Philip Glass Akhnaten/Act 1. Prelude. Refrain, Verse 1, Verse 2 Lyrics

ACT I: YEAR 1 OF AKHNATEN'S REIGN - THEBES
PRELUDE
The opera begins with an orchestral Prelude. The curtain rises towards the end of the Prelude, revealing the Scribe in the funeral setting. He delivers the Refrain, Verse 1 and Verse 2 of the text as the Prelude is completed. In the moments of silence before the funeral begins, he continues his speech through Verse 3.

Text: Recited by the Scribe (from the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom)

Refrain
Open are the double doors of the horizon
Unlocked are its bolts
Verse 1
Clouds darken the sky
The stars rain down
The constellations stagger
The bones of the hell hounds tremble
The porters are silent
When they see this king
Dawning as a soul
Refrain
(repeat above)
Verse 2
Men fall
Their name is not
Seize thou this king by his arm
Take this king to the sky
That he not die on earth
Among men
Refrain
(repeat above)