1. |
poetry of pessimism
03:28
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poetry of pessimism
i`m taking my big black dog for a walk
for a change
instead of locking him up
we`re stepping out across the ruins
left by a human race that has long lost its bearings
and we won`t turn around
we were designed by an angry god
who told us to devastate this hostile world
it may have been the devil but who knows
who knows?
who sent us on this bold crusade for the glory of growth
and we won`t turn around
i close my eyes and suddenly the world is beautiful
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2. |
a room full of toys
04:55
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a room full of toys
in the day we sweat
at the thought
of what we may miss
though we have no idea
of what we should do
with our lives
with this gift
that has been laid into our shopping carts
we grew up in the west
well protected in a never-ending
frenzy of prosperity
and yet it seems
there is no cure
for this emptiness inside
we never had to fight
nothing was ever important
but still we wonder why
this urge just never ceases
we were always assured
we could get anything - anything - anything -
if we just worked hard enough
but we never doubted the promises they sold
we fall for the same stories
we buy all their magic bullets
but we forgot the best things in life are free
we`re left with so many questions
but instead of answers
we were told we could only survive if we just bought some more
we were taught to be honest
we were taught to follow the rules
but we had to learn that honesty is a concept for fools
something is happening and we all know it`s awfully wrong
something is happening and we all know it`s awfully wrong
in a room full of toys
but there`s nothing to play with
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3. |
sheep parade
05:27
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sheep parade
Sheep come together in flocks
they are social beings and you find them exactly
where they were told to show up
Sheep don`t like to be on their own
if one is on the wrong side of the road it will panic
and hurry back to its buddies
Sheep are fine with whatever`s being served
scoffing up the grass that others have digested
And there is always a shepherd to trust
Someone to tell them what to do
And they know they have to do what they must
It`s a sheep`s life
Sheep love competition and fights
a ram with big horns will claim he`s the big
boss - he`s always the first at the trough
Sheep get bored so easily
their short attention span makes them prone to all kinds of
alternative facts
Sheep are never aware of their deeds
so they don`t understand they`re part of the problem
And the flocks always follow those who scream
Blind faith sounds like a pretty cool brand
They`re chewing gum thinking "how do I look?" and "is the camera on?"
No no no - this is not a rat race it is only a sheep parade
Yeah yeah yeah - no need to be afraid this world is just an amusement arcade
For those about to laugh
Sheep are proud of the silliest things
like the colour of their wool and the barn they were born in
but they really don`t know why
Sheep can`t see the writing on the wall
and they fall for the butcher with the most tempting promise
to make their meadow great again
Sheep stand on the levee and watch
the flood rising fast while they wait for the shepherd to say it`s time to drown
No no no - this is not a rat race it is only a sheep parade
Yeah yeah yeah - no need to be afraid this world is just an amusement arcade
For those about to laugh
Sheep never want to know
What things are all about
Sheep feel so uneasy
When things get complicated
But don`t point your finger
After all there`s no big difference
Whether you are the bellwether or just bleat with the flock
You're still a sheep
It`s a wonder that they still know how to breathe
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4. |
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the long way home 7 / this road
and suddenly i was no longer frightened
though the rain was falling even harder
there was no guidance
no more lights ahead
there was nobody left to follow
i found myself on that same old road
the one i had never left
now i know
i`m always waiting for my life to begin
and suddenly it was no longer painful
although i knew that at the end of this road
there`d be no buckets of gold
but dealing with disappointment
i guess that`s pretty much what we‘re here for
when even loving means
you`d better hurt someone
before you get hurt yourself
a strange world this is
this earth i‘m walking on
a strange world this is
and i find it hard to make it my home
hey death
i am scared of you
what will it be like when you take me away
when you take away this
only thing i ever owned
will i finally find some dignity
and some kind of self respect
i just want to be able to look
back without being ashamed
yet i was only waiting
for my life to begin
a strange world this is
this earth i‘m walking on
a strange world this is
and i find it hard to make it my home
i had always been afraid of this moment
but i`ve learned to accept that you‘re the end
and that`s fine, you know, it just took me a while to understand that you are just a metaphor
for coming home
this road has no end
and it goes ever on
ever on and on
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5. |
next time
03:50
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next time
next time when they come and they knock against your door
will you hope it`s just some kind of mistake
next time when they come with machine guns pointing at your face
will you just nod and go
next time when they come and your neighbours look the other way
what is it
that gives
those men control over your life
what is it
in us
that makes us steal, lie and murder
next time they appear, when they kick doors down and yell
will you hide underneath the kitchen sink
next time when they come and they hunt you down the dead end street
will you kneel down and pray
next time when they come to push you into cattle waggons
how can
you trust
men just can`t be that evil
how can
you wait
for a god to get you out
but what would i do
i won`t
ever
understand what has happened
but i
can`t see
that evil spirit is defeated
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6. |
goliath, a warrior
01:58
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Goliath
Tired warrior
What`s gone wrong since I saw you last
It seemed like you never got tired of shouting out all the time
How great you are, how great you are
A man hand selected by God - there is no denying
How great you are, how great you are
Once you flew the
Flag of humanity
And stood up for what is great in men
But after countless crusades all your haaaaa los have faded
Now you look small, now you look small
You have cheated everyone who used to trust in you
Now you look so small
All my life I thought I could look up to you
But you kept spitting in the face of truth
Until you turned into a threat to mankind
Oh, how could I forget?
Now go on beating on your chest
but who is left to sing your song?
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7. |
waltz for theodosius
04:04
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waltz for theodosius
Theodosius, Theodosius, what did you do?
What the hell possessed you to open the door?
You were known as a tyrant with a shady reputation
There was no necessity to really go this far
Theodosius, Theodosius, what did you do?
What devils told you to give them control?
You opened the box and let all evil out
And those who were tortured took cruel revenge
Theodosius, Theodosius, what did you do?
Will these dark ages ever come to an end?
It seems that human bloodshed will never cease
All over the world men and women remain numb
Will we ever see the day
When this delusion fades away
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8. |
closing credits
05:04
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closing credits
There are moments in life
Moments that are beautiful
So beautiful that it hurts
On a good day you love everyone
On a good day you love everyone
On a good day
And the walls around you seem
To suddenly disappear
The floor, the ceiling too
And you desperately try
To find a meaning
But there isn`t one
There are moments when you feel like
A lobster caught in a pot
And the water is just beginning to boil
And you`re so damned sure there is no way out
And you`re so damned sure there is no way out
And no hand to help
And the walls around you seem
To permanently reflect
Echoes of false answers
And you wish there was a god
To give us a meaning
But there isn`t one
Don`t ask me
I have no idea how to deal with
This crazy little thing called life
This crazy little thing called life
And the walls around you seem
To suddenly disappear
The floor, the ceiling too
And you desperately try
To return to
A quiet life
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9. |
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(instrumental)
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10. |
stampede
02:43
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stampede
no i don`t
think we`re safe
i don`t think we`ve killed the beast
i can still
hear the rattling
of the recently deceased
i can`t read minds
i just can`t see through
this wall of cold dead eyes
when all your friends have disappeared and some
will never be seen again
and those who will return will somehow have
completely changed
scraping hooves
on melting concrete
and a smell of burning wood
strength in numbers
fuels the fire they`re no longer
hiding under a hood
they buy every
slanderous rumour
and call words of wisdom lies
a spark will set this place ablaze
even out in the freezing cold
they say it`s self defence, they yell right in
the face of a three-year-old
will anyone of us stand up or will we all
quietly join in when the stampede comes
when the stampede comes
when the stampede comes
when the stampede comes
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11. |
wrong, all wrong
02:55
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wrong, all wrong
what if we are not the centre of the universe
it`s not the sun that goes around the earth
what if there`s no old man on a cloud
to watch us and protect our fate and we`re somehow all alone
some of us build bridges and others build walls
some of us act like masters and others like dolls
everything we believe turns out
wrong, all wrong
what if we found there`s no justice here
and paradise was made up just to keep us tranquilized
what if all the things worth fighting for
are suddenly unworthybut we just don`t give a ...
all the stories and myths we are told everyday
all the cheap sensations we buy everyday
everything we`ve achieved turns out
wrong, all wrong
don`t wait for better days
there is no such thing as better days
we keep swallowing the things
that prove wrong, all wrong
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12. |
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(instrumental)
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13. |
the jolly hermit
08:13
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the jolly hermit
Hello stranger
Where have you been
It‘s been a long time since you‘ve come to see your friend
Come on in and
Welcome home
You may join me here in being on my own
I‘ve been waiting
For you to return
There is so much left to learn before we leave
You and me
We hide our shame
We are safe in here
Life‘s an error
Life‘s for the gods
They`ll guide our souls to hades any day now
They‘re kind and gentle
They know us well
We won‘t be remembered, we can easily let go
Night comes falling
So fast these days
The tunnel we‘re approaching has no exit
But we are not alone
It‘s their way of showing mercy
Eviction without sound
Don‘t look back
You‘d only see
The two of us
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14. |
are you tired, sisyphos?
05:47
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are you tired, sisyphos?
Waiting for that sound
The dreadful sound of a stone
Rolling downhill again, downhill again
Rolling downhill again, downhill again
His breath always faded before he fell
It just got worse every time
For a second he`d die, for a second he`d die
For a second he`d die, for a second he`d die
Yet the worm survived and he always did
He had tried hundreds of times each time with a different approach
It always took a while before the sword fell and the stone moved and he had to start all over again
Where was that sound of thunder?
What was going on?
Had he finally won, had he finally won
Free at last, free at last
The stone did not move
Everything was perfectly still
Keep cool he said, keep cool he said
Keep cool he said, keep cool he said
He was slowly beginning to breathe, licking his blood off the floor
He raised his head to see if this was just one of their tricks
But the stone was there, the earth stood still, so he could descend and he would finally be allowed to die
Yet the cruel game would go on forever
That`s what being immortal is about
You just have to go on, just have to go on
There is nothing to lose, nothing to win
He watched the scene in disbelief
Before he knew that he just had to run
Downhill again, downhill again
Downhill again, downhill again
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15. |
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(instrumental)
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16. |
bougainvillea
05:25
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bougainvillea
We were born
With a solitary gene
A state of mind
Our lives will pass and we‘ll never ask for
Resurrection
What would it be to us
Never mind
It‘s just the price we pay for being blind
We both know
Love just never ever happens
The way they say
As life is no highway it‘s just
An endless dead end street
Far too narrow to turn around
Never mind
It‘s just the price we pay for being blind
But I‘d be happy if I meant something to you
I‘d be happy if I meant something
I‘d be happy if
We both know
In most countries of this world
The phrase „I love you“
Simply means there‘s something
Happening below the belt
It‘s so easy to get confused
How can we tell
If we‘re facing a sincere heart
There‘s no cure for loneliness
There is simply no recovery from this ache
And those truly heavenly moments
Will turn to painful memories one day
But I‘d be happy if I meant something to you
I‘d be happy if I meant something
I‘d be happy if
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17. |
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last rites of string (kobe)
Oh he`s good to you
He keeps his promise
Oh these hands
And these warm words
Oh he`s good to you
He bathes you in champagne
With endless massages
You`re overwhelmed by all this attention
And simply for the sake
Of making your meat a little more tender
For this unique candlelight dinner
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18. |
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(instrumental)
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19. |
a new light
02:45
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a new light
There`s a new sound behind the door
There`s a new light I`ve never seen before
And it seems like I`ve discovered
A new star - so bright and tiny
There`s a new spark in this room
That could wash away all gloom
And now I know that my convictions
Were not meant to last forever
There are new fears invading my sleep
There are promises I will have to keep
And the best I can offer
Is protection - but will it be enough
There`s a new sound behind the door
There`s a new light I`ve never seen before
And it seems like I`ve discovered
A new star
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20. |
interference
02:13
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interference
The rain clouds are everywhere
A halo, a melody
That chord you just played
Sounded like a slot machine
It seems we`ve ended up
Where we never wanted to be
Being angry was our privilege
When we were young, when we despised money
A change of paradigms
To kill boredom
We were so busy being free that we just forgot what it took to get this far
And nowadays
We`re just like all the other ones
Awaiting awards
Receiving rewards
You asked me what i was up to
I could never write songs like Robert Pollard
(plus thanks to Joni Mitchell)
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21. |
overbo`d
01:08
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(instrumental)
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22. |
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the triumphant return of the magnificent and unjustly forgotten doctor frankenstein
last night i woke up from a dream that those bad days had come to an end
and i would, after all those years, get the respect that i deserve
no longer would i need to be ashamed of my name
those dreadful decades when only the desperate old ladies came
these days i`m invited to dinner parties at st.tropez
my skills have become globally known and the waiting list grows with each day
it has taken me quite some time to improve my art but now
the sweet young girls are queuing up and the sweet boys will follow somehow
in our brave new world perfection is what we seek
if i tickle you, you won`t laugh - if i prick you, you won`t bleed
have you seen our donors next door? aren`t they just perfect?
they`re so young yet they`re dying to get more than just 15 seconds of fame
and they are old enough to know what they are about to do - they will give their skins away
in this new age we have become the products that we are trying to sell
when your surgeons have failed you may come to see me - there is nothing that cannot be replaced
and it`s all perfectly natural, no more plastic - much better than before
once you`ve started you just can`t stop you just need more and more
in our brave new world perfection is what you need
if i tickle you, you won`t laugh - if i prick you, you won`t bleed
in our brave new world - the dawn of human alchemy
using fine layers of virgin skin in pristine quality
in my brave new world my mirrors will show someone you`ve never seen
i`ll rejuvenate your face and your thoughts - you`ll feel new born and look like a teen
in my brave new world perfection is what we seek
if i tickle you, you won`t laugh - if i prick you, you won`t bleed
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23. |
patriotism is evil
00:10
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(instrumental)
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24. |
kaizen buddhism
01:26
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(instrumental)
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rainer fiedler Hamburg, Germany
The longest album in the making EVER! Having started recording songs for this album in the mid-90s, it actually took more than 20 years until everything felt right...
FILE UNDER: Baroque to Postrock!
rainer fiedler recommends:
There's a Star Above the Manger Tonight (Deluxe Reissue)
by Red Red Meat
completely stunning, from the run-in groove to the final note - just like everything else tim rutili had a hand in
go to album
In the Shape of a Storm
by Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado`s finest work, so intense...
go to album
Zeppelin Over China
by Guided By Voices
pollard`s best song writing since half-smiles?
go to albumIf you like rainer fiedler, you may also like:
Introspective bedroom pop with a literary-narrative bent, touching the mundane horrors of everyday life.
go to album
Parque México
by Kevin Dickerson
Spoken word storytelling spun into a delicate web of acoustic guitar, from the Bay Area.
go to album
Everyone's Okay
by Kevin Dickerson
Brainy but equally heartfelt, this experimental pop record uses specific situations to get to universal truths.
go to album
