Nixon in China: Act III: "I am old and cannot sleep forever" Songtext
von John Adams

I am old and I cannot sleep forever
Like the young, nor hope that death will be a novelty
But endless wakefulness
When I put down my work and go to bed


How much of what we did was good?
Everything seems to move beyond our remedy
Come, heal this wound
At this hour nothing can be done

Just before dawn the birds begin
The warblers who prefer the dark
The cage-birds answering

To work!

Outside this room the chill of grace
Lies heavy on the morning grass