Die Interimsliebenden

Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Die Interimsliebenden" delves into the transient nature of love, using grandiose and cosmic metaphors to illustrate the fleeting moments shared by lovers. The term "Interimsliebenden" translates to "interim lovers," suggesting a temporary, in-between state of affection. The lyrics juxtapose vast cosmic events, such as the Big Bang and the heat death of the universe, with the intimate act of a kiss, highlighting the enormity and fleetingness of these moments. This contrast underscores the idea that even the most significant events in the universe can be as ephemeral as a single kiss between lovers.

The song further explores the concept of interim love by placing it between various extremes: from the microscopic to the macroscopic, from chaos to aimlessness, and from plankton to philosophy. These juxtapositions emphasize the transient and often chaotic nature of these relationships. The imagery of a hummingbird living in the lovers' shared mouth, with its rapid wing beats too fast for the eye to see, symbolizes the fleeting and intense nature of their connection. The lyrics suggest that in this interim state, words are too grand, and even the simplest examples explode into complex phenomena, reflecting the overwhelming and transient nature of their love.

In the final verses, the song describes the lovers' actions as revolutionary and transformative, yet ultimately temporary and erased by history. This imagery of political upheaval and exile mirrors the impermanence of their relationship. The lovers exist in a state of constant flux, between temporary and eternal, between the mundane and the profound. They consume the last bit of light out of thirst, existing neither in the past nor the future, but only in the present moment. This portrayal of interim love captures the essence of fleeting, intense connections that leave a lasting impact despite their brief duration.