Bis Zum Hahnenschrei

Sopor Aeternus, known for their dark, gothic, and often melancholic musical style, delves deep into the themes of attraction, death, and the supernatural in 'Bis Zum Hahnenschrei.' The song's title, which translates to 'Until the Rooster Crows,' hints at a time frame associated with the night and the supernatural, often linked to folklore and myths about spirits and the dead being active until dawn.

The lyrics open with a question about the 'secret of the strange attraction' when a person lies on their side, fully clothed and erect. This imagery is both intimate and eerie, suggesting a fascination with the lifeless or the undead. The repeated phrase 'Mach' die augen zu' (Close your eyes) invites the listener to enter a dreamlike or deathlike state, where reality blurs with the surreal.

As the song progresses, it speaks of a person who is cold, with visible breath, and whose chest rises and falls with breathing. This juxtaposition of life and death, warmth and coldness, creates a haunting atmosphere. The mention of the 'dark underworld' and the person joining the narrator from this realm further emphasizes themes of death and the supernatural. The song seems to explore the allure of the forbidden and the macabre, drawing the listener into a world where the boundaries between life and death are fluid and mysterious.