English is an international language, and that means that English songs can become hits the world over. But, the opposite is seldom true. Every once in a while, though, songs in foreign languages do make it big in the English-speaking world. Think the insidious “Ketchup Song” or Mo-Do’s techno hit, “Eins, Zwei, Polizei” that took 1995 by storm.
But, while most of these foreign-language songs are just popular for their novelty, “Du Hast” by Rammstein is something else. This hard Industrial Rock song was Rammstein’s breakout hit and brought a new sound to the music world.
But have you ever wondered about the meaning behind “Du Hast” by Rammstein? Well, I have, so I decided to dive into the German and English lyrics of “Du Hast” to decipher what they are trying to say.
The Band Behind “Du Hast”
First things first, it’s “ram – stine,” not “ram-steen.” Just look at the ending of Rammstein, which is the same as in Einstein. And it was supposed to be spelled ‘Ramstein.’ The band named themselves after a US Air Force Military Base in Germany, which is most famous for the 1988 Ramstein air show disaster in which three Italian jets crashed into each other.
But, they accidentally added an extra ‘m’, becoming Rammstein for the rest of time. This spelling also coincidentally means “ramming stone,” which is a pretty darned good name for this band.
They started playing together in 1993…
After the various members quit working on other projects like Orgasm Death Gimmick, First Arsch, and Feeling B. They put out their debut album, Herzeleid, in 1995 and became a popular group in Germany and other parts of Europe.
In 1997, two of Rammstein’s songs, “Heirate Mich” and “Rammstein” were chosen for the soundtrack to David Lynch’s film Lost Highway and the band gained important international exposure.
Rammstein is one of the most important bands in the Neue Deutsche Härte scene…
This style of music mixes Post-Punk, Groove Metal, Industrial, and Techno elements to make something new. And also, very German. The members of Rammstein are Till Lindemann (lead vocals), Paul Landers (guitar), Christoph Schneider (drums), Christian Lorenz (keyboards), Richard Kruspe (lead guitar), and Oliver Riedel (bass).
So far, they’ve put out eight studio albums and continue to tour and record even after three decades together. The band has been a solid unit from the start. And that’s an important key for understanding what the song “Du Hast” means as well.
The Meaning Behind “Du Hast” by Rammstein
So, with a little knowledge about the band, we can talk about the most popular Rammstein song, at least outside of Germany. This is, of course, the track “Du Hast” which comes from Rammstein’s second album, Sehnsucht, released in 1997.
Like most Rammstein songs, this one was composed largely by Lorenz and Kruspe, who then brought it to the band to flesh out the music. The lyrics were then written and added to the completed song by Lindemann. And, like nearly all Rammstein songs, the lyrics were originally in German.
But there are several versions of “Du Hast,” and the band decided to do one almost completely in English, except for the last chorus. However, once it was recorded, the band came out and said they hated the English version and distanced themselves from it completely.
And there’s a good reason why…
First, they made the English lyrics rhyme for some reason. This just took the hard edge out of them and make them sound almost cutesy. And second, the original German words were chosen as much for their sounds as for their meanings, while the English is just a translation. That makes the German lyrics sound harsher and more brutal, which is what fits the song best.
I’m going to leave behind the English lyrics as well since they’re very straightforward. Instead, let’s focus on the German. There are two main things to look at in the meaning of the German lyrics.
First, the main line of the song…
The chorus, so to speak, says, “You / You have / You have me” or “You / You hate / You hate me.” This is because, in German, they use the word “hast,” which means have, but it sounds a whole lot like “hasst,” which means hate.
So, this gives a great double meaning to the words that is lost in the English version (which just uses “hate”). The tension created here is a super-clever and efficient exploration of the love/hate feelings found in so many relationships.
The other part of the song is the verses…
There are two, and they’re both short and pretty similar in meaning. And they’re taken from the standard German version of the “Do you take this person…” wedding vows. Here, Lindemann asks something like, “Will you be faithful to her until death do you part?” and “Will you love her even on bad days?” But, to both questions, he also answers, “No! No!”
So, you can get a feeling that the double meaning here is definitely leaning more toward one side. In other words, the surface meaning of this song is a rejection of traditional values like monogamy and faithfulness in relationships.
But there’s one more, deeper meaning here…
“Du Hast” also means exactly what it says – You have me. But, who these words are directed to is also a surprise. Rammstein has been a very tight-knit, close collective for three decades now. These members write, record, and play music together. But they are also close friends who are like family.
So, the band says that when they play this song, it’s also an affirmation of their relationship with one another. Even while the other meaning is the opposite.
The Music Behind “Du Hast”
There are four versions of “Du Hast,” but let’s start with the original. The band recorded this track in 1997 for their Sehnsucht album (which means “Desire”).
The original mix has a sort of House/Electronic vibe underlying it. It starts with just this synthy sound before the rest of the band drops in with a heavy beat and chugging Metal guitars. The chorus comes in, and the music is toned down and ambient in the background, but with a slamming dance beat behind it.
In the chorus, the words are simply chanted in a dark, growly voice. But, the verses are sung in an almost operatic way, creating a really unusual contrast. Other keyboard sounds come in and out, creating different textures.
But it’s the drumming and heavy guitar riff that define this song…
You get something that sounds like a Metal-Dance-Industrial song with a bit of German opera on the side. The English version I already talked about uses the same music but just changes the vocals. The two other versions of “Du Hast” are remixes by close associates of the band.
So, what about those other versions?
One is by Jacob Hellner, the producer who has worked with the band on all of Rammstein’s albums. His version uses a lot of intense Electronic sounds to create a tense and uncomfortably dark atmosphere. It’s reminiscent of The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” which came out right about the same time.
The other remix was made by Clawfinger, a Swedish Rap Metal band that Rammstein has toured with. Their version starts with a weird, bouncy Techno sound. But then it gets a lot darker. They mix in a very heavy, almost tribal-sounding beat that gives full, dark energy to this song. They also amp up the guitars and add synth sounds that create great tension.
All of these versions are quite interesting and illustrate what was going on in heavy music in Europe at the end of the 90s.
The “Du Hast” Legacy
“Du Hast” was a massive success for Rammstein. The song caught on in many countries in Europe, like Austria, Switzerland, and, of course, Germany. It did well in Canada, Australia, and the US, too.
But then something massive happened…
The song was included on the soundtrack to the film, The Matrix in 1999. This movie was huge, and that catapulted this song and Rammstein to international fame. The dark, industrial quality of “Du Hast” fit in perfectly with the dystopian world of the film and was the first exposure to Industrial Music for so many people.
After that, the song was also used in the soundtracks for the Redman/Method Man movie, How High, and in the pre-Jackass video CKY2K. Because the chugging guitar chords are so fun to play, the song was also used in 2009’s Guitar Hero 5 and 2010’s Rock Band 3 games.
Metalcore band, Motionless In White, recorded a wicked heavy cover of the song in 2014. And rapper Lizzo has even performed the song live while on tour in Germany.
Interested in More Hard and Heavy Music?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Top 10 Shinedown Songs, the Top 10 Taking Back Sunday Songs, the Best Breaking Benjamin Songs of All Time, the Top 10 Evanescence Songs, the Top 10 Hole Songs, the Top 10 Styx Songs, and the Top 10 Insane Clown Posse Songs for more intense song selections.
The Meaning Behind “Du Hast” by Rammstein – Final Thoughts
“Du Hast” is a song that has stood the test of time. While the dark, German Industrial-Metal-Techno sound might not be everyone’s cup of tea, somehow, this song is still one that many people can get behind. It’s dark, heavy, and even operatic at times, but you can still groove to it.
The original German lyrics for “Du Hast” are clever and play on very different emotions. On the one hand, they can sound positive and affirming. On the other, they’re dark and angry. They can express both love and hate at the same time. Something that anyone who has ever been in a complicated relationship can understand.
So, if you need a blast from the past to get you in the right mood, this 1997 track might be just what you’re looking for.
Until next time, Viel Spaß beim Zuhören. Or, in other words, happy listening.
