Moribund The Burgermeister

Album: Peter Gabriel (first, car) (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is about "Saint Vitus' Dance," which is a nervous disorder called chorea that which causes rapid jerking motions in its victims. Usually affecting children, it is associated with rheumatic fever. In the Middle Ages it's victims prayed to St. Vitus, who was said to have the cure.
  • Gabriel got the idea from a book about Middle Ages epidemics.
  • This was the first track on Gabriel's first solo release.
  • The London Symphony Orchestra plays on this.
  • Gabriel recorded this in the grandiose style similar to the work he was doing with Genesis before he left on The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.
  • This was released as the B-side of "Solsbury Hill," Gabriel's first solo single.

Comments: 4

  • Lucas Zanetti from LondrinaWhat a great song. I was always looking for something about it, and never found until today. Great to find some others peter Gabriel's enjoyers, and more specifically, this great song
  • Jim from Hammond, InThe flipside to Solsbury Hill.
  • Charlie from Nyc, Nyi liked this song very much. i have this cd and put it on my cd player and pump up the volume.
    i became a die hard fan of peter gabriel on this cd. saw him at msg back in the late 90's early 2000's with digging in the dirt and steam.
    Charlie Muller Jr Bronx NY
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaI love this song very-Lamb Lies Down on Broadwayish..
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.