No, no, no — this isn’t another post about Tagore’s greatness or his influence on Bengali or South Asian life. There are books, lectures, and institutions for that.
This is something smaller, more personal.
It’s about a song my daughter learned when she was in middle school — My Song by Rabindranath Tagore.
Now, there’s nothing unusual about that in itself. Most Bengali girls her age learn a Rabindra Sangeet or two. But this one stood out for a simple reason — its language. It wasn’t Bengali. It was English.
Listen to the song here:
And yet, it carried the same fragrance of tenderness and quiet devotion that all of Tagore’s songs seem to hold.
Today, I stumbled upon a recording of her practising that song — her young voice, a little unsure but full of feeling. It brought everything rushing back.
In My Song, Tagore doesn’t speak to the world; he speaks to the soul. He writes of art as something pure — free of ornament, pride, or decoration. He imagines his song as a bride who sheds her jewels, choosing simplicity over grandeur. That image stays with you — because it feels like a reflection of life itself.
The poem carries a quiet prayer too. Tagore asks for his life to be made simple, so that divine music can pass through him. Perhaps that’s true for all of us — if only we can make ourselves still and simple enough to let it flow.
For many, My Song isn’t just about poetry or music. It’s about surrender. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t need to be loud — and that what comes from the heart never fades.
The most widely sung version of Rabindranath Tagore’s poem “My Song” around the world is the English translation that begins: “This song of mine will wind its music around you, my child, like the fond arms of love.” This version has been adapted into choral music and performed internationally, both in classical and contemporary forms. Prominent modern renditions include Alan Bullard’s choral arrangement “My Song (This Song of Mine),” sung by choirs in festivals and concerts globally. Tagore’s own English translation and poetic text remain the basis for most musical adaptations, making it the version most recognized beyond India.
Thank you for stopping by and spending a few moments here. I hope this song finds its way into your day — softly, like a quiet prayer.
Do visit again — there’s always another story waiting to be told.
Here is the most loved version of this poem —
“This song of mine will wind its music around you, my child, like the fond arms of love.
The song of mine will touch your forehead like a kiss of blessing.
When you are alone it will sit by your side and whisper in your ear,
When you are in a crowd it will fence you about with aloofness.
My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams,
It will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.
It will be like the faithful star overhead
when darkness is deep in your soul.
My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes,
and will carry your sight into the heart of things.
And when my voice is silenced in death,
my song will speak in your living heart.”
