listen here and listen close
I’ll tell you the story of a musical ghost
Ernst the composer, with a lifelong dream
of becoming a genius, a composition king
he was born on a day
like any other man, i'd say,
into a jewish family
where he studied the melody
a melody that protruded
from pianist hands
throughout the symphonies
from germany to england
He was known far and wide
in a land without pride
as a musical guide
where the Nazi’s reside
Great misfortune mounted upon
great toils, soiled by a life on the run
this was his fate, to be cast out, and away
like a broken, old picture frame
and upon a new dawn
to the westward and on
he sought to find a home
when there was nowhere to roam.
He packed up his bags
as he had little more than rags
to flee to the free
and away...from the Nazi regime
and made it to america…
so soon sorry
for he faintly did fair
the world was weary
yet his book he still shared
and he passed on his knowledge
of his music, sublime
his artistic ability
to tame tone and time
and from the day he was born
to the day he passed on
we’ll remember those teachings
and those beautiful songs
1887 to 1964
ernst we still remember you
and all that you lived for