Thread by @taejinception

knebel by lindemann and letting the universe do its course: a thread

[part 1 - the lyrics]

knebel is an open secret, floating around for a year after being leaked. it was made specifically for the 2018 play hänsel & gretel alongside 5 other titles such as blut. interpretations of the lyrics will be based on the assumed relationship between two characters in the play.

the lyrical 'i' begins the song with the descriptions of settings that can bring him peace: the shining sun, the full moon as it beamed, the clouds drifting in the sky, empty streets, colourful meadows... and the much-needed silence of his wife.

there are growing rifts between them. she no longer looks the way she used to. his relationship with his in-laws is somewhat troubled. the presence of their children makes things more complicated. and yet, she remains silent throughout all this.

the uniqueness of this song lies in its structure. rather than having a clear chorus, knebel is written in a strophic, or 'aaa' song form where every stanza ends with a refrain. this form is usually used in folk music and poetry such as oh, susanna and goethe's heidenröslein.

almost all stanzas in knebel ends with the wife being gagged, symbolising a claustrophobic loop of bitterness that's impossible to escape. his refuge in his surroundings, his resentment towards his life and their relationship一it all will always fall back to her silence.

they're avoiding each other. there's no communication between them. their increasingly toxic¹ relationship is like an eternal game of seesaw, they will always be locked together in the ups and downs of life, no matter what their feelings are, until one of them decides to leave.

research says that by frequently feeling isolated, one's self-esteem and sense of belonging can be reduced². self-hate is getting a hold of him and he's brokenhearted. as much as enjoys his wife's silence, he also likes (the pain) when she expresses herself with her tears.

the loop is only broken when he finally admits his true feelings. the truth is harsh, and so is the music. he hates her. the reason why the world keeps turning the same way, why his life continues being this hard, is because she won't speak up. she can't change their world.

life is linear and complex at the same time. the solution for his problems is simple, just end the relationship once and for all, but at the same time their lives are too intricately intertwined with each other and this makes him impossible to leave.

if only things were easier.

or maybe, he thinks, everything happens for a reason. he might have his own wants, but the universe already has a plan for him. it's better to surrender into its flow than struggling in vain and drain himself. some things are beyond his control.

maybe, he should stay patient.

but a part of him still resents her silence. she should be one the to end the relationship when he couldn't. if they're really that distant from each other, she should've said that whatever binds them together isn't love.

if it's hard for him to say goodbye, at least, she could've let him go.

references:
¹ 35 signs you're in a toxic relationship, inc.com
² ostracism in everyday life, from the journal 'group dynamics: theory, research, and practice'