[Count Krolock:]
Night at last, not a star in sight
the moon hides because it fears me
no light in the world
no false beam of hope
only silence
and within me the silhouettes of my pain
The grain was golden and the sky clear
in the summer of 1617
we lay in the whispering grass
her hand on my skin felt soft and warm
she didn't suspect that I was lost
I myself still believed I would win
but that day it happened for the first time:
She died in my arms
Whenever I reached out for life
nothing would remain in my hand
I want to be flame turning to ash
but never burned yet
I want to go high and higher
but sink deeper and deeper into the void
I want to be an angel or demon
and still I am nothing but a creature
that always wants what it won't get!
If there'd be just a moment of happiness for me
I'd bargain it for eternal grief
but all hope is in vain:
The hunger is never sated
The priest's daughter let me in at night
1730 after the May devotions
with her heart's blood I wrote a poem
onto her white skin
and the emperor's page from Napoleon's baggage train...
1813 he stood in front of the castle
I can't forgive myself
for not being heartbroken by his grief
But whenever I reach out for life
I feel how it breaks
I want to understand the world and know everything
and don't even know myself!
I want to be free and more free
but can't get rid of my chains
I want to be a saint or criminal
and still I am nothing but a creature
that wants what it won't get and always has to tear apart everything it loves!
Everyone believes it will all get better eventually
so they deal with their pain
I want to be sated for once
but the hunger never ceases
Some believe in humankind
and some in money or glory
some believe in art and science
in love an heroics
many believe in gods
of various kinds
in miracles and signs
in heaven and hell
in sin and virtue
and in the bible and breviary
But the true power ruling us
is the nefarious
eternal
consuming
destructive
and ever insatiable greed
To you mortals of tomorrow
I soothsay now and here:
before the beginning of the new century
the only god everyone will serve
is the insatiable greed