• Sarit Hadad

    יום חולין → English translation→ English

Favorites
Share
Font Size
Translation
Swap languages

Song Of A Weekday

If I have strings they play trembling
if I worry it is exposed a bit
If I have love in me it will be said quietly
if I have roots they become deeper
 
You see how I tremble for a minute
the wind often changes directions
We tried to leave but I know
we stay together one year after the other
 
The sun draws lines of lights
on the walls in your room
Every morning I gather for you
small details small joys of a weekday
 
Are you answering me?
Are you hearing the same tick of my watch in your ear?
May be you listen may be you are just like me
I can see the reflection of my face in yours
 
If I have strings they play trembling
if I worry it is exposed a bit
If I have love in me it will be said quietly
if I have roots they become deeper
 
This weekday is a day with grace
and lines are written to you
Take my hand now reconcile with me
at this weekday our paths cross
 
Original lyrics

יום חולין

Click to see the original lyrics (Hebrew)

Comments
rjmaroofrjmaroof    Tue, 08/08/2017 - 12:26

This translation is incorrect in many places.

For example:

כמעט doesn't mean "a bit" it means "almost"
מתארכים לאט doesn't mean "they become deeper" it means "are slowly becoming longer"

The worst error, however, is translating שאוני as "ticking of my watch."

With the letter alef, shaon means my disturbance or distress, not my watch (the word for watch is spelled with an ayin, not an aleph.) The singer is asking whether perhaps her lover is bothered by the same issues that trouble her.

Translating songs and poems is difficult to begin with, because so much nuance, ambiguity and beauty is automatically lost in the transfer from language to language, even if the literal translation is accurate. This problem is exacerbated when the translator is not a careful listener or reader. Be very careful when relying on translations in general, and especially when they are user-generated as on websites like this.