Voller Mond (Auf den zweiten Blick Version)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a portrait of a once-proud peacock, now diminished and resigned. The narrator observes a creature that has "learned so much" and had "let himself go," with its "proud feathers" "cruelly removed." This imagery suggests a profound loss of status and vitality, leaving only a faint echo of its former self, driven by "instinct" rather than ambition. The scene is one of quiet decay, a stark contrast to the vibrant life it once embodied. The central tension arises from the recurring image of the "full moon" and the fleeting sensation of being alive it seems to evoke. The moon, a symbol of cyclical change and perhaps a catalyst for primal urges, prompts a temporary surge of "exuberance." This exuberance, however, is fragile, described as a feeling that "sometimes does good" but ultimately feels like a mere approximation of life: "It's almost as if one lives." This highlights a deep-seated weariness and a struggle to reclaim a sense of vitality. The lyrics masterfully employ contrast to underscore the peacock's plight. The creature is drawn to its "enemies" in the "glimmer," a state where "peacocks go blind," suggesting a self-destructive tendency or an inability to navigate its dangerous environment. It is "kissed tame" and its "wings shaken lame," a depiction of external forces rendering it helpless. The narrator notes that "no one begrudges a peacock anything," a bitter irony implying that its downfall is met with indifference or perhaps even a quiet satisfaction from others, a consequence of its "wide tail-featheredness" that "damned it to the minority." This piece resonates because it captures a specific, poignant feeling of faded glory and the desperate, almost involuntary, grasp for a moment of feeling truly alive. The juxtaposition of the majestic "full moon" with the diminished state of the peacock creates a melancholic atmosphere. The repeated phrase "It's almost as if one lives" is particularly effective, encapsulating the profound sadness of experiencing life only as a pale imitation, a ghost of what once was.