Kraftwerk - Music Page

Music and British Identity: Kraftwerk

Primary members: Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Klaus Röder, Wolfgang Flür, Karl Bartos
Band Biography
Albums of focus: Autobahn (1974), Trans-Europe Express (1977), Computer Love (1981)
Songs for study:

"Autobahn"	"Hall of Mirrors"
"Trans Europe Express"	"Computer Love"

Video: "The Robots" (1977)

"Autobahn" - from Autobahn (1974)

Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn
Vor uns liegt ein weites tal
Die sonne scheint mit glitzerstrahl
Die fahrbahn ist ein graues band
Weisse streifen, gruener rand
Jetzt schalten wir das radio an
Aus dem lautsprecher klingt es dann:
Wir fahr'n auf der Autobahn...

[Translation]
We are driving on the Autobahn
In front of us is a wide valley
The sun is shining with glittering rays
The driving strip is a grey track
White stripes, green edge
We are switching the radio on
From the speaker it sounds:
We are driving on the Autobahn...

"Hall of Mirrors" - from Trans-Europe Express (1977)

The young man stepped into the hall of mirrors
Where he discovered a reflection of himself
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars discover themselves in the looking glass

Sometimes he saw his real face
And sometimes a stranger at his place
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass

He fell in love with the image of himself
and suddenly the picture was distorted
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass

He made up the person he wanted to be
And changed into a new personality
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking glass

The artist is living in the mirror
With the echoes of himself
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass

Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars fix their face in the looking glass

Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass
Even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass

"Trans-Europa Express" - from Trans-Europe Express (1977)

Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express

Rendezvous auf den Champs-Élysées
Verlass Paris am Morgen mit dem TEE
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express

In Wien sitzen wir im Nacht-Café
Direktverbindung, TEE
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express

Wir laufen ein in Düsseldorf City
Und treffen Iggy Pop und David Bowie
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express
Trans-Europa Express

[Translation]
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express

Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express

Rendezvous at the Champs-Élysées
Leave Paris in the morning on the TEE
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express

In Vienna we sit in the night cafe
Direct connection, TEE
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express

We run in Dusseldorf City
And meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express

"Computer Love" - from Computer World (1981)

Computer love
Computer love

Another lonely night
Another lonely night
Stare at the TV screen
Stare at the TV screen
I don't know what to do
I don't know what to do
I need a rendezvous
I need a rendezvous

Computer love
Computer love

I call this number
I call this number
For a data date
For a data date
I don't know what to do
I don't know what to do
I need a rendezvous
I need a rendezvous

Computer love
Computer love

"The Robots" - Kraftwerk video (1977)