9 Mozart’s Scatological Fetish
There is no way to sugarcoat this—Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was really into poop. If you thought that poop jokes were a product of the 20th century, just read some of the correspondence between Mozart and his cousin. He talks of his ass burning like fire because “muck” wanted to come out and presents his cousin/love interest with the following nursery rhyme: “I now wish you a good night, sh–t in your bed with all your might, sleep with peace on your mind, and try to kiss your own behind.”Based on the letters exchanged between them, Mozart’s scatological fetish was likely encouraged by his parents. His mother used the same nursery rhyme as Mozart in correspondence with her husband, Leopold.In general, Mozart’s scatological humor was accepted in his family and in German culture, although some people felt this side of the composer needed to be censored. For most of their existence, Mozart’s scatological letters weren’t published in their entirety. Modern psychiatrists offered medical explanations for his behavior, opining that Mozart may have had a form of Tourette’s syndrome. Mozart also expressed his scatological interest in song form. He wrote several canons with vulgar lyrics that were merely party pieces for his friends during his lifetime. The most famous was “Lech mich im Arsch” (“Lick me in the ass”). After Mozart’s death, his widow sent the manuscript for publication, but the song was rewritten as “Let us be glad.” Today, however, you can listen to it just as the great composer intended (in the video above).