarray; lost, confused, and struggling to find meaning or order
The waves ride high again
Just as I start to gain my footing, the waters begin to rise once more, overwhelming and dashing all hope
Your lips seem close to mine
The proximity of your presence, the memory of the warmth of your touch, lingers ever vividly in my mind
I'm losing hold in the river of (you)
In the eternal flow of waters defined by your very essence, I find myself losing all sense of direction or control, uncertain of how to navigate through my emotions or my life
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.