« Between Worlds » is a suite in five movements that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. The original draft eventually became what now constitutes « Departure, » the introductory section of the whole composition.
A few years later, after discovering Buddhism, I acquired an edition of « The Tibetan Book of the Dead » (« Bardo Thodol » in Tibetan) which I read with great interest, and wholeheartedly recommend. At that point, I had already toyed with the idea of extending the song to include a hint at after-death, and the book provided both the inspiration and substance needed to turn the piece into a suite intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture.
The composition begins with an illustration of physical decay, presented as a plea for euthanasia coming from someone in the throes of a degenerative illness. This depiction is followed by dissolution and passage into the successive « between worlds, » or intermediate states (« bardos » in Tibetan), finally leading to rebirth.
The lyrics to « Departure » follow below. Although they work in their current form, I'm not totally convinced that telling this part of the story from the vantage point of the dying is the wisest way to proceed, so the words might go through a complete overhaul before they receive the « Definitive » stamp and get recorded.
Talk to me, tell me it's you Clear sight has gone astray All is dark outside and in I’m sure glad you made it today
No word still of even a slight chance It gets harder every day I feel it won't be long before It takes my mind away
Is there a point in trying to find Reasons to keep going ? I’ve seen a lot through this lifetime of mine No fear of death keeps me waiting
What’s left for me but this life of dependence And fading memories of freedom ? I do accept that my time here is up I want to know where we all go
Don't be sad my friend This life is all behind me Stay on for a while Listen to my plea
Don’t be mad my friend There’s not much that we can do I’m reaching the end Just help me through
I trust you can understand what I'm going through This body, numb, is a jail I know it’s no easy task that I ask of you Promise me that you won’t fail
Don't be sad my friend This life is all behind me Take me to the end With dignity
Please be strong my friend Give me the shot that’ll kill me Save me all this pain Do it for me
