Interpretation
The song 'Es lebe der Zentralfriedhof' by
Wolfgang Ambros is an ironic and humorous ode to the Vienna Central Cemetery. The lyrics play with the concept of death and the idea that life continues in a mysterious and exuberant way after death.
In the first verse, a scene is depicted where the dead in the cemetery come to life and party at night. 'Wann's Nocht wird über Simmering, kummt Leben in die Toten' - when night falls, life begins in the dead and they start to celebrate.
In the chorus line 'Am Zentralfriedhof is′ Stimmung, wia's sei Lebtoch no net wor' Ambros emphasizes that there is more liveliness in the cemetery than there ever was in life, which is an ironic twist on the usual dark image of a cemetery.
The third verse talks about the 'Jubilaren' of the cemetery, who have been lying there for over a hundred years. Here, Ambros returns to the concept of transience and decay by saying that they 'lieg′n und sie verfeul'n scho durt seit über hundert Jahre' - lie and decay there for over a hundred years.
In the fourth verse, the scene becomes even more bizarre as Ambros describes the unusual pairings of dancers - 'Die Pforrer tanz'n mit die Hur′n und Juden mit Araber' - The priests dance with the prostitutes and the Jews with the Arabs. This represents a kind of utopian image where traditional conflicts and differences no longer matter.
The fifth verse describes a sudden interruption of the festivities by the appearance of the 'Knochenmannes' (an allusion to death itself), who waves his scythe. This can be seen as a reminder of the inevitable reality of death.
The repeated chorus 'Am Zentralfriedhof is Stimmung, wia′s sei Lebtoch no net wor' serves to maintain the joyful and lively mood of the song, despite the dark theme and setting.
Overall, 'Es lebe der Zentralfriedhof' is a humorous and ironic portrayal of death and the idea of a life after death that is full of joy, music, and community.