I am restless. I am athirst for far-away things (Tagore) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


I am restless.  I am athirst for far-away things.
My soul goes out in a longing 
to touch the skirt of the dim distance.
O Great Beyond, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget, 
that I have no wings to fly, 
that I am bound in this spot 
evermore.

I am eager and wakeful, 
I am a stranger in a strange land.
Thy breath comes to me 
whispering an impossible hope.
Thy tongue is known to my heart 
as its very own.
O Far-to-seek, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget, 
that I know not the way, 
that I have not the winged horse.

I am listless, I am a wanderer in my heart.
In the sunny haze of the languid hours, 
what vast vision of thine takes shape 
in the blue of the sky!
O Farthest end, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget,
that the gates are shut everywhere in the house 
where I dwell alone!

Authorship

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

The Gardener

Based on

text

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

[ None yet in the database ]

Set in German, a translation of Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ENG ITA GER

Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942)

Lyrische Symphonie

Date added to the website: 2004-01-17.

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