I’ve been thinking that I really should use this place more. I don’t know if it’s laziness or shyness or lack of inspiration – arguably, some of my best ideas come in the middle of the night, and by morning they are often forgotten or lacking… something…
Anyway, I was idly going through some files in the Stuff And Things folder on my laptop, and I came across this. It’s a ridiculous thing, really: a translation from the Czech (which I don’t speak) into English of a song I’ve since discovered was originally by Black Sabbath, but was made famous by Jaromír Nohavica, who adapted it for Marie Rottrová. Still with me? Good, good.
So, anyway, my convoluted translation is below. As is the link to Marie Rottrová’s version. (Which, incidentally, features in the utterly, utterly brilliant film Rok d’abla.)
It’s raining and I’m with you, in a city we know
seeking traces of yesterday
I’m going in the same direction as before, and I remember
and everything seems more beautiful
Oh, my love, you smell like the rain – you said to me;
I thought the wind was blowing
it’s been a hundred years; take off your coat
it’s kept me so warm, my beautiful love
How long, how much longer before I see you
we are so short lived
my love, you smell like the rain; you’re crying
and yet you’re just as warm as before
Even the rain is the same as before, and I am the same
the clock moves in silence
you are still here, yet you are hidden
the rain coming in your footsteps. Oh, my love
(As I said, I don’t speak Czech. And it’s late. Perhaps I shouldn’t post here too often after all. Also I don’t know how to embed videos. Sigh.)