Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
Kurt Elling
This song is a musical setting for Theodore Roethke’s poem “The Waking.” The lyrics consist of the entire poem, in full, exactly as composed by Roethke. (In some of Elling’s performances, the last line is dropped from the lyrics.)
[Verse 1]
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear
I learn by going where I have to go
[Verse 2]
We think by feeling, what is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow
[Verse 3]
Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the ground, I shall walk softly there
And learn by going where I have to go
[Verse 4]
Light takes the tree, but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up the winding stair
I wake to sleep, I wake to sleep, I wake to sleep
[Bridge]
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow
[Verse 5]
Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air
And lovely, learn by going where to go
Lovely, learn by going where to go
[Verse 6]
This shaking keeps me steady, I should know
What falls away is always and is near
I wake to sleep, I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow
I wake to sleep and take my waking slow
I learn by going where I have to go
[Outro]
I wake to sleep, I wake to sleep, I wake to sleep
The Waking was written by Kurt Elling & Theodore Roethke.