Roll Over Beethoven

by Hank Edson

God help us, we were all an enchanted mob
          Drowning in an unleashed sea,
And you were the leash, the master of us all
          Drowning in human cacophony
And though the most cultured womanhood sobbed
          In love, in heaven, helplessly,
The rest of us sang in some bawdy drawl:
          "Roll over Beethoven and say good night.
                    Roll over Beethoven, roll!
          When the sea has risen of its own might,
                    All must give up their soul!

We who lay bloated, submerged at the surface,
          Floating on our backs, sinking with fear,
And you who gasped not, but from the first breath,
          Were sounding depths so perfectly clear,
Were locked like one saving by drowning embrace,
          The onlookers standing ever near
Singing of struggle in the cradle of death:
          "Roll over Beethoven and pray to God.
                    Roll over Beethoven, roll!
          Though we curse and jeer you, we must applaud,
                    May God grant peace to your soul!"

How hatred of oneself like a gene is passed
          By father's abuse to his son.
And how love of oneself is vulnerable
          To reveal its limitation.
When the prodigy played, how everyone laughed,
          Scornful of the young musician
Condemned to a deafness universal:
          "Roll over Beethoven and go to sleep.
                    Roll over Beethoven, roll!
          Surrender your cares for the Lord to keep,
                    But music remains for your soul!

There is no doubt that we need each other;
          Life requires an exultant state,
For a man will die without loving a woman
          And a woman will seal his fate.
Beethoven, you made a curse of your lover;
          Thank heavens she did not wait!
The muse cannot live when abused by a man!
          "Roll over Beethoven and dream no more!
                    Roll over, Beethoven, roll!
          Your lover will love you as never before
                    With harmony heart and soul!

Passion must be a witness; Love knows no pain
          Heaven forbade a romantic mood
Lose innocence or spontaneity.
          We all are false, who falsely brood,
Trapped by ourselves, under internal strain.
          Only by open attitude,
Comes the revelation that all are free.
          "Roll over Beethoven and forgive our sins.
                    Roll over Beethoven, roll!
          For with forgiveness eternity begins;
                    There is no end to your soul!"