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Hing an einer goldnen Lenzwolke,
Als die Welt noch Kind war
Und Gott noch junger Vater war.
Schaukelte hei
Auf dem Ätherei
Und meine Wollhärchen flitterten ringelrei.
Neckte den wackelnden Mondgroßpapa,
Naschte Goldstaub der Sonnenmama,
In den Himmel sperrte ich Satan ein,
Und Gott in die rauchende Hölle.
Die drohten mit ihrem größten Finger
Und haben „klumbumm, klumbumm“ gemacht,
Und es sausten die Peitschenwinde;
Doch Gott hat nachher zwei Donner gelacht
Mit dem Teufel über meine Todsünde.
Würde 10 000 Erdglück geben.
Noch einmal so gottgeboren zu leben,
So gottgeborgen, so offenbar.
Ja, ja,
Als ich noch Gottes Schlingel war!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Else Lasker-Schüler, Gesammelte Gedichte, Leipzig, Verlag der Weißen Bücher, 1917, page 22.
Text Authorship:
- by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Im Anfang", subtitle: "Weltscherzo", appears in Hebräische Balladen, no. 14, appears in Styx, Gedichte, first published 1902 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johann Karl Brandeis (1910 - 1987), "Im Anfang", 1987 [ voice and piano ], from Sieben Lieder, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Ebert (1889 - 1952), "Im Anfang", op. 29 no. 8 (1926-1927), first performed 1928 [ voice and instrumental ensemble ], from Biblische Balladen. Eine Folge von 19 Gesängen für eine Singstimme, Hoboe, Klarinette, Saxophon und Streichquintett, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Konrad Hupfer (b. 1935), "Im Anfang", 1977, first performed 1995 [ voice and instrumental ensemble ], from Singe, Eva, dein banges Lied. Zyklus für Tänzerin und Tänzer, Sprech- / Singstimme und Kammerensemble, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Keller (1920 - 2008), "Im Anfang", 1961, first performed 1965 [ mezzo-soprano and organ; or baritone and piano ], from Versöhnung. Zwölf hebräische Balladen, no. 10 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Reinhard Kröller (b. 1948), "Im Anfang", from Es treiben mich brennende Lebensgewalten. Ein Liederzyklus, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Reinhard Kröller (b. 1948), "Im Anfang", from Es treiben mich brennende Lebensgewalten. Ein Liederzyklus, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Christina Cordelia Messner (b. 1969), "Im Anfang", 1998, first performed 1998 [ voice and instrumental ensemble ], from Auf einmal musste ich singen - und ich wusste nicht warum? Vertonungen für Stimme, Violine, Cello, Klavier, Gläser, Shruti-Box und Spieluhren, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gilead Mishory (b. 1960), "Im Anfang", 2001-2002, first performed 2003 [ voice and piano ], from Hebräische Balladen, no. 14 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Manfred Niehaus (1933 - 2013), "Im Anfang", 1983, first performed 1985 [ women's chorus and instrumental ensemble ], from cantata Kantate »Engel und Sterne«, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bernhard Rövenstrunck (1920 - 2010), "Im Anfang", 1944/1959 [ mezzo-soprano, tenor, and piano ], from 20 Hebräische Balladen für Mezzosopran, Tenor und Klavier, no. 14 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sybil Westendorp (1910 - 1999), "Scherzo", 1947 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Karl Bellenberg [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2022-05-23
Line count: 20
Word count: 100
I hung on a golden spring cloud, When the world was still a child And God was still a young father. Swinging ho On the sky-o And my wooly little hairs flittered round about-o. I teased wobbly grandpa moon, Nibbled gold dust from mama sun, I locked up Satan in heaven, And God in smoking hell. They wagged their biggest finger And went “klumbumm, klummbumm,” And the whipping winds came rushing; Yet, later, with two claps of thunder, God laughed With the Devil about my mortal sin. I’d give ten thousand earthly joys To live so godly-born once more, So protected by God, so undeniable. Yes, yes, When I was still God’s rascal!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Im Anfang" = "In the Beginning"
"Scherzo" = "Scherzo"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Im Anfang", subtitle: "Weltscherzo", appears in Hebräische Balladen, no. 14, appears in Styx, Gedichte, first published 1902
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-05
Line count: 20
Word count: 113