NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31

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Newsgroups: alt.music.enya Path: sparky!uunet!microsoft!hexnut!lylec From: lylec@microsoft.com (Lyle Corbin) Subject: Here they are - Re: ... are translations available? (Long) Message-ID: <1992Dec30.220842.12532@microsoft.com> Date: 30 Dec 92 22:08:42 GMT Organization: Microsoft Corporation References: <42899@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> Lines: 751 You asked this (common) question at just the right time, since I was just ready to post this to USENET. Please send me comments & etc. -------- ------------- L Y L E lylec@microsoft.com ------------- -------- =========================================================================== English Translations of _The Celts_, _Watermark_, and _Shepherd Moons_. =========================================================================== The following is a compilation of translations taken primarily from USENET postings. In the cases where multiple translations existed, I tried to pick the phrases that made the most (English) sense, and which flowed together the best. The choice was often arbitrary, and not being a speaker of Irish (or Gaelic), Latin, or Welsh, I was not able to make my own judgements regarding the accuracy of translation. Your comments, suggestions, and corrections are welcome. Some of the songs have the lyrics compacted, where repeated phrases are only listed once. There are several songs, such as Ebudae, where when listening to the song it sounds like lyrics beyond what's printed are being sung. If anyone is willing to transcribe any such lyrics (and, possibly, translate) then send them to me for inclusion into this document. Please be sure to send me both the original language text (with accents (fada) as appropriate) and the translation if you do. (Information telling me that there is nothing there to translate would be useful too.) Finally, if anyone has editions of songs which were released on singles only, (i.e. not translated here) then feel free to send me transcriptions and translations for those as well. Enjoy! -------- ------------ L Y L E C O R B I N lylec@microsoft.com ------------ -------- P.S. If you happen to read this using a proportional font, the accents will not appear correct. Use a fixed font instead. ============================== THE CELTS ================================== The text for this album was taken from the liner on a Japanese release by Jagg Groeg (crow@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au) Translations for these songs were provided by Fidelma McGinn. Thanks! The mystical incantations throughout the songs were not translated as they have no English equivalent. ------------------------------ THE CELTS ---------------------------------- Hi-ri, Hi-ro, Hi-ri. Hoireann is O, ha hi, ra ha, ra ho ra. Hoireann is O, ha hi, ra ha, ra ha ra. Hi-ri, Hi-ra, Hi-ri. Saal na saol Life , , Tus ga Deireadh Beginning without an end , Ta muid Beo We are alive , Da Deo. Forever Saal na saol Life , , Tus ga Deireadh Beginning without an end , Ta muid Beo We are alive , Da Deo. Forever Hi-ri, Hi-ra, Hi-ri, Hoireann is O, ho hi, ra ha, ra ha ra. Repeat. ------------------------------ ALDEBARAN ---------------------------------- (Dedicated to Ridley Scott) Codladh Fada Long Sleep Codladh Domhain Deep Sleep , , Eirigh! Amharc sios Rise! Look down Aldebaran. (Apparently the name of a star.) , , , Siul liom tri an realta dearg. Walk with me through the red stars Deireadh, deireadh an Turas The end, end of the journey , , , , Realtog, realtog dearg. Small stars, small red stars ---------------------------- I WANT TOMORROW ------------------------------ Dawn breaks; there is blue in the sky. Your face before me though I don't know why. Thoughts disappearing like tears from the moon. Waiting here; as I sit by the stone They came before me, those men from the sun. Signs from the heavens say I am the one. Chorus Now I know; I can see your light, this light that I must follow, You -- you could take my life away -- so far away. Now I know; I must leave your spell -- I want tomorrow. (The above lyrics for the chorus are taken from those printed in the sleeve of the Japanese pressing by Jimco Records: following are the words which are almost undoubtably those actually sung) Chorus Now you're here; I can see your light, this light that I must follow, You -- you may take my life away -- so far away. Now I know; I must leave your spell -- I want tomorrow. -------------------------- MARCH OF THE CELTS ----------------------------- Hi-ra-U-O Bea-Go-Deo. Alive for ever Hi-ri-U-O Marbh-Go-Deo. Dead for ever -------------------------- DEIREADH AN TUATH ------------------------------ , Si an Ghealach, It is the Moon Mall san oiche, Slow in the night , Si an Ghrian It is the Sun , Fan liom go Deo. Stay with me for ever Hoireann is O Hi O Ho ra Ha. , Si na Samhna It is November (1) , Tus na Bliain Ur, The beginning of the New Year , Si an Chrann Marbh It's the dead tree Deireadh an Tua. The end of the rainbow. Hoireann is O Ho O Ho ro Ho. Haireann is O Ho O Ho ro Ho. Notes: (1) Samhna is a version of Samhan which is the name given to the first day of November. This day was a very large feast in pagan, esp. Celtic, tradition. Indeed, the Irish word for November is Samhain. It was one of the most important festivals of the year. Oiche Samhna is the Irish for Halloween. (Aidan Hollinshead) -------------------------- TRIAD : ST. PATRICK ---------------------------- Lyrics Traditional (Translation) Give me your love, The true Son of God. Give me strength, The clear bright sun. Repeat. ^ ------------------------------ DAN Y DWR ---------------------------------- This is the Welsh language spoken in Wales in the British Isles. Any Welsh speakers out there willing to provide a translation? ^ Dan y dwr, taweluck sydd ^ Dan y dwr, galwaf i Nid yw'r cum gyda fi. ^ Dan y dwr, taweluch am byth, ^ Dan y dwr, galwaf i. ^ Nid yw'r swm ddim fwy gyda fi. ============================== WATERMARK ================================== --------------------------- CURSUM PERFICIO ------------------------------- Cursum perficio I complete my journey (or my path) Verbum sapienti The word of the wise Quo plus habent The more they have [of it] (1) Eo plus cupiunt The more they want [it] Post nubila, Phoebus After the clouds, Phoebus [the god Sun] (2) Iternum (3) Notes: (1) My guess is that the thing "they" want in the 3rd and 4th lines is in fact the 'word of the wise' mentioned in the 2nd line, which, by the way, would also be in the correct case of the declination. (2) Phoebus was one of the names for the Sun god, which may be more famous as Apollo (Greek). It is notable that the Sun is a male. (3) The word 'iternum' does not exist; it could either be a misspelling for 'eternum' (eternal), which is unlikely since it is very rare that an adjective be used as an adverb, or for 'iterum' (again and again) which is in fact an adverb and makes a little more sense (!!). Finally, the meaning of 'cursum perficio' is actually best explained by the footnote to the lyrics: Enya was inspired by these words she saw on Marylin Monroe's last house, where they were taken to mean "my journey ends here". It is a rather "free" translation, but it's probably a very good way to convey the meaning of Latin, which has a way of saying things that is very distant from modern-day English. The fact that those words turned out to be prophetical only adds to the power of the song. Translation by Mauro Cicognini (gin001@cdc835.cdc.polimi.it) --------------------------- STORMS IN AFRICA ------------------------------ , , , Ca fhad e o How far is it from? , , Siul trid na stoirmeacha. Walk through the storms , Dul trid na stoirmeacha. Going through the storms , , , Ca fhad e o How far is it from? , An tus don stoirm. The beginning of the storm , An tus go deiradh. The start to the end , , Tog do Chroi. Take your heart , , Tog do chroisa. Take your beloved , Turas mor. Long Journey , Tor trid na Stoirmeacha. Heavy through the storm Turas fada. Long Journey , Amharc trid na Stoirmeacha. Look through the Storm Translation by Fidelma McGinn. ------------------------ STORMS IN AFRICA (Part II) ----------------------- Though I walk through warm sands in Africa winds will grow soon to storms in Africa. How far to go I cannot say. How many more will journey this way? Dark skies fall on black earth and ivory. Far from your sun clouds now close over me. How far to go I cannot say. How many more will journey this way? Storms have come! rains wash the earth away Dark skies fall down into another day. Rains have now come from storms in Africa Time will go on through Storms in Africa Transcription by Jagg Groeg (crow@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au) ---------------------------- THE LONGSHIPS -------------------------------- Hi-ri-u (Incantations not translated) Ho-ro-ho Ho-ri-u Him-o-ro-ho Hoireann is oro , Ta muid beo We are alive Him oro ho Go Deo na ndeor Always tears /crying Translation by Fidelma McGinn. ------------------------ NA LAETHA GEAL M'OIGE ---------------------------- , Na laetha geal m'oige The bright days of my youth ---------------------- ----------------------------- , , (In omos do mo m'athair agus do m'atair) (In honor of my father and mother) , , Ag amharc tre m'oige Looking back over my youth , , , Is me bhi samh I see I was contented Gan eolas marbh Without knowledge of death , , , Bhi me og san am, I was young then , Anois, taim buartha Now I am worried , , 's fad ar shiuil an la. During the course of the day. , , , Ochon 's ochon o. (Oh sorrow!) [Alas and woe, oh.] , Na laetha geal m'oige The bright days of my youth , , , Bhi siad lan de dhochas Were full of hope , , An bealach mor a bhi romham anonn The big road that was before us then , , , , , Bhi se i ndan domh go mbeinn, slan, slan. Was what was destined to be, Bye bye... (Repeat refrain) Text taken from translations by: Anne-Marie Curtis, posted by kirsten@morgan.ucs.mun.ca Dennis Foley (dfoley@bbn.com) ============================ SHEPHERD MOONS =============================== Comments on the inspiration and meaning of these songs can be found in the sheet music for this album. These comments are available as the Enya Papers #22. ----------------------- HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? ---------------------- A verse is missing from the printed words on "How Can I Keep From Singing?" The lyrics are all correct except after the second verse ("Through all the tumult and the strife...") add this verse: While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth it liveth. And though the darkness 'round me close, Songs in the night it giveth. No storm can shake my in-most calm While to that rock I'm clinging. Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth, How can I keep from singing? Transcription by Jagg Groeg (crow@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au) (But you can get the words just by listening carefully!) Note: There are several words that are a bit difficult to determine exactly what they are, but Jagg points out (and I agree) that of the possibilities, the ones here make the most sense. - Lyle --------------------------------- EBUDAE ---------------------------------- , , , Amharc, mna ag obair la's mall san oich, Look, women working by day and late , at night, Ceolann siad ar laetha geal, a bhi, They sing of bright days that were, , Bealach fada anonn's anall a choich. A long way back and forth forever. Translation by Dr. N. Stenson, posted by David Saranen (saranen@ux.acs.umn.edu) Notes: "Ebudae" is a term that deals with sounds. The last line seems to contain a misprint, since the phrase is definitely "anonn is anall", not "annon ...". (Aidan Hollinshead) ---------------------------- BOOK OF DAYS --------------------------------- , , , O oiche go hoiche, mo thuras, From night to night, my journey, An bealach fada romham. The long pilgrimage before me. , , , O la go la, mo thuras, From day to day, my journey, , , na scealta na mbeidh a choich. The stories that will be forever. Translation by Dave Allum (ccsdra@gdr.bath.ac.uk) --------------------- BOOK OF DAYS (English Version) ---------------------- One day, one night, one moment My dreams could be tomorrow One step, one fall, one falter East or West, Over earth or by ocean One way to be my journey This way could be my Book of Days No day, no night, no moment Can hold me back from trying One flag, one fall, one falter I'll find my day maybe Far and Away Far and Away One day, one night one moment With a dream to be leaving One step, one fall, one falter Find a new world across a wide ocean This way became my journey This day brings together Far and Away This day brings together Far and Away Far and Away. Posted by Martin Falatic (falatic@mentor.cc.purdue.edu) and possibly others. Notes: This version was produced for and released with the soundtrack for the movie "Far and Away", starring Tom Cruise & Nicole Kidman. This version of the song has been released in place of the original version in recent pressings of _Shepherd Moons_. ---------------------------- AFER VENTUS ---------------------------------- Afer Ventus African Wind Mare nubium. Umbriel. Sea of clouds. Umbriel. (1) Mare imbrium. Ariel. Sea of showers. Ariel. Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. (2) Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. Mare undarum. Io. Vela. Sea of waves. Io. Vela. (3) Mirabile dictu. Mirabilia. Amazing to say. Marvellous. (4) Mirabile visu. Mirabilia. Amazing to see. Wonderful. Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. Sempervirent. Rosetum. Always fresh. Rosetum. (5) (6) Afer Ventus. Zephyrus. African Wind. Zephyrus. (7) Volturnus. Africus. Volturnus. Africus. (8) (9) Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. Et itur ad astra. And we go to the stars. Etesiarum. Eurus. Etesians. Eurus. (10) (11) Running verse: Suus cuique mos. Suum cuique. Each has its own habits. Each its own. Meus mihi, suus cuique carus. Mine to me, its own to each is dear. (12) Mememto, terrigena. Remember, [life is] earth-born. (13) Mememto, vita brevis. Remember, life is brief. Meus mihi, suus cuique carus. Mine to me, its own to each is dear. Notes: (1) Proper names I'm guessing--Umbriel, Ariel, Io, Vela. (2) This is tough. "itur" is a poetic form, apparently. The phrase may mean "without end" or "eternal". (Larry) 'Et itur ad astra' means 'And we go to the stars'. There is no way of putting into English the "impersonal" meaning of 'itur' which is actually the third person singular of the passive indicative present tense (sorry, but I do not really know how English scholars refer to tenses, hope it's clear enough) of the verb 'ire' which means 'to go'. Since 'to go' cannot possibly be passive (I am gone?) the passive mode is taken to sound as done by everybody and nobody in particular at the same time, really like something that gets done but without specifying by whom. (Mauro) This phrase has been bothering me for some time - I was sure I'd seen it or something like it before. Eventually I found it. There is a phrase in Virgil's Aeniad which reads 'sic itur ad astra' which the translator noted as having the literal meaning 'thus you shall go to the stars' but the poetic, metaphorical meaning 'thus is immortality gained'. So substituting 'et' (and, also) for 'sic' (thus, therefore) the translation might read along the lines of 'and you shall go to the stars' or, perhaps, 'and you shall live forever'. (Unknown) (3) 'Vela' refers to a boat's sail. It may well be a proper name, though. (Mauro) (4) "mirabilia" (neuter plural) means literally "marvellous things"; translated as the singular and differently--English likes to vary. (5) "sempervirent" == "evergreen". (6) I don't know how to translate "Rosetum"--a proper name or "rose garden", which seems unlikely. (7) Zephyrus is a warm west wind. (8) Volturnus is a "river(?) in Campania", according to Cassell's Latin dictionary. I don't understand the reference. (9) Africus is the south-west storm-rain wind. (10) The Etesians are winds that blow 40 days each year around the "dog days". "Etesiarum" is a general term for swirling winds "tease"ing each other. Eurus is the East wind; hence "Europe." NOTE--In Carribean Blue, the wind "Boreas" is mentioned; it refers to the North Wind; hence the Aurora Borealis. (Graham) (11) Eurus is the south-east wind. (12) This is almost impossible to translate into English without doing damage to word order. "mine is dear to me, its/his/her own is dear to each." (13) "terrigena" is literally "earth-born creature," formed from the word for land, "terra", and race or kind, "genus." (Graham) -- It is apparent that most of Enya's Latin lyrics have been influenced by Virgil's Aeneid, since many of her phrases are those used by Virgil. (Aidan) Notes without an author indicated are by Larry Jordan. Translation and notes by: Larry M. Jordan (jordan@aero.org) Mauro Cicognini (gin001@cdc835.cdc.polimi.it) Aidan Hollinshead (year3-37@midir.ucd.ie) Graham at the University of Delaware (Address lost) An unknown poster. ------------------------------- SMAOINTE ---------------------------------- Smaointe Thoughts , , , (D'Aodh Agus Do Mhaire Ui Dhugain) (To my maternal grandmother) Literally: "For Hugh and Mary Duggan" , , Eist le mo chroi, Listen to my heart, , , Go bronach a choich Forever sad , , , Ta me cailte gan tu I'm lost without you 's do bhean cheile. and your wife. , , An gra mor i do shaoil * The Great Love in your life (1) , , Threorai si me. Will guide me. , , , Bigi liomsa i gconai Be (plural) with me always , , La 's oich. Day and night. ** Curfa: Chorus: , Ag caoineadh ar an uaigneas mor Weeping in great loneliness , Na deora, go bronach The tears, sorrowfully , Na gcodladh ins an uaigh ghlas chiuin Asleep in the quiet green grave Faoi shuaimhneas, go domhain In a deep peace. , Aoibhneas a bhi There was blissfulness Ach d'imigh sin But that is gone , , Se lean tu You followed , Do fhear cheile. Your husband. [Repeat * -> ** and Chorus] , Smaointe, ar an la Thoughts of the day. Raibh sibh ar mo thaobh You were (both) at my side , , Ag inse sceil Telling tales , , Ar an doigh a bhi Of how things were. , Is cuimhin liom an la I remember the day Gan gha'sgan ghruaim Without sting and without gloom , , , Bigi liomsa i gconai Be (plural) with me always , , La 's oich. Day and night. (1) The meaning of this phrase in this context is "the love that was shown by the two of you". (Aidan Hollinshead) Text taken from translations by: Steve Hopper (shopper@ucsd.edu) Dr. N. Stenson, posted by David Saranen (saranen@ux.acs.umn.edu) ================================ SINGLES ================================== , , ----------------------------- OICHE CHIUN --------------------------------- (Silent Night) , , , , Oiche chiuin, oiche Mhic De, Silent night, night of God's son. , , Cach 'na suan dis araon, Soundly in slumber, the pair together , , , Dis is dilse 'faire le speis The pair and love, watching with affection , Naoin beag gnaoigheal The small bright beautiful child, ceananntais caomh darling little one. , , Criost, 'na chodhladh go seimh. Christ, calmly asleep. , , Criost, 'na chodhladh go seimh. Christ, calmly asleep. , , , , Oiche chiuin, oiche Mhic De, Silent night, night of God's son. , , , Aoiri ar dtus chuala 'n sceal; Shepherds first heard the tale , Alleluia aingeal ag glaoch. The angels crying out Alleluia. , Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcein Lovely chanting near and far. , , , Criost an Slanaitheoir Fein Christ, the saviour himself. , , , Criost an Slanaitheoir Fein Christ, the saviour himself. Translation by Aidan Hollinshead (year3-37@midir.ucd.ie) Notes: This song was featured on several singles releases. See the discography for specifics. (Lyle) I'm not too happy with the translation of the third line, but it's as good as I'm going to get. 'dilse' has quite a few meanings. (Aidan) ================================================================== Special thanks to the following people who provided corrections and/or comments that I could integrate into this document: Aidan Hollinshead (year3-37@midir.ucd.ie) Jagg Groeg (aka Richard Crow) (crow@mundil.cs.mu.oz.au) (Wouldn't you like to see your name here? Hint, hint!) ================================================================== Please send comments, suggestions, corrections, additional translations, etc to: -------- ------------ L Y L E C O R B I N lylec@microsoft.com ------------ --------