Ballade No. 9 - Hanns Eisler

When the Almighty made the uni-verse,

He made the Earth, and next he made the sun.

Then 'round the earth, he made the sun to turn.

That’s in the Bible, Genesis book one.

And since that time, all beings here below

Were in obedient circles meant to go

Around the pole:

The cardinals, around the cardinals,

The bishops, around the bishops,

The secretaries, around the secretaries,

Alderman, around the alderman,

The craftsman, around the craftsman,

The servants, around the servants,

The dogs, the chickens, and the beg-gars.

Up stood the learned Galileo,

Glanced briefly at the sun;

And said, «Almighty God was wrong

In Genesis book one!»

Now that is bold my friends,

This here’s no matter small:

An independent spirit spreads as do diseases.

Change holy writ, for soon what would be left at all?

Why, each of us would say and do,

Just as he pleases, as he pleases,

As he pleases-

Good people that will come to pass:

If Galileo’s teachings spread;

No alter boy would serve the mass,

No servant girl would make the beds.

Now that is grave, my friends,

This here’s no matter small:

An independent spirit spreads as do diseases.

All life is sweet, and man is weak-

And after all: how good it is,

Just for a change to do

Just as one pleases,

As one pleases,

As one pleases-

Good creatures

Who have troubles,

Here or below:

In serving to the Lord,

And gentle Jesus.

Oh bid you, turn the other cheek just so,

While they get set to strike the second blow.

Obedience will never fuel your goals.

Let everyone — get wise and do

Just as he pleases, as he pleases,

As he pleases-