Who are these faces I see

They rigidly follow the streets

A song, a prayer for a smile

their look stays stern all the while

Leave or Stay, a common phrase

And ev'ry day, a haze

Shall I follow the beast in me that cries?

Shall I desire only her eyes?

Now, I know what you're probably thinking. You're thinking, "Wait a second, Ben. The song is alright and all that, but, wasn't Sighișoara called Schässburg back then?". Well, first of all, er, let me congratulate you on your excellent Romanian knowledge! I didn't know you knew so much about Transylvanian history. Well done! And secondly, well, yes, creative licence I guess.

Despite predicting the end of the world in the year in 1694 (epic fail, there), Johannes' work and philosophy are extremely interesting for their time. This young man preached a faith not based on rituals, speeches in big churches with lots of echo and little biscuits you get at the end, but would rather lead his followers to focus on a constant, love-filled devotion. He actually wrote a very short book called "A Short Easy and Comprehensive Method of Prayer" which is in full, here. I actually read it! I - actually - read it! Only because it is very short. Let me share a bit of it with you here:

"When the worldly Love [materialisism] bears Rule in a Heart, we must conclude, that the divine Love is not there; but when the divine and true Love of God [...] is well known in the Heart, and practiced, so must we conclude, that it is and bears Rule therein [that it's there, basically]; although the Heart with [materialistic] Temptations is uneasy, and seems to shew the contrary, which is grievous enough [which is a pain in the arse really]."

And that is precisely what the song is about. A battle between materialistic "worldy" cravings and devotion. I must add, creative licence jumps in here again, because there is no way of being sure Johann actually had that dilemma. He probably did though. Albeit, clearly, not when he wrote the book, as you will see if you do glide over a couple of pages in his Book.