[Intro] [Very sparse piano] [Single distant violin note] [Muted room ambience] [Female contralto, almost spoken] Why am I here... What did I do wrong? [Verse 1] [Slow cabaret pulse enters] [Low, intimate vocal] Why am I here, what did I do wrong? Why is my heart not beating strong? Why in my ears does the orchestra play, Like an old radio, so far away? Why does all this happen with my life? What should I do to end this strife? The orchestra plays inside my ears, And tells me something I cannot hear. [Instrumental Turnaround] [Piano walks downward] [Muted trumpet answers violin] [Very restrained] [Verse 2] [More conversational delivery] Still I cannot understand What is the reason for this day? I have to learn to understand, To read the notes between the lines. [Brief pause] Perhaps the music knows the way... Perhaps it knows what I cannot say. [Chorus] [Strings gently widen] [Female vocal slightly stronger, but never belted] Why am I here, what did I do wrong? Why is my heart not beating strong? Why in my ears does the orchestra play, Like an old radio, so far away? Why does all this happen with my life? What should I do to end this strife? The orchestra plays inside my ears... And I am still here. [Instrumental Interlude] [Violin melody over piano] [Muted brass very distant] [No vocal] [4–6 bars] [Verse 3] [Arrangement becomes almost bare again] The days are crawling, one by one, But still they're faster than I am. The days are running past my bed, While I am lying here instead. The blankets and the pillows cover me, And softly, softly erase my memory. [Small breath / pause] I watch the ceiling... It watches me. [Chorus] [More intimate than before] Why am I here, what did I do wrong? Why is my heart not beating strong? Why in my ears does the orchestra play, Like an old radio, so far away? Why does all this happen with my life? What should I do to end this strife? The orchestra plays inside my ears... And I am still here. [Bridge] [Music almost stops] [Only piano and solo violin] Maybe there is meaning Hidden in the sound. Maybe all the answers Are somewhere underground. Maybe I should listen... Maybe I should wait... [Long pause] But the orchestra keeps playing, And I am still awake. [Final Chorus] [Very restrained crescendo] [Deep, tired, almost detached] Why am I here... What did I do wrong? Why is my heart Not beating strong? Why in my ears Does the orchestra play, Like an old radio So far away? Why does all this happen With my life? What should I do To end this strife? [Final line almost whispered] The orchestra plays... [Instrumental Outro] [Slow piano descending] [One lonely violin phrase] [Muted trumpet fades in the distance] [Room ambience remains] [Whisper] ...and I am still here.
