Weißes Fleisch

Weißes Fleisch (English: "White Flesh") is a song by the German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein. It is the third track on their debut album Herzeleid. It is a song about assault and rape. Weißes Fleisch, along with Laichzeit, are the only 2 songs by Rammstein that are recorded in Standard E♭.

History

Till Lindemann once said in an interview that he received a letter from a girl who was raped thanking him for making the song. She wrote that she could identify with the song Weißes Fleisch. Till spoke about rape while she couldn't. She had grown up with the idea that she had to keep that period from her youth a secret, and couldn't tell anyone. Through the song, she understood she could talk about it. She was so grateful he had written that song.

The song also was credited by American journalists as one of the influences behind the Columbine High School massacre due to the opening words of the song ("You, in the schoolyard. I, ready to kill"), the fact that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were professed Rammstein fans and that Harris's journal entry on the 22nd of July 1998; Harris wrote ' "weisses fleisch" perfect song for me'.^[1] In response, the band issued this statement:

"The members of Rammstein express their condolences and sympathy to all affected by the recent tragic events in Denver. They wish to make it clear that they have no lyrical content or political beliefs that could have possibly influenced such behavior. Additionally, members of Rammstein have children of their own, in whom they continually strive to instill healthy and non-violent values."^[2]

Rammstein's keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz is known for the unusual dance he would do when Weißes Fleisch was performed live. Also, there are unofficial recorded lives of this song, where it is extended with instrumentals and it lasts almost 9 minutes. It was played like this only at the beginning of 1996.

Cover

The song "Weißes Fleisch" was covered by Debauchery in 2007 on the album Back in Blood.

References