Voices of Afghanistan

Song Cycle by Stanley Grill (b. 1953)

1.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
A tree with a bitter seed
Fed with butter and sugar
Will still bear a bitter fruit.
From it, you will taste no sweetness.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

2.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Oh’ Great Mountain, reaching far into the sky!
How long will you find satisfaction in self love? 
Though just a tiny butterfly, I am yet free,
To dance on a flower head while you remain shackled.

I am the bitter fruit falling upon the earth.
Thus in the clutches of time I remain.
O spring of liberty! Your grace, what else it could be 
But to render this bitter fruit sweet?

What, Alas, has been my joy from the cup of life? 
Like a candle burning in the blowing wind,
I tremble, I burn, ... I die.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

3.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I am captured by your love
trying to escape is not possible
love is an ocean without boundaries
a wise person would not want to swim in it 
if you want love until the end
you must accept what is not accepted 
welcome hardship with joy
eat poison but call it honey

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

4. Four Landay
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
If you couldn’t love me from the start
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.

5.
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I want to leave this home” and go
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.
Total word count: 330