All'inizio E La Morte

Haggard's 'All'inizio E La Morte' is a haunting exploration of faith, death, and the dark intersections between them. The song's lyrics, which blend Latin, German, and English, create a rich tapestry of historical and cultural references. The opening lines in Latin, 'Tremens factus sum ego / Et timeo,' translate to 'I am trembling and afraid,' setting a tone of fear and foreboding. This fear is tied to divine judgment and the wrath that is to come, a theme that runs throughout the song.

The German verses introduce a scene of public execution, where a man is condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake. The lyrics, 'Seht den Ketzer, ich sag, er soll brennen heut' Nacht,' which mean 'See the heretic, I say he should burn tonight,' highlight the brutal reality of religious persecution. The crowd's participation in this spectacle, as they watch the man die, underscores the collective complicity in acts of violence justified by faith. The imagery of the 'Töchter des Teufels' (daughters of the devil) and the 'Sense' (scythe) cutting the thread of life adds a mythic dimension to the narrative, evoking the Grim Reaper and the inevitability of death.

The song also delves into the personal and cosmic consequences of this act. The lines 'And as the dark procession then as been fulfilled / For their God, a sacrifice, his blood was spilled' suggest a ritualistic aspect to the execution, where the man's death is seen as a sacrifice to a higher power. The reference to 'forbidden wisdom' and 'secrets of astronomy' hints at the knowledge that the heretic possessed, knowledge that was deemed dangerous by the authorities. This adds a layer of tragedy to the song, as it suggests that the man's only crime was his pursuit of truth.

The recurring refrain 'Profundis clamavi,' which means 'Out of the depths I cry,' ties the song together, echoing the themes of despair and supplication. The final lines, 'Schenkt aus den Wein!' (Pour out the wine!), offer a grim toast to the events that have unfolded, a bitter acknowledgment of the cycle of violence and death that continues to plague humanity.