On November 24, 2011 Hirsch committed suicide, by jumping from a window at Wilhelminenspital, a major hospital in Vienna. He was 65.
Discography:
1978 "Dunkelgraue Lieder" (Darkgrey songs)
1979 "Komm, grosser schwarzer Vogel" (Come, big black bird)
1980 "Zartbitter" (Bittersweet)
1982 "Bis zum Himmel hoch" (High up to the sky)
1983 "Bis ins Herz" (Into the heart)
1984 "6 - Traurige Indianer + Unfreundliche Kellner" (6 - Sad Indians + Unfriendly Waiters)
1986 "Landluft" (Country air)
1988 "Liebestoll" (Lovesick)
1991 "In meiner Sprache" (In my language)
1992 "Gottlieb - Live"
1995 "Tierisch" (Animalistic)
1999 "Dunkelgrau - Live" (Darkgrey - Live)
2002 "Perlen" (Pearls)
2006 "In Ewigkeit Amen" (Forever and ever dames)
Hobellied
Ludwig Hirsch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wohl um den Wert des Glücks
Der ane haßt den andern dumm
Am End weiss kaner nix!
Do ist der ollaärmste Mann
Dem anderen viel zu reich –
Das Schicksal setzt den Hobel an
Und hobelt's beide gleich!
Die Jugend will holt stets mit Gwolt
In allem glücklich sein
Na und, so ist die Jugend holt –
Jetzt find's euch endlich drein!
Ihr Spießer, ihr seid's bös deswegn
Und schimpft's as blöde Frotzen –
Sie setzen ihren Hobel an
Und hobeln euch a Gltzen!
Zeigt sich der Tod einst, mit Verlaub
Und zupft mi: "Brüaderl, kumm!"
Da stöll ich mich am Anfang taub
Und drah mi goar ned um!
Ich drah mi goar ned um!
Doch sogt er: "Older, reiss dich z'samm!
Mach keine Umständ – geh!"
Da leg ich meinen Hobel hin
Und sog der Wölt ade!
Ja, da leg ich meinen Hobel hin
Und sog, das Lebn woar sche!
The lyrics of Ludwig Hirsch's song "Hobellied" reflect on the nature of happiness and the struggles that can arise from the varying perceptions of it. The first verse depicts people arguing over the value of happiness, with some people hating others simply because of their differing opinions. The second verse highlights the desire of youth to be happy and the frustration felt towards those who criticize this ambition. The chorus then returns to the metaphor of life being like a planer working on two pieces of wood simultaneously, showing how fate can treat everyone equally.
The final verse touches on the inevitability of death, with the singer initially ignoring the call of the grim reaper. However, when Death insists, the singer finally resigns themselves to the inevitability of the situation and decides to lay down their "Hobel," or plane. The singer reflects on their life and says farewell to the world with finality, suggesting that the pursuit of happiness is futile in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Da streiten sich die Leut herum
People always argue with each other
Wohl um den Wert des Glücks
Mainly about the value of happiness
Der ane haßt den andern dumm
One person insults others, calling them stupid
Am End weiss kaner nix!
In the end, no one knows anything for sure
Do ist der ollaärmste Mann
The poorest man is there
Dem anderen viel zu reich –
While another person is considered too wealthy
Das Schicksal setzt den Hobel an
Fate uses a plane on them
Und hobelt's beide gleich!
And makes them both the same
Die Jugend will holt stets mit Gwolt
Young people always want to be happy with force
In allem glücklich sein
Be happy in everything
Na und, so ist die Jugend holt –
So, that's how young people are
Jetzt find's euch endlich drein!
Now, just come to an agreement
Ihr Spießer, ihr seid's bös deswegn
You're angry because you're narrow-minded
Und schimpft's as blöde Frotzen –
And insult those who disagree with you
Sie setzen ihren Hobel an
They're putting their plane to work
Und hobeln euch a Gltzen!
And they're going to level you down
Zeigt sich der Tod einst, mit Verlaub
If death comes one day, respectfully
Und zupft mi: "Brüaderl, kumm!"
And says to me, "Come, brother!"
Da stöll ich mich am Anfang taub
At first, I turn a deaf ear
Und drah mi goar ned um!
And don't turn around!
Ich drah mi goar ned um!
I won't turn around for sure!
Doch sogt er: "Older, reiss dich z'samm!
But he says, "Come on, pull yourself together!"
Mach keine Umständ – geh!"
Don't complicate things - go!
Da leg ich meinen Hobel hin
Then, I put my plane aside
Und sog der Wölt ade!
And say goodbye to the world!
Ja, da leg ich meinen Hobel hin
Yes, I put my plane aside
Und sog, das Lebn woar sche!
And say that life was beautiful!
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.