Lyric

Oh, woman, child…

…accustomed to play…

With the gaze of tender eyes…

…and the caress of a kiss…

I should despise you…

…with all my heart…

But I love you…

…trembling and longing!

I love, I reach for you…

…forgive and love…

I live by you alone…

…in my passionate torment…

For your whim… I’d give my soul…

Take it all… take everything…

For the glance of your beautiful eyes…

For the false words…

…that are sweeter than truth…

For the sweet longing…

…of rapturous torment!

Violin solo with clarinet and oriental percussion

You, a sea of strange dreams…

…of sounds and lights…

You, friend and eternal foe…

Evil spirit and… kind genius!

You, pain and… light…

…you—flame and calm…

With you I have fallen…

…and risen again with you…

A-a-a… mmm…

High male vocals rise from baritone whisper to soaring tenor, layered with backing vocals

For your whim… I’d give my soul…

Take it all… take everything…

For the glance of your beautiful eyes…

For the false words…

…that are sweeter than truth…

For the sweet longing…

…of rapturous torment!