Evan A. Warfel
data scientist & writer
misc.translations
Every so often, I get curious about how a creative work feels to speakers of its original language.
To date, the works include:
-
Milton Nascimento's Anima
-
The first verse of Mack The Knife
Beneath those, you will also find a short list of songs that seem to get at the same message but originate in different cultures.
If you have better ideas or suggestions, feel free to contact me.
Anima - Milton Nascimento
My Proposal
as i quest through life,
i continually burnish what my heart,
at its most inspired
saw fit to name
suddenly in cry — soul
traversing the boundaries of dawn and dusk,
each moment, full of beauty, arises
creating and recreating itself.
i’ve had a full life. i gaze calmly on.
soul goes beyond all
that our world dares to perceive
it is a house brimming with courage, life,
and every affection in my being.
i want to see you. i want to be your soul.
my journey is a quest
to polish who I am in this moment, now.
to refresh and rebirth myself, for which I am grateful.
i search for you, soul.
in the open house. where the master lives.
a magician working the clay of light.
inventing color. bringing love to life.
where peace forgets itself.
Original Translation
Polish, all my quest, drama
Polish what my heart
At its most inspired
Saw fit to name
In a cry: Soul
Recreate every beautiful moment
I've already lived too much
Cross the borders of dawn
Look calmly on
Soul go beyond all
That our world dares to perceive
A house full of courage, life
Clean the stain on my being
I want to see you. I want to see you.
Traveling, a constant search
To polish myself, this minute now
To recreate myself, to gratify myself
I search for you, Soul
In the open house where the master lives
The clay of light. Where time is to be found.
Inventing color. And bringing love to life
Where peace forgets itself.
From Beleza Tropical (Brazil Classics Vol 1.), compiled by David Byrne
Mack the Knife - Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weil
The first verse.
Originally from The Threepenny Opera
English Translation
Blitzen / Armstrong / Darrin lyrics
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear,
And he shows them pearly white
Just a jack-knife, has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight.
My Proposal
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear,
And it keeps them in its bite
But just a jack-knife, has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight.
A very short list of roughly culturally equivalent songs
Pairings of songs that don't quite make the cut:
Volare ( Nel blu dipinto di blu), I'm Blue