Eat, Pray, Love

Texts and English translations.

April 27, 2025

1. Bagels and Biscuits

(Terry W. Loessin)

We eat bagels and biscuits for brunch
We giggle with jam on our faces
We play while washing our fingers
and we leave together

2. Die Beredsamkeit

(Gotthold Ephraim Lessing)

Freunde, Wasser machet stumm,
lernet dieses an den Fischen,
doch beim Weine kehrt sich's um
dieses lernt an unsern Tischen.

Was für Redner sind wir nicht,
wenn der Rheinwein aus uns spricht
Wir ermahnen, streiten, lehren,
keiner will den andern hören.

Freunde, Wasser machet stumm.
Stumm.
[Stumm]

TRANSLATION

“The Gift of Gab”

Friends, water makes you mute.
Learn this from the fish.
But it’s the opposite with wine.
Learn this at our table.

What orators we are,
when Rhine wine speaks through us.
We scold, we argue, we lecture,
no one listens to the other.

Friends, water makes you mute.
Mute.
[Mute].

3. Quam Pulchra Es

(Song of Solomon, 7)

Quam pulchra es et quam decora, carissima, in deliciis!
Statura tua assimilata est palmae et ubera tua botris.
Dixi: ascendam in palmam et apprehendam fructus eius;
Et erunt ubera tua sicut botri vineae, et odor oris tui sicut malorum.

TRANSLATION

How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights
Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters..
I say I will climb the palm tree, and lay hold of its fruit.
Oh may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the scent of your breath like apples.

4. Chili con Carne

(Anders Edenroth)

Take some ripe and fresh tomatoes,
put them in a bowl with oil.
Add the onions, strong and tasty,
on the stove you let it boil.
Choose the finest meat you get from cow or pig,
it doesn′t matter.
Beans and jalapeño peppers, necessary is to this.

But don't forget, don′t forget the Mexican spices,
the heart of the art of the cooking. Oh no!
Don't forget, don't forget the Mexican spices,
without them you won′t get the flavor of sunshine.
Chili con carne aha
let′s make chili con carne aha that's good!

Eat your chili nice and slowly
to prevent a stomach ache,
crisp tortillas on your plate
will sound so nicely when they break.
When your mouth gets full of fire
you might need something to drink,
one or two or three or four or seven beers
will be enough.

But don′t forget, don't forget the Mexican spices,
the heart of the art of the cooking. Oh no!
Don′t forget, don't forget the Mexican spices,
without them you won′t get the flavor of sunshine.
Chili con carne aha
let's make chili con carne let's eat!

5. McKay

(Samuel Stennett, 1787)

O the transporting, rapturous scene
that rises to my sight!
Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
and rivers of delight.

There gen’rous fruits that never fail
on trees immortal grow,
there rocks and hills and brooks and vales
with milk and honey flow.

6. Help

(Anne Lamott)

Adiuva nos ambulare per hoc
(Help us walk through this.)

Hold my friends in your light.

Rerum adepto melius cum quaeritur auxilium
(Things get better when we ask for help.)

7. Crossing the Bar

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

Sunset and evening star,
and one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
when I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
too full for sound and foam,
when that which drew from out the boundless deep
turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
when I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
the flood may bear me far,
I hope to meet my Pilot face to face
when I have crossed the bar.

8. Light of a Clear Blue Morning

(Dolly Parton)

It's been a long dark night
And I've been a waitin' for the morning
It's been a long hard fight
But I see a brand new day a-dawning
I've been looking for the sunshine
You know I ain't seen it in so long
Everything's gonna work out fine
Everything's gonna be alright
It's gonna be okay
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
Everything's gonna be alright
It's gonna be okay

9. Light, My Light

(Rabindranath Tagore)

Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life;
the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the wind runs wild,
laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.
Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling,
and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling,
and gladness without measure.
The heaven's river has drowned its banks
and the flood of joy is abroad.

10. Ubi Caritas

(Gregorian Chant)

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur,
timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum
et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

TRANSLATION

Where true charity and love dwell, God himself is there.
Since the love of Christ has joined us in one body,
Let us all rejoice and be glad now and always.
And as we hear and love the living God,
So let us in sincerity love all people.

11. Die Mainacht

(Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty)

Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gesträuche blinkt,
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut,
Und die Nachtigall flötet,
Wandl’ ich traurig von Busch zu Busch.

Überhüllet von Laub girret ein Taubenpaar
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich,
Suche dunklere Schatten,
Und die einsame Träne rinnt.

Wann, o lächelndes Bild, welches wie Morgenrot
Durch die Seele mir strahlt, find ich auf Erden dich?
Und die einsame Träne
Bebt mir heißer die Wang herab.

TRANSLATION

The May Night

Whenever the silver moon gleams through the undergrowth
And strews its slumbering light over the grass,
And the nightingale sings like a flute,
I wander sadly from bush to bush.

Covered over by foliage, a pair of doves is cooing
Their devotion in front of me; but I turn away and
Look for darker shadows,
And the single tear runs [down my cheek].

When, oh smiling image, which, like dawn
Is shining through my soul, when shall I find you on earth?
And the single tear
Feels hotter as it trembles down my cheek.

12. Meine Liebe Ist Grün

(Felix Schumann)

Meine Liebe ist grün wie der Fliederbusch
Und mein Lieb ist schön wie die Sonne;
Die glänzt wohl herab auf den Fliederbusch
Und füllt ihn mit Duft und mit Wonne.

Meine Seele hat Schwingen der Nachtigall
Und wiegt sich in blühendem Flieder,
Und jauchzet und singet vom Duft berauscht
Viel liebestrunkene Lieder.

TRANSLATION

My love’s as green as the lilac bush,
And my sweetheart’s as fair as the sun;
The sun shines down on the lilac bush,
Fills it with delight and fragrance.

My soul has a nightingale’s wings
And sways in the blossoming lilac,
And, drunk with fragrance, exults and sings
Many a love-drunk song.

13. In Love With You

(Alec Powell)

I will fetch the golden lilies from the field.
I will paint the sky a hue so bright and blue.
Drifting, fading into pools of light.
I have never been this much in love.

I will touch the sky and never leave the earth.
I will sing the sparrow's song and know its worth.
Diving, falling fast for you.
I have never been this much in love.

Watching as the sunset turns to twilight.
Embers burn and glow so strong, so bright!
And with my breath I'll love you till the very end.

I will fetch the golden lilies from the field.
. . .

14. My Very Own

(Song of Solomon 4:7, 9-10; Ruth 1:16-17)

My love, my very own
you have stolen my heart.
With one glance you have captured me.
My love, my very own
you have captured my heart.
You looked at me and I fell in love.
You are altogether beautiful
beautiful beyond compare.
How beautiful better than wine.
I will go where you will go.
I will live where you will live.
I'll die with you.
My love, my very own
you have stolen my heart.

15. Love: Then and Still

(Charles Anthony Silvestri)

We were married in late September,
among the changing leaves;
Crimson banners in the courtyard
heralding our union.
We were so happy, then.
The music we shared brought us together,
a duet most unlikely.
Work and home and son and daughter,
busy in joy and love.
How simple it seemed, then.
But who could have known what fate awaited
our little family of four?
A spectre came and dwelt among us,
and robbed us of our joy.
And then, we were only three.
But time has passed, and wounds have healed,
leaving scars behind;
But scars, like talismans, remind us
what was, and what yet may be,
that we loved, and love you, still.

16. Wanting Memories

(Ysaÿe M. Barnwell)

I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me
To see the beauty in the world through my own eyes

You used to rock me in the cradle of your arms
You said you'd hold me till the pains of life were gone
You said you'd comfort me in times like these and now I need you
Now I need you, and you are gone

Since you've gone and left me, there's been so little beauty
But I know I saw it clearly through your eyes

Now the world outside is such a cold and bitter place
Here inside I have few things that will console
And when I try to hear your voice above the storms of life
Then I remember all the things that I was told

I think on the things that made me feel so wonderful when I was young
I think on the things that made me laugh, made me dance, made me sing
I think on the things that made me grow into a being full of pride
I think on these things, for they are true.

17. I Choose Love

(Lindy Thompson)

In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain,
I await the sun again, I choose love.
In the midst of war, I choose peace.
In the midst of war, hate and anger keeping score,
I will seek the good once more, I choose peace.
When my world falls down, I will rise.
When my world falls down, explanations can’t be found,
I will climb to holy ground, I will rise.
In the midst of pain, I choose love.
In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain,
I await the sun again, I choose love.

18. Love Will Find a Way

(Stephen Bock and Rosephanye Powell)

These days are dark and full of fear,
our vision blurred by blinding fears,
while screaming silence fills our ears.
Yet in the distance cries a voice:
Raise your hands! Look up! Rejoice!
Love will find a way!

No fingers grip the spinning wheel;
our future plans now turn surreal,
as threats of war and violence peal.
Yet in the distance . . .

A single spark can start a flame
that burns away all guilt and shame
'til nothing but love remains.
So wave your hands in unity,
for love has come to set us free
to be all that we can be!

Love is patient. Love is kind.
Love will ease your troubled mind.
Yes! Love will find a way!
When you feel you can't hold on,
a friend is there to make you strong.
Yes! Love will find a way!

Love will take away the fear.
It will make the future clear.
Yes! Love will find a way!
It will grip the spinning wheel
and it will help us all to heal
for love will, love will find a way!

Hawai‘i Aloha

E Hawaiʻi e kuʻu one hānau e
Kuʻu home kulaīwi nei
ʻOli nō au i nā pono lani ou
E Hawaiʻi, aloha ē

(hui)
E hauʻoli e nā ʻōpio o Hawaiʻi nei
ʻOli ē! ʻOli ē!
Mai nā aheahe makani e pā mai nei
Mau ke aloha, no Hawaiʻi

TRANSLATION

O Hawaiʻi, O sands of my birth
My native home
I rejoice in the blessings of heaven
O Hawaiʻi, aloha.

(chorus)
Happy youth of Hawaiʻi
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Gentle breezes blow
Love always for Hawaiʻi.