I came across these great lyrics on The Net - the English translation of the Tamil is below - but I am curious about the first verse and wonder if any 'Catter knows the origin - WHO is "the great Poet" referred to and where can I find the exact text???

Maybe someone can set this translation to some other music too ... (seems to come from a Tamil pop song called "Yaen Isaikku" ???)



ENGLISH LYRICS:

"To each his own will be important,"
The great Poet said in his time,
"But if each of us were to worship only our own towns,
Then the loss is for the entire earth,"

My music must be given two names,
The names of both the East and West,
All music -- the music of different cities,
Of different countries -- must be looked at as one,

Some music is referred to as "pop,"
Some music is referred to as "rock,"
Some music is referred to as "kaameeyam,"
Some music is referred to as "swaastheegam,"
Even though languages are different,
The songs remain the same,
Even when countries are different,
The sky remains the same,
Because of that, my friend, do not see our differences,
Let the creed of all mankind rule this earth,

What was composed by Beethoven is music,
What flowed from Munmurthy is music,
What is sung in the fields is music,
What is beat in the festivals is music,
The music that we sing,
Is the audible form our feelings take,
In the end, all rivers,
Meet with the same ocean,
Is not the song sung by laborers in the field,
A beautiful rain of song?
Is not the moment when a flower blossoms on a rock,
A beautiful rain of song?

found at :
http://www.geocities.com/subashlyrics/archives/p/popcarn02.htm

any takers?
Cheers! R-J