I am scared of infants with wide-eyed gaze,
I examine in the mirror my own face.
In my spinal cord fear spreads in ripples -
Am I really the same as all these people?
People who live up the street,
People who live next door down,
People who snore in their sleep,
People who fill up this dirty town...
Chorus: I would give everything for a pair of wings, I would give everything for the skin of brass, For the pair of hands with fourteen fingers, My lungs require a different gas....
They have shieking laugh and salty tears,
They would kill their dreams to follow their fears.
The measures of their worth are a dollar and a pound,
And nothing will ever be enough to go around.
People who can bury their sons,
People who can stand heat, pain, and cold,
People who can kill each other with guns,
But still cannot eat their food without salt.
Chorus: I would give everything for a pair of wings, I would give everything for the skin of brass, For the pair of hands with fourteen fingers, My lungs require a different gas....
Я боюсь младенцев, я боюсь мертвецов.
Я ощупываю пальцами свое лицо,
И внутри у меня холодеет от жути:
Неужели я такой же как все эти люди.
Люди которые живут надо мной,
Люди которые живут подо мной,
Люди которые храпят за стеной,
Люди которые лежат под землей.
Я отдал бы немало за пару крыльев,
Я отдал бы немало за третий глаз,
За руку, на которой четырнадцать пальцев,
Мне нужен для дыхания другой газ.
У них соленые слезы и резкий смех,
Им никогда ничего не хватает на всех.
Они любят свои лица в свежих газетах,
Но на следующий день газеты тонут в клозетах.
Люди, которые рожают детей,
Люди, которые страдают от боли,
Люди, которые стреляют в людей,
Но при этом не могут есть пищу без соли.
Они отдали б немало за пару крыльев,
Они отдали б немало за третий глаз,
За руку, на которой четырнадцать пальцев,
Им нужен для дыхания другой газ.
Huge black birds come down from the sky,
Huge black birds, they search low and high,
They circle, they circle all the while
Searching, searching for my child.
And I said: Take my gold,
And I said: Take my gold,
And I said: Take my gold,
Take my gold and leave me alone!
- No we don't need your gold
- No, we don't need your gold
- Time has rusted all your gold
- And it is worth the same as stone.
One of birds reaches down and pries
The diamond from the child's eyes,
It take the diamond, filled with tears,
Leaving behind only cold black fear.
And I said: Take my kingdom,
And I said: Take my kingdom,
And I said: Take my kingdom,
Take my kingdom and take my crown!
- No, we do not need your kingdom,
- No, we do not need your kingdom,
- No, we do not need your kingdom,
- You are no longer a king, but a clown.
Then please take away my eyes,
Then please take away my eyes,
Then please take away my eyes,
I can't bear to see your deeds!
- We no longer need your eyes,
- We no longer need your eyes,
- We have been into your eyes,
- And took everything we need!
Eyes of Polina are like childhood song playing in my head,
Sounds are slow and waltz like the dust above her bed,
Her dreamy smile is like floral scent, filling up the air,
And a single morning could last one hundred billion years.
Chorus: And year after year her heart beats the steady rate, And her even breath fogs up her window all night, And I do not regret the years of the endless wait, Her crystal bedroom is filled with shimmering, shimmering light.
There will be those, who will wait and those who will eventually stop.
But all of them will leave, one day breaking free.
I love you for your patient, patient, patient hope
For that which will never, ever, ever be.
Her pale fingers are like candles in the dark of the night.
Her eyes await someone who can spark a new light.
In Polina's room, a timid sunrise froze by her stairs,
And a single morning could last one hundred billion years.
Chorus: And year after year her heart beats the steady rate, And her even breath fogs up her window all night, And I do not regret the years of the endless wait, Her crystal bedroom is filled with shimmering, shimmering light.
One of my all-time favorite Nau songs. It's slow beat used to be my favorite bedtime melody.
Only oops. I forgot to translate 2nd stanza. Will work on that later tomorrow.
Утро Полины (Наутилус)
Руки Полины, как забытая песня под упорной иглой. Звуки ленивы и кружат, как пылинки, над ее головой. Сонные глаза ждут того, кто войдет и зажгет в них свет. Утро Полины продолжается сто миллиардов лет.
И все эти годы я слышу, как колышется грудь. И от ее дыханья в окнах запотело стекло. И мне не жалко того, что так бесконечен мой путь. В ее хрустальной спальне постоянно, постоянно светло.
Я знаю тех, кто дождется, и тех, кто, не дождавшись, умрет. Но и с теми и с другими одинаково скучно идти. Я люблю тебя за то, что твое ожидание ждет Того, что никогда не сможет произойти.
Пальцы Полины словно свечи в канделябрах ночей, Слезы Полины превратились в бесконечный ручей, В комнате Полины на пороге нерешительно мнется рассвет, Утро Полины продолжается сто миллиардов лет.
И все эти годы я слышу, как колышется грудь. И от ее дыханья в окнах запотело стекло. И мне не жалко того, что так бесконечен мой путь. В ее хрустальной спальне постоянно, постоянно светло
Word-for-word translation
Polina's hands are like a forgotten song produced by the tenacious needle, The sounds are slow and are swirling, like specles of dust above her head. The sleepy eyes are awating the one, who will come in and awake the light within, Polina's morning is lasting 100 billion years.
Chorus
And all of these years I listen how her breast moves up and down, And the windows are foggy because of her breath, And I do not mind the endlessness of my fate, Her crystal bedroom is always, always filled with light.
I know those who will long last and those, who will die before that, But it is boring to be with either of those. I love you because you are so patiently waiting That which will never be able to happen.
Chorus:
And all of these years I listen how her breast moves up and down, And the windows are foggy because of her breath, And I do not mind the endlessness of my fate, Her crystal bedroom is always, always filled with light.
Polina's fingers are like candles in the chandalier of night,
Polina's tears became an endless stream,
In Polina's room the timid sunrise is standing, unsure, in the threshold,
Polina's morning is lasting 100 billion years.
Chorus:
And all of these years I listen how her breast moves up and down, And the windows are foggy because of her breath, And I do not mind the endlessness of my fate, Her crystal bedroom is always, always filled with light.
Do you see, how they shine, Our diamond roads,
Through the rivers of time,
Our diamond roads.
Do you see how they bend
Under footsteps of gods?
To be able to walk them you need
Legs made of gold.
To be able to climb them
You need diamond claws.
Chorus:
Their shimmering glow makes us lose our minds. As we gaze at the diamond roads in the darkest of times.
How steep is their path,
Our diamond roads,
Holding us in their grasp,
Our diamond roads. We drank bitter herbs To be able to see their light. If we don't die of poison, We fall down straight
Into the river of time,
Into the dangerous tide.
Chorus:
Their shimmering glow makes us lose our minds. As we gaze at the diamond roads in the darkest of times.
This is one of my all-time favorites from Nau, and I couldn't wait to put my hands on this song. As usual, the 2-3 word sentences of the original text were a real pain to work with, but the songs are worth it to me.
Бриллиантовые Дороги (Нау, 1987-1988)
Посмотри, как блестят Бриллиантовые дороги Послушай, как хрустят Бриллиантовые дороги Смотри, какие следы Оставляют на них боги Чтоб идти вслед за ними, нужны Золотые ноги Чтоб вцепиться в стекло, Нужны алмазные когти
Горят над нами, горят, Помрачая рассудок, Бриллиантовые дороги В темное время суток
Посмотри, как узки Бриллиантовые дороги Нас зажали в тиски Бриллиантовые дороги
Чтобы видеть их свет, Мы пили горькие травы Если в пропасть не пасть, Все равно умирать от отравы На алмазных мостах Через черные канавы
Парят над нами, парят, Помрачая рассудок, Бриллиантовые дороги В темное время суток
Word-for-word translation
Take a look how they shine
The diamond roads.
Take a look how they crackle,
The diamodn roads.
Take a look at the footsteps
That the gods leave on them.
To be able to follow them you need
Legs made of gold.
To be able to cling to the glass
You need diamons claws.
Chorus:
They glow above us, they glow, driving us insane,
The diamons roads, in the dark time of the day.
Take a look how narrow they are,
The diamond roads.
They are squeezing us in their grasp,
The diamon roads.
To be able to see their light
We drank bitter herbs.
If we don't fall into the abyss,
We will die of poison
On these diamond bridges
Over black trenches.
Chorus:
They glow above us, they glow, driving us insane,
The diamons roads, in the dark time of the day.
I used to hate this song in the Nau's albums because it subject did not resonate with me, but now with so many wars in the news every day, I started to notice that this song is just as timely as it was in the 80s, when I heard it first.
The song was very challenging because the Russian text consisted of brief 2-3 word sentences, and also because I guess it was written to march the cadence of the "Das Einheitsfrontlied" , and the lyrics of the original march did not carry any meaning in English. I decided to substitute the original march cadences (March Left, Two, Three, March Right, Two, Three) with some similarly short cadences of the US Army.
Был бесцветным был безупpечно чистым
Был пpозpачным стал абсолютно белым
Видно кто-то pешил что зима и покpыл меня мелом
Был бы белым но все же был бы чистым
Пусть холодным но все же с ясным взоpом
Hо кто-то pешил что война и покpыл меня чеpным
Я вижу цвет но я здесь не был
Я слышу цвет я чувствую цвет
Я знать не хочу всех тех кто уже кpасит небо
Я вижу песню вдали но я слышу лишь
Маpш маpш левой
Маpш маpш пpавой
Я не видел толпы стpашней
Чем толпа цвета хаки
Был бы чеpным да пусть хоть самим чеpтом
Hо кто-то главный кто вечно pвет в атаку
Пpиказал наступать на лето и втоптал меня в хаки
Я вижу дым но я здесь не был
Я слышу дым я чувствую гаpь
Я знать не хочу ту тваpь
Что спалит это небо
Я вижу песню вдали но я слышу лишь
Маpш маpш левой
Маpш маpш пpавой
Я не видел каpтины дуpней
Чем шаp цвета хаки
Word-for-word translation:
I was colorless, I was prictine clean,
I was sea-through, and I became white
I guess someone decided it was winter
And dusted me with chalk
I didn't mind being white, but at least I was clean,
I was cold, but with a clear eyesight,
But someone decided it was war,
And covered me in black
Chorus:
I see color, but I was not here,
I hear color, I feel color,
I don't want to know those
Who are already coloring the sky.
I see a song from afar,
But I hear just
"March, march left! March, march right!"
"March, march left! March, march right!"
I have never seen a crowd scarier
Than a khaki-colored crowd.
I didn't mind being black, or even being the devil himself,
But someone who is in charge, someone who always wants to attack, Commanded to attack the Summer, and treaded me in khaki.
Chorus:
I see smoke, but I was not here,
I hear smoke, I feel smoke,
I don't want to know those
Who will burn down the sky.
I see a song from afar,
But I hear just
"March, march left! March, march right!"
"March, march left! March, march right!"
I have never seen a picture worse
Than a khaki-colored globe.
All the gold of this world won’t provide you pleasure,
All of the castles and banks couldn’t contain your
treasures.
You don’t know doubts and fear, known by all but few.
You are the man without a name, and I am terrified of you.
At 7 o’clock this morning you reached the aerial borders,
And every single army are calling their men to quarters.
You ride on the burning comets, you shower in the morning
dew,
You are the man without a name, and I am in awe of you.
Chorus:
Take me along to the edge of this world, And away from the trap of the useless words.
And once we find this edge, let's just jump off. And as we fall, and as we fall, we may forget this life.
All of the women of this world couldn't exhaust your passion, And toward all tanks and guns you will stroll in style and fashion. You are an unconquared captive, who sees through the prison's walls. You are the man without a name, without home, stuff, or clothes.
Chorus:
Take me along to the edge of this world, And away from the trap of the useless words.
And once we find this edge, let's just jump off. And as we fall, and as we fall, we may forget this life.
I planned to translate the song "Diamon Roads" next, but the "Man without a Name" suddenly because it got stuck in my head for several days.
Человек без Имени (Наутилус, 1989)
Всего золота мира мало, чтобы купить тебе счастье,
Всех замков и банков не хватит, чтобы вместить твои страсти.
Невозмутимый странник, не устрашенный адом.
Ты - человек без имени, мне страшно с тобою рядом.
Ты проснулся сегодня рано и вышел на большую дорогу,
И тотчас все ракетные части объявили боевую тревогу.
И если случится комета, ты ее остановишь взглядом.
Ты - человек без имени, я счастлив с тобою рядом.
Возьми меня, возьми
На край земли.
От крысиных бегов,
От мышиной возни.
И если есть этот край,
Мы с него прыгнем вниз.
Пока мы будем лететь, мы будем лететь,
Мы забудем эту жизнь.
Всех женщин мира не хватит, чтобы принять твои ласки,
Всем стрелам и пулям армий ты подставишь себя без опаски.
Непокоренный пленник, не замечающий стражи.
Ты - человек без имени, нагой человек без поклажи.
Возьми меня, возьми на край земли.
От крысиных бегов, от мышиной возни.
И если есть этот край, мы с него прыгнем вниз.
Пока мы будем лететь, мы будем лететь, мы забудем эту жизнь
My word-for-word translation
Man without a Name (Nautilus Pompilius, 1989)
All gold of this world is not enough to buy you happiness.
All banks and forteresses are not enough to contain your passions.
You are aт imperturbable stranger who is not afraid of hell.
You are the man without a name, and I am terrified to be near you.
You woke up early today and walked outside,
And immediately all the air bases went on the red alert.
And if the comet will be falling, you will stop it with your gaze.
You are the man without a name, and I am blessed to be near you.
Please, take me along with you to the edge of the worlds,
To escape this rat race and these mice fights.
And if we find this edge, we will jump off
And while we will be falling, falling, we will forget this life.
All women of the world are not enough to han dle all your love,
And all the arrows and bullets of the world you will walk forward to without fear.
You are an unbowed prisoner who does not bother to notice his guards.
You are the man without a name, a naked man without any baggage.
Please, take me along with you to the edge of the worlds,
To escape this rat race and these mice fights.
And if we find this edge, we will jump off
And while we will be falling, falling, we will forget this life.
I dreamed of dogs that swarmed me, like flies,
I dreamed that beasts with eyes, full of rage,
Tore into my wings as I reached the sky,
And I tumbled down like a fallen angel.
Don't remember the fall; I only remember
The sounds of crash against the stone shell.
Have I risen so high just to surrender,
And plunge to the Earth, like a fallen angel?
Chorus:
Falling down
To Earth whose laws we knew well and whom we have tried to defy;
Falling down
To Earth from where we gazed for so long into the sky...
Falling down....
I was striving to be noble and fair,
And I didn't think it disgusting or strange
That crowds of people with blankets and chairs
Were coming to see the fall of an angel.
And gray flakes came down, like sand in the storm,
Either bitter, like manna, or sweet, like sage,
And soft like the feathers that were torn
From the broken wings of the fallen angel.
Chorus:
Falling down
To Earth whose laws we knew well and whom we have tried to defy;
Falling down
To Earth from where we gazed for so long into the sky...
Falling down
To Earth whose laws we knew well and whom we have tried to defy;
Falling down
To Earth from where we gazed for so long into the sky...
I have been meaning to translate this song for a while now.. It is one of my favorite Russian rock songs by Nautilus Pompilius, a Russian rock group of the 1980s-1990s. They are still active, but I like their old albums the best and plan to translate quite a few songs from there.
Original text
Как Падший Ангел (Наутилус) / Like a Fallen Angel (Nautilus)
Мне снятся собаки, мне снятся звери.
Мне снится, что твари с глазами как лампы,
Вцепились мне в крылья у самого неба
И я рухнул нелепо, как падший ангел.
Я не помню паденья, я помню только
Глухой удар о холодные камни.
Неужели я мог залететь так высоко
И сорваться жестоко, как падший ангел.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы вышли в надежде на новую жизнь.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы жадно смотрели на синюю высь.
Прямо вниз.
Я пытался быть справедливым и добрым
И мне не казалось не страшным, ни странным,
Что внизу на земле собираются толпы
Пришедших смотреть, как падает ангел.
И в открытые рты наметает ветром
То ли белый снег, то ли сладкую манну,
То ли просто перья, летящие следом
За сорвавшимся вниз, словно падший ангел.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы вышли в надежде на новую жизнь.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы жадно смотрели на синюю высь.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы вышли в надежде на новую жизнь.
Прямо вниз.
Туда, откуда мы жадно смотрели на синюю высь.
Прямо вниз.
Word-for-word translation
I dream about dogs, I dream about animals,
I dream about beasts with eyes like lamps
Sank their claws into my wings right next to the sky
And I fallen awkawardly, like a fallen angel.
I can't remember the fall, I remember only
A muffled sound of crash against the cold stones
Could I have soared so high,
And to plunge so fast, like a fallen angel?
Chorus:
Straight down,
From where we left, hoping for a better life?
Straight down,
From where we looked up in to the blue sky.
And I have tried to be fair and kind,
And I didn't think it was scare or odd
That there, on the ground, the crowds are gathering.
They are coming to see the fall of an angel.
And the wind is blowing into their hanging months
Something looking like white snow or the sweet manna,
Or maybe just the feathers, slowling falling down
After the one who fell down, like a fallen angel.
Chorus:
Straight down,
From where we left, hoping for a better life?
Straight down,
From where we looked up in to the blue sky.
