Lyrics
“The Glittering Garden"
Narrator: Half-mad and disorientated from the strange echoes of the cave still ringing in his ears, Gilgamesh finally emerges just as the sun descends into the other side of the tunnel. His eyes adjusting to an eerie twilight, he enters a garden of trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers all bursting with the colours of jewels. He lets his hands brush against the blossoms of lapis lazuli, carnelian, amethyst, sapphire, emerald. The glittering garden brings joy briefly to his senses, but this is not the place for him to remain. And so he walks on, untempted, blinded by his determination.
Meanwhile, in the distance ahead of him, a woman named Siduri cleans out a brewing vat in front of the tavern that she keeps. It is at the edge of the world where one can make out... the Waters of Death from the cliff just behind the tavern. You may well wonder who her clientele could have been in such a place, but that is a tale for another time.
Now she looks up and sees in the distance a form full of motion, arms whipping the air, legs striding with purpose....towards her, she thinks, towards her...and with menace! By the gods! She runs back into the tavern and bolts the door. She hears him shouting his name and Enkidu's, shouting her name, and shouting the name of Utanapishtim. Siduri looks down from the rooftop. She sees Gilgamesh, his terrible aspect, his fists clenched, ready to strike her very door down!
Siduri
Gilgamesh: Why do you run off from me?
Do you think any door of yours could bar me?
Siduri: What do you want?
G: You'll need so much more!
S: What do you... ah!
G: Listen, you can't turn away
S: Why won't you leave me be?
G: Now that you're looking closer, what do you see?
S: I see fear
G: Open up your door, death comes for me!
S: (mockingly) It comes for you, yes, only you!
Do you think you’ve thought this through?
Don’t stand in the doorway and sigh
Rest now, let your troubles go by
G: I have been burnt by the sun coming here
S: Everlasting life,
G: Nights I was chilled right to the bone
S: everything that you want,
G: You know I have come through enough to make clear
S: is leading you down a dark path
G: I get what’s mine and mine alone
S: where you leave behind all who’d give you their love
G: How can you say this so calmly to me?
S: You who take by force
G: Do you think I will hold my peace?
S: everything that you want,
G: I’ve got a feeling this anxiety
S: so badly and madly you grieve
G: is something you can release
S: till you leave behind all who’d give you their love,
all who’d love you....
Listen to me!
You may only drink of now
The past is a cup that’s empty
Our time ends, it’s always too near
Dance with me while we are here
Nothing’s been lost but your moorings
Your love remains, Gilgamesh,
So now go and give your life to her
S: Love the child who comes for your hand
G: Your words are strange, what do you know of me?
You just arrange my crossing of the sea!
S: You’ll understand immortal life
G: I know that's where it is: Immortal life!
S: Why do you want such a lonely way to live?
G: You do not make any sense!
You can do nothing for me, so show me the way
to that immortal man
S: Cross the faithless sea
G: Utanapishtim!
S: Take the boat down there
G: Utanapishtim!
S: Just go!