Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
There is no refuge
I have found the word that does not save
There is no refuge in the rock or stone
There is no refuge in the wind or other forces of nature
The fire especially, especially does not, not save
The fire only destroys
And though it may purify
It takes, takes, takes
And gives Nihil back
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
And the holy books, alas, have not, will not
Alas, can not save Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
This is the chorus of the wind
The sun, the moon, the waters, all blue, all green or stagnant
"Nihil", they sing
Nihil the inmost light
Nihil, Nihil the inmost light
Nihil, Nihil the inmost night, Nihil
Finally the child aged, dies and sings "Nihil"
This swansong towards nothing
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
We need not, not, not blow out the candle
Nihil, Nihil
It dies anyhow
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Nihil, call me Nihil, Nihil
The stars are so far
I had thought not but Nihil, but Nihil
The great king is dead
The great queen is dead
Their child stillborn
And so Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
They call the inmost night
But hear Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
I felt I saw you coming over the water
Without you, I am nothing
And still I see you
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
In the room where
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
The wineglass shattered in the box
I gave it to you
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Shattered
Nihil
I thought I saw you waving to me over the bay
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
You waved
Nihil
Say to one another
Your mouth opens and
Nihil, Nihil
"Bend your face to kiss", you said, Nihil
"Bend your arms to hold", you said, Nihil
And Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
There is nothing there
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
"Bend your face to kiss" you said
The waters arise and take me finally
And my remembrance is
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil, Nihil
Nihil, Nihil, Nihil