Next post on my little corner here at Substack will contain another translation (the 3rd of its series!) of an Anti-Catholic writing from an 18th Century Korean scholar. Now, however, I would like to spread the words of truth contained in a devil’s song, which, if there existed anything remotely similar to righteousness in this world, would be a worldwide hit every single summer from now on. Even more so since this compelling piece of acoustic art has stayed in relative obscurity for quite some decades already. I am referring to this song by the West German band Hanuman, which brought out the album with the relevant song back in 1972. The song’s title is Lied des Teufels, i.e. “Devil’s Song.” I present you with its compelling lyrics, as translated by yours truly into English (unfortunately I cannot come up with a translation that would work as English lyrics for the original song’s melody, but I don’t think it’s all that bad):

There you have the Devil sitting at the beach

Holding a guitar in the hand;

See him playing with the sand

And he is singing a song.

Behind him there is a Cadillac

And a witch wearing mink

And the devil,

he sings:

Who counts the dead - hang him high!

Who knows the killers - beat him to death!

Who tells about this - lock him up!

Wash his brain spotless clean

So that thinking is free -

From thoughts!

Such a mild summer night

The witch is dancing, the Devil smiling bright

His stroking of the guitar - so light

He keeps singing his song

Behind him a producer is standing

With five stacks of Marshall amps to boot;

And the devil,

he sings:

Who knows the victims - laugh at him!

Who names the hangmen - don’t believe him!

Who thinks while crying - have him take sick leave!

Lull him to sleep with beat music

For music sets one free -

From thinking!

Who is afraid of this singing

‘Cause children fear the message it’s bringing

His ears I will stretch out so long

He will hear this song