Wer zu Lebzeit gut auf Erden
Wird nach dem Tod ein Engel werden
Den Blick gen Himmel fragst du dann
Warum man sie nicht sehen kann[Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen]
[Kann man uns am Himmel sehen]
[Wir haben Angst und sind allein]
Denn Gotte weiß ich will kein Engel sein
(„Engel“ by Rammstein, according to various people anyway)
Does anyone know why, in this line of the chorus, this song uses Gotte instead of Gott? I know it is a possible dative form. Is it antiquated? Is it expressing something particular here that Gott (in nominative or accusative?) would not, is it trying to imitate some biblical quotation, or is it meaningless? More than knowing what it means (clear in the context of the song), I want to understand it structurally (I realise it can take liberties as a song).