Errm, there is no "and" in the Swedish version but a "so", which I guess could be translated to "then". The word "so" in this position is just common in speach but does not add any meaning. "Deadened" fits feelings according to the web dictionary, but maybe "blunted" is more correct here, when the subject is actions or activities and our views of them.Ursprungligen postat av Barndomsvän
Senast redigerat av Oktjabrj den 2014-05-04 klockan 00:37.
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba-di-di
I know, which is why I said leave the "and" out and change it into; Before the sky falls down, you are all I have. Deadened felt out of place in my opinion, benumbed is more appropriate.
Took the liberty of attempting to translate "Var är vi nu?" for all of our non-swedish speaking friends. I haven't followed the thread before and if it's already been dealt with or if someone felt that they necessarily wanted to do it, I apologize. Feel free to add/make suggestions or straight up correct me.
I saw you dance on the porch
by your best friend's parents summer house
While drunk, we drifted across the bay
Long nights, short days
When synapses extinguish like lights
Only repetitiveness can kill us now
Like thin strings we extend
So where are we now?
And where are we now today?
Does anyone here see a way back?
What you mean to me
What I mean to you
What we mean to each other
You wake up
Your youth has vanished
In the mirror you look like shit
And everything that once was so simple
Has become so difficult
As always, music is my refuge
The only place where I am myself
A place with simple, unwavering rules
Where the grand dreams are law
So where are we now?
And where are we now today?
Does anyone here see a way back?
What you mean to me
What I mean to you
Does anyone here know?
So where are we now?...
And where are we now today?...
And where are we now today?...
So where are we now?...
And where are we now today?...
And where are we now today?...
I realize now how difficult it is to give the lyrics justifiable translations without ruining that special feeling they convey.
Edit: Thanks to Oktjabrj for valid corrections.
Senast redigerat av Barndomsvän den 2014-05-04 klockan 01:23.
Two suggestions:
"While drunk, we drifted across the bay"
"In the mirror you look like shit"
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba-di-di
Can definitely agree with the former. But is it okay if I add the second suggestion as a compliment to the other, because I'm quite comfortable with "reflection" in this scenario, so that others can give their input on which they prefer?
Yes, could be, I think "my reflection" sounds strange in English. Think of these lyrics:
Well, I caught my eye in the mirror
And gave it a long and loving inspection
"There stands some kind of man", I roared
And there did, in the reflection
(from Nick Cave, O'Malley's bar)
Ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba-di-di
Fair enough, I'll make the correction.
Morning guys! Thanks Barndomsvän and Oktjabrj for your help, I have removed the 'and's that you suggested, and changed 'deadened' to blunted (that line I struggled to find a good translation for) I didn't use benumbed, simply because it's too uncommon a word in english.
Also, thanks for your translation of Var är vi nu, which I haven't read (sorry), simply because I will also translate it myself (and I want to do it with no influence in my choice of words)- I use lyrics translation (and Jocke's forum posts) as homework to myself to keep the swedish fresh in my brain! I will, however look at it once I have done my version. No harm in having 2 versions.
We do use 'my reflection' in english, so it's not an unacceptable/ unused phrase (but I can't say in the context of the song if it works or not yet). For example "I saw my reflection in the water" or "My reflection stared back at me" but depending on the context maybe you would need to use some sort of 'setting or location' to make sure it was clear "I stood by the lake and saw my reflection in the water" or "In the old, cracked mirror one hundred versions of my reflection stared back at me".
(that one came out more poetic than it was in my head, clearly all this lyric reading is making me think differently!)
Hope that helps explain. Just wanted to quickly post before I go to work and thank you guys. I'll hopefully have more translations tonight
Senast redigerat av stjärnor den 2014-05-04 klockan 08:18.
coloursatnight
Thanks! I will keep an eye on that. In the past, I have had the same ordering experience you described, where Amazon will say it's released on a certain day, then that day passes and they postpone the release date over and over again. Maybe I will have good luck this time.
Still, it is 2014 and I don't understand why they can't just make the album available on iTunes or Spotify worldwide on the same day.
Here is my version of Var är vi nu. It will be interesting looking up at barndonvän's version and seeing where we differ!
Regarding the 'reflection' thing - 'Your reflection' would have worked ok in the context here, (certainly to a native english speaker, that may be because of familiarity with the shortened version on the phrase though) but I added 'in the mirror' just for clarity anyway.
And there doesn't seem to be a direct link to the lyrics for Var är vi nu at kent.nu in the side bar with the rest of the songs, but a quick google found me: http://kent.nu/var-ar-vi-nu/ and if anyone is looking for the original lyrics pages at kent.nu it's best to find them from the home page, as all the links (to the new songs) in the sidebar don't appear on every page. It might just be taking the site a few days to index all the new page updates...?
Var är vi nu- Where are we now
I see you dance on the veranda
by your best friends' parent's summer house
We glided drunk over the bay
in a stolen boat
Long nights, short days
Where synapses are switched off like lights
Only repetition can kill us
Like thin threads which are stretched out
So where are we now
So where are we now today
Is there anyone here who sees a way back
What you mean to me
What I mean to you
What we mean to each other
You wake up, your youth has gone
Your reflection in the mirror looks like shit
And everything which was so simple before
has become so difficult
As always, I escape to the music
The only place where I am myself
A place with simple straight rules
Where those great dreams are law
So where are we now
So where are we now today
Is there anyone here who sees a way back
What you mean to me
What I mean to you
Is there anyone here who knows
coloursatnight
I think this is the last song translation from the album, doing them out of track order hasn't helped things!
Anyway, I need to thank D & ET on twitter, and DanielO, Oktjabrj & barndomsvän on this thread for helping me perfect these translations. Your time & 'swedish lessons' were much appreciated!
Svart snö - Black snow
When it feels like you have waited since you were a child
For something to happen, for close contact of some sort
When it feels as if you did everything, said everything but got no answers
When it feels as if your best isn't good enough
When the dams break and you hold back a flood
When reality shakes and black snow flows in your blood
They say: Everything will be better for time heals all wounds
It is political propaganda from the iron curtain
If you feel like I do, put your hands in the air
There are more than you & I
Who have lost something we love in the fire
More than you & I
Who dance for ourselves in the dark
As if there was no tomorrow
I don't want to be alone
But who wants to be alone
And this is no nightmare, this is no phase
This is something which happens every single day
It feels as if we awoke suddenly in some sort of twilight
We are the living dead, stumbling forward hand in hand
And everyone here wants to lead
But we follow blindly anyway
In the light from small screens fear slowly creeps in
Over the streets and squares when the shops have closed
Up the walls, through the windows and down in our beds
If you feel like I do, put your hands in the air
There are more than you & I
Who have lost something we love in the fire
More than you & I
Who dance for ourselves in the dark
As if there was no tomorrow...
They say love is a drug, I take any shit whatsoever
But if love is a drug, it is not the drug for me
You know how I feel, yes, I feel like you
I love your money, your money loves me
I love your money, who doesn't want to be rich?
I want to travel and see the world, who wants an ordinary life?
But I just love the money because money makes me free
Take me to the chorus now
Oh, do you recognise yourself?
There are more than you & I
Who have lost something we love in the fire
More than you & I
Who dance for ourselves in the dark
As if there was no tomorrow
I don't want to be alone
But who wants to be alone
Senast redigerat av stjärnor den 2014-05-05 klockan 06:35. Anledning: Fixing!
coloursatnight
The line is
'Och alla här vill leda'
which means
'And everyone here wants to lead'
Don't know if you misheard or misread the line, but 'directions' is not correct.
Other than that - my compliments on your language skills!
I think I originally translated it as 'everyone wants to be led' and went back and on my re-read through I tidied up some words/ phrases and changed that to directions. A silly mistake- twice!
Thanks again
coloursatnight
Liking the translations, seems to have a tinge of the sort of a twilight of the innocents to some degree. Very cool anyway!
Sorry if I interrupt your translations... But i just want to stress the fact i have been having TG in the car since Monday last week and I cannot stop listening to it. That's it
Roll on Saturday!!! I cannot possibly wait.
Not sure about the pink t-shirt... i was kind of expecting that would have been the colour but hey! I will just have to buy it and wear it
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