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    Pēdējā vēstule → English translation

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Pēdējā vēstule

Iekāpu vilcienā uz Varanasi
Aizbraucu noskaidrot, kā dzīvi lasīt
Neraudi, susuriņ, ņem citu sev
 
Labak bez koferiem, bez liekām mantām
Krāmi un mēbeles – tie paliks tantām
Kurš sasmels izlieto? Tas piestāv tev
 
Bez sarunām ar sevi pašu
Ir rāmak, bet nav dzīvot vērts
 
Varbūt, ka pasaule pat nemanīja
Mūs glauda saulīte, kad visiem lija
Ieliec to albumā, nezvani man
 
Tur tā jau tuvojas – Varanasi
Negribu, negribu, lai tu ko prasi
Paldies par mazajām muļķībām
 
Bez sarunām ar sevi pašu
Ir rāmak, bet nav dzīvot vērts
Bez sarunām ar sevi pašu
Ir rāmak, bet nav dzīvot vērts
 
Translation

The last letter

I took a train to Varansi*
I went to get the knowledge how to read the life
Don’t cry sweetheart, take another one for yourself
 
It’s better without suitcases, without unnecessary things,
All trashes and furniture will be left for aunties
Who’s going to get back what’s gone? That suits you.
 
Without discussions with yourself
It’s easier, but no worth living.
 
Maybe the world even didn’t notice
The Sun touched us when the rain poured over everyone else
Put it into the album, don’t call me
 
Here it comes closer – Varanasi
I don’t want, don’t want you to ask me anything,
Thanks for all small stupid things.
 
Without discussions with yourself
It’s easier, but no worth living.
Without discussions with yourself
It’s easier, but no worth living.
 
Comments
NewsrebelNewsrebel
   Sat, 12/12/2015 - 16:03

Hi there!
Translations to some extent are different , but with the same idea. Matter of choosing the most appropriate words, I guess, and I don’t insist, that my choice is the best one.
But there are 3 lines when difference influence the meaning and I’m quite sure I understand the Latvian text correctly :)

So, I’ll try to explain the differences:

1) Kurš sasmels izlieto? literally = who will draw [the water] that poured out . Sasmelt izlieto = phrase that means – something happened, and it can’t be undone, to draw the water that poured out is impossible. I didn’t translate literally , but just the idea of it – something has gone or something is done and now who’s going to change it back/

2) Bez sarunām ar sevi pašu Ir rāmak, bet nav dzīvot vērts
“BEZ” in Latvian certainly means “ without” , and this line means that without discussions or conversation with yourself it’s calmer (lit.) or easier (the idea of it) , but not worth living . “ Besides” in Latvian – “ starp citu” . You can check out online dictionaries.

3) Mūs glauda saulīte, kad visiem lija - The Sun palms us when it was raining for everyone else.
(hmm, even sounds better, I don’t know why I didn’t translate that line this way yesterday :D maybe I have to change it )

nykti-eoikuianykti-eoikuia
   Sun, 13/12/2015 - 23:19

Hey, I don't doubt your understanding of Latvian. :) The lyrics on 4lyrics.eu seem to be translated by an excited enthusiast, I think. What would the world be without them! The meaning s/he gave to the song is interesting too, so I don't think that the other translation shouldn't exist. (Misheard lyrics can be beginnings of new poems.)

1) "Kurš sasmels izlieto? Tas piestāv tev" is a very vague line to me... Is it something like: "Who could turn you back to what you used to be? What you have become, already becomes you, suits you. There is no need to change back." I didn't really understand what the second sentence was meant to do there. Can it be paraphrased better?

1.2 Where did "aunties" came? Is it some usual Latvian expression? That would be brilliant!

2) So there is no "besides". Somehow, I can get the meaning of "Conversations with only yourself are calmer" more easily than "Without discussions with yourself it’s easier". The second seems unachievable. (I read it and it gives me a pause. As if there were two negations.) If you added "only" like "Without discussions with [only] yourself it’s easier" would it change too much, would it become clearer?

3) What does "to palm" mean? Like "to cover/hide something with a palm"? (My first thought was actually "to caress"... Cause that would be nice.)

4) What kind of not-calling is "nezvani"?

Thank you again!! :)

NewsrebelNewsrebel
   Fri, 18/12/2015 - 18:46

Hello again! Sorry, didn’t have time to reply earlier.

1) "Kurš sasmels izlieto? Tas piestāv tev"

Well, I’m not sure I can paraphrase it better, because it’s the thought only text author knows. It’s like – “ who would draw the water, that has been poured out? It suits you”.
I don’t know, if he meant, that “drawing the poured out water” [impossible and fruitless attempts to get back something, that is over and gone] is something that “you” usually do and this is the action, that “you [person, that is addressed in the song] perform well enough.
Well, I can ask him [txt author], If You really are so interested.
1.2 I used “ aunties” as a familiar or diminutive word for „aunt”. In Latvian correct one would be „tantēm” - for aunts. But here, seems - for the rhyme reasons, is used form that officially doesn’t exist. It’s not an expression or smth.
2 ) Definitely not. The line goes exactly as I put it – there’s no any hint of exception.
“ without conversation with yourself , it’s calmer” - ok, may be I didn’t choose the best words, but the idea is, that If U don’t, sort of, talk to yourself, don’t analyze what U really want, what Ur true feelings and desires are, it’s much more easier to accept what happens, but not worth it.
As I understand from the context – it’s easier to live with someone, who just happened to be beside you, but it’s not the truth for yourself. So U have to talk to yourself, to understand what is what and to make a decision.
3) Yeah, “ caress”
4) What kind of not-calling is "nezvani"? = don’t call me on the phone.

nykti-eoikuianykti-eoikuia
   Sun, 20/12/2015 - 19:50

Thank you again. I was quite sure that you would answer a f t e r one week, so according to that "schedule" you actually answered too early. :D And I was really not in a hurry, I was just interested in you opinions. It's not very important what "Tas piestāv tev" means. Usually authors want to leave these things open to interpretation, don't they? I kind of like mine. Are you interested what the author himself meant?? I am very glad that you spelt nr 2 out because apparently I needed something like that right now.
:D

NewsrebelNewsrebel
   Thu, 24/12/2015 - 22:00

Hi! And Merry Christmas! :)
Completely agree, that usually authors leave interpretation possibilities, so I'm not very eager to disturb the author with questions, I just happened to know whom to ask :)
So, enjoy the song! And welcome to post requests if U need smth more from Latvian :)