Lyrics by Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore, from The Gardener
1. Trust Love
”Trust love even if it brings sorrow. Do not close up your heart.”
”Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand them.”
”The heart is only for giving away with a tear and a song, my love.”
”Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand them.”
”Pleasure is frail like a dewdrop, while it laughs it dies. But sorrow is strong and abiding. Let sorrowful love wake in your eyes.”
”Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand them.”
”The lotus blooms in the sight of the sun, and loses all that it has. It would not remain in bud in the eternal winter mist.”
”Ah no, my friend, your words are dark, I cannot understand them.”
2. Do Not Keep
Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend!
Say it to me, only to me, in secret.
You who smile so gently, softly whisper, my heart will hear it, not my ears.
The night is deep, the house is silent, the birds’ nests are shrouded with sleep.
Speak to me through hesitating tears, through faltering smiles, through sweet shame and pain, the secret of your heart!
3. Do Not Go
Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.
I have watched all night, and now my eyes are heavy with sleep.
I fear lest I lose you when I am sleeping.
Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.
I start up and stretch my hands to touch you. I ask myself, ”Is it a dream?”
Could I but entangle your feet with my heart and hold them fast to my breast!
Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.
4. My Heart
My heart, the bird of the wilderness, has found its sky in your eyes.
They are the cradle of the morning, they are the kingdom of the stars.
My songs are lost in their depths.
Let me but soar in that sky, in its lonely immensity.
Let me but cleave its clouds and spread wings in its sunshine.
5. Lest I Should Know
Lest I should know you too easily, you play with me.
You blind me with flashes of laughter to hide your tears.
I know, I know your art,
You never say the word you would.
Lest I should not prize you, you elude me in a thousand ways.
Lest I should confuse you with the crowd, you stand aside.
I know, I know your art,
You never walk the path you would.
Your claim is more than that of others, that is why you are silent.
With playful carelessness you avoid my gifts.
I know, I know your art,
You never will take what you would.