Text
Das himmilische Leben (“The Heavenly Life”)
“We enjoy the pleasures of Heaven
And therefore avoid earthly ones.
No worldly tumult
Is to be heard in Heaven!
All live in gentlest peace!
We lead angelic lives!
Thus we have a merry time of it.
We dance and we leap,
We skip and we sing!
Saint Peter Heaven looks on it.
John lets his little lamb out,
And Herod the Butcher lies in wait for it.
We lead a patient,
Innocent, patient,
Dear little lamb to its death!
Saint Luke slaughters the ox
Without a thought or concern.
Wine doesn’t cost a penny
In Heaven’s cellar;
The angels bake the bread.
Good greens of all sorts
Grow in Heaven’s garden!
Good asparagus, string beans,
And whatever we want!
Full bowls are set out for us!
Good apples, good pears, and good grapes!
The gardeners allow everything!
If you want venison or hare,
You’ll find them running
On the public streets!
Should a fast-day arrive,
All the fish come swimming with joy!
There goes Saint Peter, running
With his net and his bait
To the heavenly pond.
Saint Martha shall be the cook!
There is no music on earth
That can compare to ours.
Eleven thousand virgins
Dare to dance!
Even Saint Ursula has taught herself to laugh!
Cecilia and her kin
Make excellent court musicians!
The angelic voices
Gladden our senses
So that everything awakens for joy.”
