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.
Sometimes
Zeraphine Lyrics
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You are running all alone with leaves still in your hair
With fevered eyes unsure,
You seem to smile, but do you really cry behind your fears
And when the need calls
You spread out your arms
Sometimes you just kiss a bleeding world good-bye
Sometimes you fade out and forget the truths and lies
Sometimes you just try to build a wall within your mind
You say you've always tried
To look as far as you could see, but each time you disagree
The mirror only shows
The truth that comes too close to what you see and what we'd like to know
Too fast, you're distant
You spread out your arms
Zeraphine's "Sometimes" is a song about a person who feels lost and alone, running through a strange and deserted way. The "leaves still in your hair" suggest that this person has been wandering for a while, perhaps even lost in their own thoughts. With "fevered eyes unsure," they seem to be both smiling and crying at the same time, struggling to come to terms with their feelings and fears.
The song highlights the internal struggle that this person is going through - on the one hand, they want to spread out their arms and embrace life, but on the other hand, they are constantly fading out and withdrawing from the world. The chorus is a poignant reminder of this struggle, with the person sometimes kissing a bleeding world goodbye and sometimes trying to build a wall within their mind.
The lyrics suggest that this person has been searching for something, always trying to look as far as they can see, but never quite finding what they're looking for. The mirror only shows them the truth that is too close to home, reminding them of what they see and what they'd like to know. They are too fast, too distant, always on the run, trying to escape the pain and confusion that they feel inside.
In summary, Zeraphine's "Sometimes" is a powerful portrayal of a person struggling with their inner demons, trying to find their way in a strange and deserted world.
Line by Line Meaning
A strange deserted way
You feel lost or disconnected from the usual path you're supposed to be on.
You are running all alone with leaves still in your hair
You're moving forward in your journey, but you still carry remnants of the past with you.
With fevered eyes unsure,
You're feeling overwhelmed and uncertain of what lies ahead.
You seem to smile, but do you really cry behind your fears
You're putting on a brave face, but inside you're struggling with fear and sadness.
And when the need calls
You have a feeling of urgency to do something.
You spread out your arms
You open yourself up and embrace what's to come.
Sometimes you fade out and leave it all behind
Occasionally, you need to disconnect from everything and recharge your batteries.
Sometimes you just kiss a bleeding world good-bye
You may have to let go of some painful things in your life to move forward.
Sometimes you fade out and forget the truths and lies
You need a break from reality and the complexities of life, even if it means ignoring what's true or false.
Sometimes you just try to build a wall within your mind
You put up emotional barriers to protect yourself from pain or difficult situations.
You say you've always tried
You've made an effort to live your life the best way you can.
To look as far as you could see, but each time you disagree
You've tried to plan for the future, but sometimes what you see doesn't match up with what you want or need.
The mirror only shows
Reflecting on your life leads to self-discovery, but it can also be painful.
The truth that comes too close to what you see and what we'd like to know
Looking at your reflection might show you some aspects of yourself that you don't like or didn't expect.
Too fast, you're distant
Sometimes in life, you feel like time is moving too quickly and you're getting left behind.
You spread out your arms
Even when you're going through tough times, you open yourself up to life and all its challenges.
Contributed by Jordan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.