Moribund the Burgermeister

[Johnny_L.A]

Was there a ‘Moribund the Burgermeister’ before Peter Gabriel’s song? i.e., was there a folk tale about such a figure?

[Ike_Witt]

Here is what Song Facts has to say:

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.

I have no idea how accurate that is.

[Johnny_L.A]

Was there a character named Moribund the Burgermeister associated with this disease? (i.e., before Gabriel mentioned the name in his song?)

[Chez_Guevara]

Here is a blog which discusses the meaning of this song.

None of the contributors mention a real Moribund the Burgermeister. There’s a pretty strong argument for the lyric telling a story about the plague.