Laurie Anderson - The Bardo lyrics

After death, according to the Tibetan
Book of the Dead
All creatures then spend 49 days
In the Bardo and the
Bardo isn't a place – it's
More like a process, that lasts 49 days, as
The mind dissolves and, as
The Tibetans believe
The consciousness – or let's say
The energy – prepares
To take another life form bleep bleep all
Goes to darkness and the next
Thing you see is your next life a slow
Awakening to this world
Or another world now you are in
Another form without a body

Recognise this

The cities the mountains the rooms
The trees the trains

Optical illusions not there like
Dreams made of nothing

Things you love, just living things
Move with a different speed
They disappear echo repeat
(a different speed) Anger
Turned to liberation earth into
Water water into fire
Fire into air air into consciousness
The many days of silence
And loneliness you are not alone
In leaving this world

At first you don't realise you're dead
But continue doing things you used to do
Looking for things you've lost your
Mind overwhelmed by memories and plans what
Am I? What am I? (looking for your food bowl
And wondering where) recognise this

The monkey mind
My teacher calls it dissolving like
Moonlight in a cloudless sky

Recognise this

You can move through walls

Recognise this, as the play of your own mind

Leave attachment to the things you left

Could I have done this? Could
I have said this?

(get some good food and bring her home)

The long ago fears of childhood no solid
Self the longing after your own happiness
(own happiness) The longing after
Your own happiness
(own happiness) Trapped in your thought flow

Wake up

Wake up

Clocks have stopped once you
Wore that once you
Did that everything you knew
About time, slipping, repeating

Do not be afraid

Like all mornings (just as you say)

Recognise this

Leave behind aggression leave behind passion

Recognise this