El Gabri Music

Das Album „until waiting fills“ (2003) wurde 2023 remastered und ist neu auf CD, Vinyl und Stream verfügbar.

The album „until waiting fills“ (2003) has been remastered in 2023 and is now available on CD, vinyl and stream.

1. Until waiting fills  (G. Eichenberger / R. Lehmann)
2. Down by the river (G. Eichenberger / R. Lehmann / F. Hodel)
3. Sunday morning (G. Eichenberger / R. Lehmann)
4. The prison song (G. Eichenberger)
5. Flux  (F. Hodel)
6. I’m only a chewing gum (G. Eichenberger / R. Lehmann)
7. Can it be easy?  (G. Eichenberger / R. Lehmann / F. Hodel)

El Gabri Swamp Projects
Gabriel Eichenberger Vocals
René Lehmann Guitars
Felix Hodel Flutes
Beat Lehmann Bass
Andreas Schmid Drums

Recording Andy «Biber» Sigg
Remastered 2023 Patrik Schwitter, Zürich
© all rights 2003/2023 el-gabri-music, zurich, switzerland

Geschichten/Stories

„Until waiting fills“ war tatsächlich der Name eines Cafés in New Orleans, in dem wir regelmässig ein und aus gingen, als René und ich im Winter 1981/82 mehrere Wochen dort waren. Der Name ist ein Wortspiel, weil „to wait“ sowohl warten als auch servieren (kellnern) bedeutet. All jene, die noch wissen was warten ist, wissen auch, dass sich der menschliche Gemütszustand im Verlaufe des Wartens ändert. Während sich anfänglich vielleicht eher unangenehme Gefühle breit machen, kann es sein, dass man mit der Zeit das Warten vergisst und unverhofft von interessanten Gedanken und Gefühlen erfüllt wird. – In jenem Café war es so, dass man nicht selten ein bisschen auf den Kellner warten musste, bis er einem etwas brachte oder das Glas wieder auffüllte. Das war aber nicht weiter schlimm, denn es hatte dort auch ein Sofa, ein Büchergestell und Spiele. Und der Kellner sah einen nicht schief an, wenn man drei Stunden über dem Schachbrett brütete und dazu nur ein einziges Glas Rotwein trank. Deshalb gingen wir öfter dahin, weil wir nicht viel Geld, aber viel Zeit hatten.

„Until waiting fills“ really was the name of a café in New Orleans where we often used to hang out, when René and I spent several weeks there during winter 1981/82. The name was a pun and a concept, since there was no way to hurry the waiter. He would take his time to come along and fill up your glass. While waiting for this to happen, one would experience a change of mood and state of mind. Those who learned how to wait, remember. So, after a while it might happen, that you found yourself unexpectedly filled with interesting thoughts and pleasant feelings while waiting. Waiting at “until waiting fills” wasn’t any kind of stress. There was a sofa, a bookshelf and different kinds of games. And the waiter wouldn’t frown at you, if you sat over a game of chess for three hours only sipping on one glass of wine. That’s why we went there quite often, because we did not have a lot of money but a lot of time.

Until waiting fills
Der Titelsong «Until waiting fills» wurde geschrieben, als wir 2002 mit den Proben für die ersten Songs begannen. Er bezieht sich auf das oben erwähnte Café, sowie auf die Tatsache, dass es 24 Jahre gedauert hat, bis wir nach unserer LP «You never know what’s behind the cover» wieder ein Album aufnehmen wollten. Es ist auch ein kritisches Statement gegen einen hektischen, oberflächlichen und wenig sinnhaften Zeitgeist. Es enthält Verweise auf Miguel de Cervantes‘ Don Quijote, Fats Dominos Blue Berry Hill, das Schachspiel im Allgemeinen, Rotwein, Freundschaft, New Orleans mit seinem Jazz und Jimi Hendrix’ Belly Button Window.

Until waiting fills
The title song «Until waiting fills» was written while we started rehearsing the first songs in 2002. It refers to the café mentioned above, as well as to the fact that it took us 24 years to record another album after our LP «You never know what’s behind the cover» . It is also a critical statement against a hectic, superficial and not very meaningful Zeitgeist. It also contains references to Miguel de Cervantes‘ Don Quixote, Fats Dominos blue berry hill, the game of chess in general, red wine in general, friendship, New Orleans with its jazz and Jimi Hendrix’ Belly Button Window.

Down by the river
Die Flüsse und Bäume sind die vielleicht wichtigsten Lehrmeister der Menschheit. Während die Bäume uns lehren in die Höhe zu wachsen, zeigen uns die Flüsse, dass nichts bleibt, was es ist, dass alles ständig im Wandel ist. Heraklit hat es für uns zusammengefasst: Panta Rhei. Eine Tatsache, die das Menschenkind kaum zu ertragen vermag. «Aber ich bin doch ich!», ruft es immer wieder aus. Und der Fluss antwortet: «Was du heute glaubst, dass du seist, war schon gestern nicht wahr». Still sitzend am Fluss oder vielleicht am offenen Feuer, können wir für Momente ertragen, dass wir aus purem Wandel bestehen. … so take me down to the river.

Down by the river
Rivers and trees are perhaps the most important teachers of mankind. While the trees teach us what it takes to grow upwards, the rivers show us that nothing stays the same, that everything is constantly changing. Heraclitus summarised it for us: Panta Rhei. A fact that the human child can hardly bear. «But I am me!» it exclaims again and again. And the river replies: “What you think you are today, was not even true yesterday“. Sitting quietly by the river or perhaps by an open fire, we can bear for a brief moment that we are made of pure change. … so take me down to the river.

Sunday morning
Sue und ich warteten, dass der Bus und die Liebe kommen. Was im vorhergehenden Lied angesprochen wurde, wird hier weiter ausgeführt. Die überhöhten Erwartungen, welche zur Erfüllung der Liebe an die andere Person gestellt werden, münden in Ratlosigkeit und Hilflosigkeit. Man wähnt, dass der andere den Schlüssel zum Paradies hat, weiss aber nicht, wie man mit ihm umgehen soll. – Und schon ist dem Sänger die Liebe wieder durch den Zaun entwischt. So dass er schliesslich zur ironisierten Frage gelangt: «Ist meine Liebe eine Nonnenliebe?» Wobei die Nonne, die ihr Leben in Liebe der verklärten Illusion eines Jesus Christus widmet, hier herhalten muss als (psychologischer) Archetypus eines verklärenden Menschen. – Was wir alle sind.

Sunday morning
Sue and I were waiting for the bus and the love to come. What was mentioned in the previous song is developed further here. The exaggerated expectations placed on the other person to fulfil love lead, to perplexity and helplessness. One imagines that the other person has the key to paradise but does not know how to deal with it. – And then again, the singer’s love slips through the fence. So that he finally arrives at the ironized question: „Is my love a nun’s love?“ The nun, who dedicates her life in love to the transfigured illusion of Jesus Christ, is used here as a (psychological) archetype of a transfiguring person. – What we all are.

The prison song
Angefangen im Gefängnis während der Verbüssung einer Strafe wegen Militärdienstverweigerung und fertiggestellt, nach der Entlassung und einer intensiven Auseinandersetzung mit dem Begriff «Freiheit» und seiner Bedeutung für das Individuum, ist der Text vielleicht nicht leicht auf Anhieb verständlich. Aber niemand kommt einfach an ein Ende bei der Beschäftigung mit dieser Frage.

The prison song
Begun in prison while serving a sentence for refusal of military service and completed after release and an intensive examination of the term „freedom“ and its meaning for the individual, the text may not be easy to understand straight away. But no one comes to an easy end when dealing with this question.

I’m only a chewing gum
I’m only a chewing gum ist ein Liebeslied aus der fantastischen Ära der Adoleszenz. Zirka 1973 komponiert wurde es 2003 überarbeitet und segelt nun auf den Schwingen eines Albatros über die sieben Weltmeere.

I’m only a chewing gum
I’m only a chewing gum Is a love song from the fantastic era of adolescence. Composed around 1973, it was reworked in 2003 and now sails the seven seas on the wings of an albatross.

Can it be easy?
Stets wünschen wir uns, das Leben und die Liebe mögen doch einfach einfach sein. Wenn wir Glück haben, sind sie es manchmal auch. Und dann wieder nicht. Speziell in diesem Lied ist die Vorstellung der Seele, welche hier die ganze Lebenswelt des Sängers ausmacht. Sie ist quasi die persönliche Bubble, aus welcher er zeitlebens nicht herauskommt. Der Wunsch nach Nähe zum Andern, ist der Wunsch, die Bubble möge doch endlich platzen. – Manchmal scheint sie es zu tun. Und dann wieder nicht.

Can it be easy?
We always wish that life and love would just be easy. If we’re lucky, sometimes they are. And then again they are not. What is special about this song is the idea of the soul, which makes up the singer’s entire world. It is, so to speak, the personal bubble from which he cannot escape throughout his life. The desire for closeness to others is the wish that the bubble might finally burst. – Sometimes it seems to do so. And then again it doesn’t.

Texte/Lyrics

Until waiting fills

Until waiting fills, I sit and look out the window
I don’t go fighting mills, don’t climb a blueberry hill

Until waiting fills, I drift away while I’m reading
I hear them talk until a waiter brings them a bill

Until waiting fills, I spot a rook in the corner
watching a knight ready to kill, aiming at the king standing still

Until waiting fills, I drink the fruits of the south
I talk and tell you until, you tell me to shut my mouth

Until waiting fills, is a Café in New Orleans
I go there with my friends, who like an open end

Until waiting fills I’m gonna be resting on this chair
I won’t get up, I won’t get dressed, no, I won’t even comb my hair

Until waiting fills, I feel my body’s weight
missing what I might do, hopping like a kangaroo
picking up the right tune, I’m moving like a sand dune

You could never reach me on a mobile phone
while you live on thrills ‘n’ spills
I wait here, ‘til waiting fills

Sunday morning

Early Sunday morning, I hear the church bells ring
I rub my eyes, I yawn, while the night turns into dawn
still fuddled after too much wine, too tired to feel fine
how come I have a headache now?

Oh, is it, my girl, she left last night? she is the pearl of town,
she’s got the key to paradise, I just couldn’t treat her right

I get up to have a hair of the dog, uh that bit me last night
I have a Sunday morning cigarette, while the water begins to boil
I keep on remembering her face and her voice and her eyes
well, after all, I would have to confess: my Jesus, I’m not surprised

Oh, is it true, my girl she left last night, she is the jewel of town
she’s got the key to paradise, I just couldn’t treat her right

Must be something ‘bout eleven o clock, when I shuffle along, down to the pub
I meet Steve there, he says: “how are ya fella”, but I feel just lost for words
I have a pint and another one, I say “listen Steve, you are the one,
to tell me one thing Steve, is it hard to believe me,
or am I just wrong in each and every song,
tell me Steve, is it hard to believe me,
or am I just wrong in each and every song,
is my love the love of a nun?”

Oh, is it true, my girl just left last night, she is the queen of town
she’s got the key to paradise, I just couldn’t treat her right

Flux

(Instrumental)

Can it be easy?

Can it be easy? – Tell me it’s easy
won’t be the end of the world,
won’t be the end of the world,
when I try

If I would fall in love again, you’d be my everything, I know
I’d be losing these doubts, getting rid of those fears,
while loving you for real

But I won’t come to an end of wandering through my soul

This must be dreaming, it feels like dreaming
you’re so close to my heart,
yet so close to my heart
I can’t hide

Will you fall in love again, call me your everything, will you?
you’d be losing these doubts, you’d be rid of those fears,
while loving me for real

But you won’t come to an end of wandering through your soul

I woke up screaming, I heard you screaming
full of joy, full of fear
love is far, love is near
how come we’re scared?

We’ve grown up reaching for the moon and stars
and yet the face of mars looks from up above
on a frightened, tender love

Who’s gonna tell us what to do?
All I know is I belong to you, I’m gonna reach out for your love

But I won’t come to an end, of wandering through my soul

Down by the river

Down by the river
where life is love and love is all
my friend and I were gambling
on crazy thoughts and mystic palms

Down by the river
we would play and swing
we would be flying on magic wings

Down by the water
nothing seems to be real
life is nothing but what we feel

Just around the corner
where life is real, and money’s gone
Sue and I were waiting
for the bus and love to come

Right around the corner
we would wait and wonder why
our dreams are out of sight

Just around the corner
nothing seems to be real
life is nothing but what we feel

Up, you know, in heaven
where time is gone, and peace is here
Jesus and I were dreaming
of flesh and blood and mugs of beer

Right up here in heaven
passion is a strange word
cause nothing would ever hurt

Right up here in heaven
nothing can be real
truth is nothing but what we feel

So, take me down to the river
take me down to the river

The prison song

Moonlight is watching the night
and the walls keep on holding me tight
visions do rise and visions do fall
so many visions don’t exist at all

I send out my thoughts into the nothingness
oh, chapped hands trying to grasp a little something
can I be yours and can you be mine,
if water does not turn into wine?

I give all my love to an angel like you
I send out my dove of trust to be true
while I stand with my feet deep down in the mud
I’m trying to fly, I’m trying hard, but:
it seems that flying belongs to the birds and the songs

Moonlight is watching the night
and the walls keep on holding me tight
visions do rise and visions do fall
so many visions don’t exist at all

I’m only a chewing gum

I’m only a chewing gum, cherry is my flavor
I’m only a chewing gum and your teeth are my neighbours
You chew me so soft, sometimes I think I’m truly loved
I guess I’m here only for you,
I’m always near, you my love, near you

ba di bambam budeldideldam
badida dudeledam dadam dam
badadidei dadadam badadei

I’m only a cracker, you lick the salt off me
I’m only a cracker and your tongue is my lee
You crack me so soft, sometimes I feel I’m truly loved
I know I’m here only for you,
I’m always near, you my love near you

ba di bambam budeldideldam
badida dudeledam dadam dam
badadidei dadadam badadei

I’m only your chocolate cream, you slurp me like you should
I’m only some chocolate cream, I don’t know nothing about my roots
You slurp me so soft; I feel sure I’m truly loved
You know I’m here only for you,
I’m always near you my love near you

ba di bambam budeldideldam
badida dudeledam dadam dam
badadideidei dadadam badadei

(All lyrics by Gabriel Eichenberger)