☝️ Key Points
- The song is a plea for compassion, human brotherhood, and hope.
- Esmeralda comments on how hatred blinds and corrupts people, but remains hopeful that this cannot be the end.
- The repeated refrain 'Once' is a sign of hope for a better future, where people learn to live instead of hate.
- 'No one can kill hope' underscores the enduring hope despite fear and injustice.
- The song highlights above all human closeness, forgiveness, and equality before God.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Einmal' from the musical 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' is an appeal to compassion, human brotherhood, and hope. The protagonist Esmeralda begins with her childlike notion that all humans are brothers, even if they often misunderstand each other. She recognizes that hatred blinds and makes people evil, but she firmly believes that this cannot be the end. The repeated refrain 'Einmal', followed by various challenges (like a thousand wars, blood, and tears), is a glimmer of hope for a better future, where people learn to live instead of hate and respect each other. The line 'No one can kill hope' underscores this enduring hope despite fear and injustice. The song ends with the realization that humanity means being close to others and forgiving, and highlights that before God, we are all equal. Overall, the song is a powerful appeal to humanity, compassion, and hope for a better, fairer world.