“O dreadful turmoil of life, we hang here by a red thread!”—thus begins the anthem of the Gallows Brothers by Christian Morgenstern (1871–1914). And isn’t it sometimes helpful to view things with a bit of gallows humor? Morgenstern himself wrote that “gallows poetry” is a piece of worldview and that one sees the world differently from the gallows. With his Gallows Songs, he wanted to “spread a little intellectual lightness, cheerfulness, and freedom; to enliven the imagination; to thaw just a little of the soul’s music frozen in the post horn.” Fifty years later, in his Canon of German-Language Poetry, Marcel Reich-Ranicki recommends all of the Gallows Songs. Poems such as “Der Lattenzaun,” “Sophie, die Henkersmaid,” and “Das Mondschaf” are legendary; “Der Werwolf” is even taught in schools. “You laugh yourself silly,” Tucholsky once remarked, “then, having grown more serious, you come to admire a profound lyricism that only veers into the comical at the very last moment—and realize in the end that you’ve learned a philosophical lesson.” Actor Hans-Werner Meyer (Letzte Spur Berlin, Baader Meinhof Komplex) was recruited as the singer for the anniversary project. He received the email with the request and the first compositions on a Monday at 4:16 p.m. He replied to Reinhardt Repke’s email at 5:15 p.m.: “He really liked the musical settings; he wants to—he has to—sing this. Even his father used to recite Morgenstern at the kitchen table at home.” Ideal conditions for a collaboration! Just a few days later, they met for their first rehearsal. Bassist Markus Runzheimer (Element of Crime) is also back on board and will be playing percussion this time as well. And Hans-Werner Meyer will not only sing but also pick up the violin. As always, Reinhardt Repke plays guitar and has set the poems to new music. The accompanying album for the club’s eighth program will be released in early 2026 on CD, vinyl, and digitally.