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    Manuel Landeta

    La Puerta de Alcalá → English translation

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La Puerta de Alcalá

Acompaño a mi sombra por la avenida,
mis pasos se pierden entre tanta gente,
busco una puerta, una salida
donde convivan pasado y presente...
De pronto me paro, alguien me observa,
levanto la vista y me encuentro con ella
y ahí está, ahí está, ahí está
viendo pasar el tiempo la Puerta de Alcalá.
 
Una mañana fría llegó Carlos III con aire insigne
se quitó el sombrero muy lentamente
bajó de su caballo con voz profunda
le dijo a su lacayo: ahí está la Puerta de Alcalá
ahí está, ahí está viendo pasar el tiempo
la Puerta de Alcalá
 
Lanceros con casaca, monarcas de otras tierras,
fanfarrones que llegan inventando la guerra,
milicias que resisten bajo el "no pasarán"
y el sueño eterno como viene se va
y ahí está, ahí está viendo pasar el tiempo
la Puerta de Alcalá.
 
Todos los tiranos se abrazan como hermanos,
exhibiendo a las gentes sus calvas indecentes,
manadas de mangantes, doscientos estudiantes
inician la revuelta son los años sesenta
ahí está, ahí está viendo pasar el tiempo
la Puerta de Alcalá
 
Un travestí perdido, un guardia pendenciero,
pelos colorados, chinchetas en los cueros,
rockeros insurgentes, modernos complacientes,
poetas y colgados, aires de libertad
ahí está, ahí está viendo pasar el tiempo
la Puerta de Alcalá
 
La miro de frente y me pierdo en sus ojos,
sus arcos me vigilan, su sombra me acompaña,
no intento esconderme, nadie la engaña,
toda la vida pasa por su mirada
Miralá, míralá, miralá, míralá,
la Puerta de Alcalá
Miralá, míralá, miralá, míralá,
la Puerta de Alcalá.
 
Translation

The Citadel Gate

I go with my shadow along the avenue,
my footsteps are lost amomgst so many people,
I am looking for a gate, a way out
where past and present live together...
Suddenly I stop, something draws my attention,
I look up and meet it
and there it is, there it is, there is
The Citadel Gate seeing time go by.
 
One cold morning Charles III came, in emininent style
he very slowly took off his hat,
dimounted from his horse, and with a deep voice
told his footman: there is the Citadel Gate
there it is, there it is, the Citadel Gate,
seeing time go by.
 
Lancers in dress uniform, monarchs of other lands,
braggarts who come concocting conflict,
militias who resist under the banner "they shall not pass",
and the eternal dream as it comes and goes
and there it is, there is the Citadel Gate
seeing time go by.
 
All the tyrants embrace each other like brothers,
showing the people their shameless bald patches,
hordes of beggars, two hundred students
start the rebellion, it's the sixties,
there it is, there is the Citadel Gate
seeing time go by.
 
A down-and-out transvestite, a troublemaker policeman,
colourful hair, pierced skin,
insurgent rock-fans, complacent trendies,
poets and hangers-on, airs of freedom,
there it is, there is the Citadel Gate
seeing time go by.
 
I looked straight at it and was lost in its eyes,
its arches keep an eye on me, its shadow goes with me,
I don't try to hide, no-one can trick it,
all life pases before its gaze.
Look at it; Look at it, look at it. look at it,
the Citadel Gate.
Look at it; Look at it, look at it. look at it,
the Citadel Gate.
 
The author of translation requested proofreading.
It means that he/she will be happy to receive corrections, suggestions etc about the translation.
If you are proficient in both languages of the language pair, you are welcome to leave your comments.
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Manuel Landeta: Top 3
1.La Puerta de Alcalá
2.LA ESTRELLA QUE MAS BRILLA
3.cucurrucucu paloma
Comments
roster 31roster 31
   Mon, 11/07/2016 - 14:25

Hi Tom! You have chosen an original song. I don't see corrections to be made. Good job!
I would tell you, however, that I wouldn't interpret the title, (altough your translation sounds good) but, this is a well known land mark, "The Alcala Gate", the open way to 'Alcalá de Henares', as you well explained in your foot note. The note will do it.

By the way, the Spanish civil war ended in 1939.

Have a good day!

michealtmichealt
   Tue, 12/07/2016 - 00:43

Thanks, Rosa.

That footnote must be set a record for typos in one sentence: not only "1929" for "1939" but also"masseses" for "masses" and two "teh"s for "the" :) , all of which would have gone uncorrected if you hadn't pointed out "1929".

roster 31roster 31
   Tue, 12/07/2016 - 02:22

You are right: you beat your own record.
I was just concerned about the date in my past. Good that it helped the rest.

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