I fell in love with this simple little tune, and the imagery in the song is just amazing (well, almost all of Melnitsa's songs are very rich in mysterious and charming images). The song is quite long. Like, really, really long. But I will try to work with it piece by piece.
Королевна (группа Мальница)
My "true to the text" translation
I sang about gods, I sang about heroes, about clanging metal and bloody battles,
But while my falcon was with me, it's cries were lovelier to me than a prayer.
But it has been a year since it flew away, a magic wind carried it away
The dearest friend was taken from me by the stormy wind that came from far-away lands.
And I have not been myself ever since, and the seagulls are crying, crying in the sky,
But in the fog my vision discerns only those eyes of the color of gentians.
Oh, if I could have the eyes of a falcon, oh, if I could soar like a falcon,
Toward that strange falcon land that is not just in my dreams, but somewhere near.
My bird, turn into my soul, send some wind into my wings for a short while -
Every night I dream of a flight, and of miles after miles of cold fjords.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like the mountain sides are embroidered with heather,
I know I have never been there myself - or, if I have been there, then just to meet my sorrow.
If I could remember all that happened, but not to you and not to me....
And I flounce about, like a fallen leaf, and there is no peace in my soul.
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
In a far away land, sleeping under the snow, you are lovelier than Spring, you are lovelier than Spring, you are lovelier than Spring... and more intoxicating than Summer.
Wake up, my queen, put on your feathers,
Let's fly together into the storm - so fragile is the ice of your wrists.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like your feathers are embroidered with pure gold.
And I laugh and sour into the sky - I cannot believe this myself.
Come just a little closer, allow me to touch your feathers....
Every night I see the mountains, and every night I wake up blind.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like the sky is embroidered with moonlight.
Carry me away, northern winds, into that land of pain and dreams.
How painful it is to know, that all has happened not to you and not to me,
And that the time did not slow down to peak into the carved window.
It was you, my joy, whom I dreamed about every night, but you are clothed by sorrow,
And I, of course, will sing one last time, but I will leave your house with the break of dawn.
Wandering somewhere out there are your dreams, my queen,
How long before the spring filled with ancient greens?
And all that is left is to repeat just those few words - such few words -
Wake up, my queen, put on your feathers....
Would I be the one not to know, that all has happened not to me and not to you?
And your kindness cuts me deeper than an arrow from the bow,
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
And I would give up all to be with you, but maybe you do not exist at all....
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
And I would give up all to be with you, but maybe you do not exist at all....
My queen....
Королевна (группа Мальница)
Я пел о богах, и пел о героях, о звоне клинков, и кровавых битвах; Покуда сокол мой был со мною, мне клекот его заменял молитвы. Но вот уже год, как он улетел - его унесла колдовская метель, Милого друга похитила вьюга, пришедшая из далеких земель. И сам не свой я с этих пор, и плачут, плачут в небе чайки; В тумане различит мой взор лишь очи цвета горечавки; Ах, видеть бы мне глазами сокола, и в воздух бы мне на крыльях сокола, В той чужой соколиной стране, да не во сне, а где-то около: Стань моей душою, птица, дай на время ветер в крылья, Каждую ночь полет мне снится - холодные фьорды, миля за милей; Шелком - твои рукава, королевна, белым вереском - вышиты горы, Знаю, что там никогда я не был, а если и был, то себе на горе; Если б вспомнить, что случилось не с тобой и не со мною, Я мечусь, как палый лист, и нет моей душе покоя; Ты платишь за песню полной луною, как иные платят звонкой монетой; В дальней стране, укрытой зимою, ты краше весны и пьянее лета: Просыпайся, королевна, надевай-ка оперенье, Полетим с тобой в ненастье - тонок лед твоих запястий; Шелком - твои рукава, королевна, златом-серебром - вышиты перья; Я смеюсь и взмываю в небо, я и сам в себя не верю: Подойди ко мне поближе, дай коснуться оперенья, Каждую ночь я горы вижу, каждое утро теряю зренье; Шелком - твои рукава, королевна, ясным месяцем - вышито небо, Унеси и меня, ветер северный, в те края, где боль и небыль; Как больно знать, что все случилось не с тобой и не со мною, Время не остановилось, чтоб в окно взглянуть резное; О тебе, моя радость, я мечтал ночами, но ты печали плащом одета, Я, конечно, еще спою на прощанье, но покину твой дом - с лучом рассвета. Где-то бродят твои сны, королевна; Далеко ли до весны в травах древних... Только повторять осталось - пара слов, какая малость - Просыпайся, королевна, надевай-ка оперенье... Мне ль не знать, что все случилось не с тобой и не со мною, Сердце ранит твоя милость, как стрела над тетивою; Ты платишь - за песню луною, как иные платят монетой, Я отдал бы все, чтобы быть с тобою, но, может, тебя и на свете нету... Ты платишь - за песню луною, как иные - монетой, Я отдал бы все, чтобы быть с тобою, но, может, тебя и на свете нету...
My "true to the text" translation
I sang about gods, I sang about heroes, about clanging metal and bloody battles,
But while my falcon was with me, it's cries were lovelier to me than a prayer.
But it has been a year since it flew away, a magic wind carried it away
The dearest friend was taken from me by the stormy wind that came from far-away lands.
And I have not been myself ever since, and the seagulls are crying, crying in the sky,
But in the fog my vision discerns only those eyes of the color of gentians.
Oh, if I could have the eyes of a falcon, oh, if I could soar like a falcon,
Toward that strange falcon land that is not just in my dreams, but somewhere near.
My bird, turn into my soul, send some wind into my wings for a short while -
Every night I dream of a flight, and of miles after miles of cold fjords.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like the mountain sides are embroidered with heather,
I know I have never been there myself - or, if I have been there, then just to meet my sorrow.
If I could remember all that happened, but not to you and not to me....
And I flounce about, like a fallen leaf, and there is no peace in my soul.
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
In a far away land, sleeping under the snow, you are lovelier than Spring, you are lovelier than Spring, you are lovelier than Spring... and more intoxicating than Summer.
Wake up, my queen, put on your feathers,
Let's fly together into the storm - so fragile is the ice of your wrists.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like your feathers are embroidered with pure gold.
And I laugh and sour into the sky - I cannot believe this myself.
Come just a little closer, allow me to touch your feathers....
Every night I see the mountains, and every night I wake up blind.
Your sleeves are embroidered with silk, my queen, like the sky is embroidered with moonlight.
Carry me away, northern winds, into that land of pain and dreams.
How painful it is to know, that all has happened not to you and not to me,
And that the time did not slow down to peak into the carved window.
It was you, my joy, whom I dreamed about every night, but you are clothed by sorrow,
And I, of course, will sing one last time, but I will leave your house with the break of dawn.
Wandering somewhere out there are your dreams, my queen,
How long before the spring filled with ancient greens?
And all that is left is to repeat just those few words - such few words -
Wake up, my queen, put on your feathers....
Would I be the one not to know, that all has happened not to me and not to you?
And your kindness cuts me deeper than an arrow from the bow,
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
And I would give up all to be with you, but maybe you do not exist at all....
You pay for my song with a full moon, like others pay with a golden coin,
And I would give up all to be with you, but maybe you do not exist at all....
My queen....
