Here's a set of links to the song "Hilf Mir" ('Help me') by Rammstein, which like "Rosenrot" and "Dalai Lama" is adapted from an earlier poem, in this case "Die gar traurige Geschichte mit dem Feuerzeug" ('The quite sad story with the lighter'):
Original publication
Translation
The Rammstein adaptation with lyrics in translation
What significance do the changes in the Rammstein version make for the story?
The story changes to first person and it seems like the fire could become a metaphor for something else in Rammstein's version. Die gar traurige Geschichte mit dem Feuerzeug is about the little girl disobeying her mom. In "Hilf Mir" it's something that the character does often and remembers seeing the mom do it. One line says, "Jumps with claws to my face" as if to include the cats as enticing and drawing the character in.
ReplyDeleteThe original story is a clever poem meant to remind children of the dangers of playing with matches. Rammstein's version seems to be more adult in nature and the message is very different. I think that the "fire" and "the little box/that must be a splendid toy" may represent a drug addiction of some sort. Or it may represent some other bad habit either learned or passed down from the mother.
ReplyDeleteGoing along somewhat with ambrosialeeann said, the drug reference in Rammstein's version seems likely. Talking about being pulled to the fire is easily interpreted as lighting up. "I jump around the room" and "the fire loves me not-the fire loves me" could be said to be explaining the high of whatever drug and how the person feels as if the drug loves them, but knows it doesn't because it is actually hurting them.
ReplyDeleteOnly the Germans would write a playful nursery rhyme about a little girl being painfully burned to death because she did something she wasn't supposed to... gotta love 'em. Anywho, the original poem as mentioned above seems to be a warning to children to not play with matches... or perhaps it's saying you should honor your cat's demands- I haven't quite decided which yet. Either way, Rammstein takes the motiv of something that's fun to do hurting you in the end, and expands on that aspect, more so than preaching about the more literal dangers of playing with matches (or not listening to one's cats).
ReplyDeletethe first translation seemed to serve more as a PSA for children to listen to and obey ones their mothers or elders because if you don't you will essentially die or be burned or hurt. However the Rammstein version seems to be more like a cry for help or attention. in my opinion its saying that solitude or seclusion leads to self destruction. like the quote "an idle mind is the devil's playground". Also the "fire" in his version could represent drugs or other self-destructive things.
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