The Most Beautiful Song

There were two simple notes
but one grand symphony--
that's how we found each other,
and together we made
a most beautiful song.

So soft and so quiet
and chosen with love,
but what would the song sound like
if one note all at once

were gone?

I breathe in, and I breathe out;
I let my eyes open and close;
and I hear all the singing
and all of the music:
none of it sounds like you.

It pops and spits,
it bends and breaks,
it howls and hisses,
burns and stings.

And everything's fine,
though the world's going wrong,
because it just keeps on turning without you,
yes, it does keep on turning without you.

I breathe in, then I breathe out;
I let my eyes open and close;
and I hear all the singing
and all of the music:
none it sounds like you.
No, not at all like you.

And so on days like these days--
one like today, when I feel so alone--
while I am singing here for so many people,
my only wish is that you would be there.

There are two simple notes,
here in my fantasy,
and together they make
the most beautiful song.
Yes, we're still the most beautiful song.

Words and music by Anna Depenbusch
Translated by Frank Beck

One of my favorite songs from the singer/songwriter's latest album, Das Alphabet der Anne Depenbusch. As Karla Letterman says in her article about an April 2018 concert, 'Anna Depenbusch walks out on stage, takes a seat at the grand piano, gets started--and you're in the middle. In the middle of life.'

• VIDEO: Anna Depenbusch sings the song for TV Noir
• VIDEO: Depenbusch sings 'Stadt Land Fluss' (with translation)
• The song's German lyrics
• Karla Letterman on a Depenbusch concert in April 2018 (in German)
• My 2015 profile of Anna Depenbusch