Death, thy servant, is at my door (Tagore) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Death, thy servant, is at my door. 
He has crossed the unknown sea 
and brought thy call to my home.
The night is dark and my heart is fearful -- 
yet I will take up the lamp, 
open my gates and bow to him my welcome. 
It is thy messenger who stands at my door.
I will worship him 
placing at his feet the treasure of my heart.
He will go back with his errand done, 
leaving a dark shadow on my morning; 
and in my desolate home only my forlorn self 
will remain as my last offering to thee.

Authorship

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Gitanjali

Based on

text

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali)

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 French, a translation of André Gide (1869-1951) ENG FRE

Alfredo Casella (1883-1947)

L'adieu à la vie: Quatre lyriques funèbres extraites du "Gitanjali" de Rabindranath Tagore

Date added to the website: 2008-07-04.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.