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The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day. I have spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my instrument. The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set; only there is the agony of wishing in my heart. The blossom has not opened; only the wind is sighing by. I have not seen his face, nor have I listened to his voice; only I have heard his gentle footsteps from the road before my house. The livelong day has passed in spreading his seat on the floor; but the lamp has not been lit and I cannot ask him into my house. I live in the hope of meeting with him; but this meeting is not yet.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 13, first published 1912 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 13, first published 1912 [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Peter Blauvelt (b. 1957), "The song that I came to sing", 1991-2 [ mezzo-soprano, clarinet, trombone, contrabass, and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mary Williams Campbell (1899 - 1985), "Songs unsung", 1950 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Naresh Sohal (b. 1939), "The unsung song", 1993 [ alto and instrumental ensemble ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Andrea Butenschön (1866 - 1948) , first published 1915 ; composed by Edvin Kallstenius.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le chant que je suis venu chanter", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SWE Swedish (Svenska) (Andrea Butenschön) , first published 1915
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-11-03
Line count: 20
Word count: 126
Le chant que je suis venu chanter est resté non chanté jusqu'à ce jour. J'ai passé ma journée à accorder et à désaccorder mon instrument. L'heure n'est pas venue, les mots n'ont pas été correctement choisis ; mon cœur ne contient que l'agonie du désir. Le bourgeon ne s'est pas ouvert ; seul soupire le vent. Je n'ai pas vu sa face, ni entendu sa voix ; j'ai juste entendu son pas léger sur la route devant ma maison. Un jour long comme la vie fut passé à étaler son siège sur le sol ; mais la lampe n'a pas été allumée et je ne puis lui demander d'entrer. Je vis dans l'espoir de le rencontrer ; mais cette rencontre n'est pas pour aujourd'hui.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2013 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 13, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 13, first published 1912 [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2013-12-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 119