The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Es war einmal ein König an Land und Dingen reich
Der saß auf seinem Throne finster und bleich
Was er sinnt ist Schrecken, was er blickt ist Wut
Was er spricht ist Geißel, was er schreibt ist Blut
Einst zog zu diesem Schlosse ein edles Sängerpaar
Einer hat schwarze Locken, der andre ist grau von Haar
Der Graue sprach zum Jungen: "Sei bereit mein Sohn,
Spiel die besten Lieder, stimm an den vollsten Ton!"
:Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch:
Es spielen die beiden Sänger I'm hohen Säulensaal
Auf dem Throne sitzt das Königspaar
Der König so prächtig wie blutiger Nordenschein
Die Königin so süß wie der Sonnenschein
Sie singen von Lenz, Liebe, Heiligkeit
Sie zerfloss in Wehmut, Lust war auch dabei
Ihr habt mein Volk geblendet, verlangt ihr nun mein Weib?
Der König schreit wütend, er bebt am ganzen Leib
Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch
Des Königs Schwert blitzend des Jünglings Brust durchdringt
Statt der goldnen Lieder nun ein Blutstrahl springt
Der Jüngling hat verröchelt in seines Meisters Arm
Dann schreit der Alte schaurig, der Marmorsaal zerspringt
do verfluchter Mörder, do Fluch des Spielmann Tun
Umsonst sei all dein Ringen, mit Blut befleckt dein Tun
Des Königs Namen meldet kein Lied, kein Heldenbuch
Versunken und vergessen - das ist des Spielmanns Fluch
Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch
Der saß auf seinem Throne finster und bleich
Was er sinnt ist Schrecken, was er blickt ist Wut
Was er spricht ist Geißel, was er schreibt ist Blut
Einst zog zu diesem Schlosse ein edles Sängerpaar
Einer hat schwarze Locken, der andre ist grau von Haar
Der Graue sprach zum Jungen: "Sei bereit mein Sohn,
Spiel die besten Lieder, stimm an den vollsten Ton!"
:Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch:
Es spielen die beiden Sänger I'm hohen Säulensaal
Auf dem Throne sitzt das Königspaar
Der König so prächtig wie blutiger Nordenschein
Die Königin so süß wie der Sonnenschein
Sie singen von Lenz, Liebe, Heiligkeit
Sie zerfloss in Wehmut, Lust war auch dabei
Ihr habt mein Volk geblendet, verlangt ihr nun mein Weib?
Der König schreit wütend, er bebt am ganzen Leib
Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch
Des Königs Schwert blitzend des Jünglings Brust durchdringt
Statt der goldnen Lieder nun ein Blutstrahl springt
Der Jüngling hat verröchelt in seines Meisters Arm
Dann schreit der Alte schaurig, der Marmorsaal zerspringt
do verfluchter Mörder, do Fluch des Spielmann Tun
Umsonst sei all dein Ringen, mit Blut befleckt dein Tun
Des Königs Namen meldet kein Lied, kein Heldenbuch
Versunken und vergessen - das ist des Spielmanns Fluch
Es regnet, es regnet Blut
Es regnet den Spielmannsfluch
Lyrics submitted by desensitized
Spielmannsfluch Lyrics as written by Reiner Morgenroth Ludwig + 1862 Uhland
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like this song very much, it has some sort of power that lets me listen to it again and again. I got only a little problem understanding spoken/sung german and most of the german songs just don't sound properly in english. BTW does anybody know if these lyrics are by In Extremo or are they just singing an existing text? Is it my failing memory or is it true that F. Schiller has written a similiar (or exactly this one) ballade? :) Ah, and it's quite a nice thing to make a little drama act based on the situation described ;)