Stein um Stein

well hello there, my opinion about this song is, that it is strongly related to communism. the first clue that gave me this idea, were the lyrics: "stein um stein mauer ich dich ein" (stone by stone you are bricked in), which reminds me about the wall from berlin. you know, the big brother who has plans, big plans, and builds a "home" for us all. but this home has no windows, neither doors, so no outer light can penetrate this inner world. this could simbolise the iron curtain. every stone is a teardrop, every stone means opression, which you can never escape. yes, the big brother is building a "home" for us all, but don't fear because you will be part of it to, and he will be surveying us all the time ("ich werde immer bei dir sein"). helpless, you will watch as things become shape, but here comes the joyful part again (ironic o course), couse you, the people, will be part of the foundations, and will make this society truly shine. beside this world will be "the garden", the utopic vision of the western world, but again there's no escape, cause no one will hear you screaming for help. another hit of the hammer ( which is also a communistic simbol), but there's maybe a revolution starting up on the outside ("draussen fangt es an zu dammern"). you are opressed, you must obey cause all the nails, all the dictatoric ideas are standing straight in your mind, this is a trully genial work of till, perhaps the most marvelous of them all. greetings norbert

I absolutely agree with the comments about the protagonist wanting to keep a lover all to himself. If you have a look at Klavier as well, there's a definite jealousy theme coming through - he wants to keep the girl all to himself, even if that means effectively building a jail for her.

this song is about the Berlin wall, and the troubles of East Germany, and I think that the protagonist of the song, the "builder" is supposed to be the voice of the communists who built the wall in order to trap the east german people. "Jede Stein ist eine Traene"- every stone is a tear. "Und du ziehst nie wieder aus...Hat keine fenster, keine tuer"- "and you'll never move out...it has no windows or doors" like there was no way out, and the east german people couldn't escape. "Stein um Stein, mauer ich dich ein" "Stone upon stone, i'm walling you in" "Ich werde immer bei dir sein"-I will always be with you"- the east german people were greatly opressed, and had no freedom at all, like the idea that big brother is always watching. "Siehst du mir bei der Arbeit zu "Ohne Kleider, Ohne Schuh"- the east germans were suffering from poverty. Mit den Füßen im Zement".."you watch me as I work, with your feet in cement"- the east germans saw it all happening, but they werre powerless to stop it. "Draussen wird ein garten sein"- "outside there will be a garden" I think this "garden" is west germany, and capitalist western europe, and it is a garden in contrast to communist eastern europe. "Allle naegel stehen streim"-"all nails stand up right"- there were nails on top of the Berlin wall to stop the east germans trying to escape over the top of it. "Und Keiner hoert dich schreien!"-"and no one hears you scream"- the east germans couldn't voice their opinions.

Cask of Amontillado - Edgar Allen Poe

Guy's you've hit the nail on the head: The psycho-killer story is but a metaphore (hopefully!). By the way, "Stein um Stein" is taken from a German nursery rhyme: "Stein um Stein, Stein um Stein... Das Häsuchen wird bald fertig sein." = "Stone by stone, stone by stone. The small house will be finished soon." That's typically Rammstein, taking some innocent element out of context and build it into their morbid world...

I see it as someone who was hurt during a relationship. His lover maybe cheated on him and now he swears she'll never go away. Or maybe he was hirt bya previous relationship and now he have plans so his present relationship will never end.

A sick and twisted kind of love that only hurts everybody...

I think this song is based on a Romanian folk tale, on a myth, we Romanians call it the Aesthetic Myth, or Sacrifice for Creation Myth. It's a ballad called The Argeş Monastery in which a builder by the name of Manole and his 9 workers ordered by the ruler of that time Negru Vodă - Black Vodă (Vodă = was a title name given to both the ruler of the country and the supreme commander of the army. He was historically attested by 1400-1500 AD in Wallachia - the south of todays Romania) to build the most amazing monastery that region ever had. They found the spot to build on, but what they had built in the daytime collapsed at night. Clearly there was some evil forces so Manole and the 9 workers take a solemn oath as to take the firs virgin wife or sister or daughter that comes first the next day with food, and build her in the foundation of the monastery to make it rise. The next day the first who came was Manole's wife Anna... So they took her and placed her in the foundation, Manole telling her it is just a game so that she accepts to stay there. After the monastery was finished Monole climbed up to ring the bells for Anna and jumped off because of the remorse. That was the sacrifice for creation. Sorry for my bad english :D If you are interested to find out more read this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesterul_Manole

But in this song the "builder" didn't do anything in the name of the creation, he just sacrificed his beloved one for the sake of it, nothing special or profound... maybe just in that way they will be together.

I agree that it's about a man and his lover, sort of. I think she's more of an EX-lover, and he refuses, or is unable to, let go. Each stone is a tear - the more he cries for her, the more he walls her in this little house in his head. Once it's done, that's it for him - he'll never be able to let her go. Also, I think that "Stein Um Stein" is a great lead-in for "Amour," because once you get to the next song, it's like part two; the guy is now completely destroyed by this beast called love.

norbert your interpretation is damn good indeed :D

this song makes me think of the fritzl case which freaks me out

I have plans, big plans I'll build you a house Every stone will be a tear and you will never move out Yes, I'll build a little house for you Has no windows, no door Inside it is dark And no light penetrates within

Yes, I'll make you a home And you will be part of the whole thing

Stone by stone, I wall you in Stone by stone I will always be with you

Without clothes, without shoes You watch me at my work With feet in cement You brighten up the foundation there will be a garden outside And nobody will hear you scream

Stone by stone, I wall you in Stone by stone I will always be with you

what a beating, what a hammering Outdoors it fades to dusk All nails stand to attention Into your body-wood I ram-

Stone by stone, I wall you in Stone by stone And nobody can hear you scream

...For those of us dummies who took French instead of more usable languages ;) Creepy song...I think it's about bottling up dreams and instead of living them allowing them to keep us captive, but who knows. I am not familiar (only somewhat) with the band.