Night Chorus - John Adams

Is not the night restless for them?

Smoke detectors and burglar alarms

Go off without reason, the taped voice

Unwinds in the widow’s backyard

No one bothers to look up from his work

Elijah will return, the Jews believe

The Antichrist condemn, the Messiah

Judge;

the dead, the wicked and the good

Will be distinguished, the world consume

And be renewed.

Even the man

Who lies awake in dread will be distinguished

The lights of the world burn around the clock

He guesses how much is lost

Dwellers in Paradise look at each other

As one looks at the planets in the sky

And a man may say something

In ignorance, please God, and be saved

Or, equally, be damned.

Even he

Rejoices;

and is in his element

I am afraid for myself, for myself, for myself