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)
Im Anfang
Ludwig Hirsch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song "Im Anfang" by Ludwig Hirsch tells the story of how God created the world, as told from the perspective of the Devil. The Devil challenges God, wondering why there should be darkness and why there should be day and night. God takes these challenges and creates light, day, night, the Earth, and all the colors and beauty that come with it. The Devil then suggests that there still needs to be a being created in God's image, and God responds that the Devil should do it himself. The Devil goes on to create humans on the sixth day.
The song tells a unique version of the story of creation, with the Devil playing a significant role as a challenger to God. It also portrays God as willing to listen to challenges and criticisms and use them to create a better world. However, the Devil's involvement in creating humans highlights the idea that humans may have come about as a result of darkness and evil, rather than pure goodness.
Overall, the lyrics of "Im Anfang" tell a thought-provoking story about creation, God, and the role of good and evil in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
"Niemand kann deine Schönheit bewundern", sprach der Teufel zu Gott in der Höh'.
The Devil spoke to God in heaven saying, "No one can admire your beauty."
Und ich hab mich selbst an die Wand gemalt, auch das kann niemand sehen!
And I painted myself on the wall, but no one can see it!
Wozu diese ewige Finsternis? Entschuldige, du Gott, ich verstehe das nicht!"
What is the purpose of this eternal darkness? I'm sorry God, I don't understand!
"Du hast recht!" rief der Herr zum Teufel und er sprach: "Es werde Licht!"
The Lord agreed with the Devil and said, "You're right! Let there be light!"
"Gut", sprach der Teufel zum Herrn, "du hast Tag und Nacht geschaffen, doch wenn es Tag ist, wo wirst du spielen, wenn es Nacht ist, wo wirst du schlafen?"
The Devil said to the Lord, "Good, you have created day and night, but when it's day, where will you play, and when it's night, where will you sleep?"
Du hast recht!" rief der liebe Gott, "du weißt, der Herr baut nie auf Sand!" Und er nahm sich sogleich den Himmel und besetzte ihn instand.
The Lord said, "You're right! You know that the Lord never builds on sand!" And he immediately took the heaven and refurbished it.
"Gut gemacht", sprach der Teufel", du wohnst jetzt wie sich's gehört. Nur der Ausblick, den du hast, der ist deiner noch nicht wert!
The Devil said, "Well done, you live as it should be. Only the view you have is not yet worthy of you."
"Ja, bunte Blumen sollen blühen auf der Erde, ich will Farben sehen", rief der Herr, und er schuf auch die grünen Wälder, und er schuf das blaue Meer.
"Yes, colorful flowers should bloom on the earth, I want to see colors," the Lord cried, and he created the green forests and the blue sea.
"Sei gepriesen!" rief der Teufel", du hast ein Wunder vollbracht! Du hast die Erde da unten schöner als deinen eigenen Himmel gemacht!"
"Praised be!" the Devil cried, "You have accomplished a miracle! You have made the earth below more beautiful than your own heaven!"
Schöner als den eigenen Himmel? Das hörte der Herr nicht gerne, und er schmückte ihn schnell mit Juwelen, das waren Sonne, Mond und Sterne.
The Lord didn't like hearing that it was more beautiful than his own heaven, so he quickly adorned it with jewels, which were the sun, moon, and stars.
"Welch eine Pracht!" jubilierte der Teufel", Psalmen sollen erklingen, doch das Problem ist, edler Herr, es ist niemand da, sie zu singen!"
"What a splendor!" the Devil rejoiced, "Psalms should be heard, but the problem is, noble Lord, there's no one to sing them!"
"Dann müssen Sänger her!" rief Gott, "die zu mir schnattern, miauen, tirilieren, die zu mir bellen, die zu mir röhren!" Und der Herr schuf die Tiere.
"Then singers must come!" cried the Lord, "those who chirp, meow, trill, bark, and roar to me!" And the Lord created the animals.
"Geliebter Herr", schleimte der Teufel", fünf Wunder hast du vollbracht, aber fehlt nicht noch ein Wesen, nach deinem Ebenbild gemacht?"
"Beloved Lord," slimed the Devil, "you have accomplished five wonders, but isn't there still a being missing, made in your image?"
"Das mach' dir selbst!" sprach der liebe Gott, "ich bin müde, ich will schlafen!"
"Do it yourself!" said the loving God, "I'm tired, I want to sleep!"
Und so hat am sechsten Tag der Teufel den Menschen erschaffen.
And so, on the sixth day, the Devil created humans.
Contributed by Lily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.