|
 |
|
Rodriguez’s 1992 self-titled album
‘Silvio’ |
I first came across the music of Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodriguez in Chile in 1981. It would be no exaggeration to say that his songs and lyrics were largely responsible for my becoming a Spanish translator. I wanted to know what they meant. So here are some translations of the songs I like best. Silvio’s lyrics are often termed poems, and poetry is famously difficult if not impossible to translate. So please beware that these are approximations only. I will be adding to this page as time goes on, and hope you will check back often.
My thanks to Julia Calzadilla for her invaluable help with the translations. |
|
|
Ojalá
|
If Only (English Translation)
|
Ojalá que las hojas no te toquen el cuerpo cuando caigan
para que no las puedas convertir en cristal.
Ojalá que la lluvia deje de ser milagro que baja por tu cuerpo.
Ojalá que la luna pueda salir sin ti.
Ojalá que la tierra no te bese los pasos.
|
If only the leaves wouldn’t touch your body when they fall
So you couldn’t turn them to glass.
If only the miracle of the rain falling over your body
Would cease to be.
If only the moon could rise without you.
If only the earth wouldn’t kiss your steps.
|
|
|
Ojalá se te acabé la mirada constante,
la palabra precisa, la sonrisa perfecta.
Ojalá pase algo que te borre de pronto:
una luz cegadora, un disparo de nieve.
Ojalá por lo menos que me lleve la muerte,
para no verte tanto, para no verte siempre
en todos los segundos, en todas las visiones:
ojalá que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones.
|
If only there was an end to your constant stare
The exact word, the perfect smile.
If only something--a blinding light,
a shot of snow—
would suddenly wipe you out of my mind.
If only death at least would deliver me
From seeing you every moment, in every vision:
If only I couldn’t sing about you too.
|
|
|
Ojalá que la aurora no dé gritos que caigan en mi espalda.
Ojalá que tu nombre se le olvide a esa voz.
Ojalá las paredes no retengan tu ruido de camino cansado.
Ojalá que el deseo se vaya tras de ti,
a tu viejo gobierno de difuntos y flores.
|
If only shouts wouldn’t fall on my back at dawn.
If only that voice would forget your name.
If only the walls wouldn’t hold the sound of your tired walk.
If only my desire would follow after you
To your worn-out land of flowers and the dead.
|
|
|
Ojalá se te acabé la mirada constante,
la palabra precisa, la sonrisa perfecta.
Ojalá pase algo que te borre de pronto:
una luz cegadora, un disparo de nieve.
Ojalá por lo menos que me lleve la muerte,
para no verte tanto, para no verte siempre
en todos los segundos, en todas las visiones:
ojalá que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones. |
If only there was an end to your constant stare
The exact word, the perfect smile.
If only something--a blinding light,
a shot of snow—
would suddenly wipe you out of my mind.
If only death at least would deliver me
From seeing you every moment, in every vision:
If only I couldn’t sing about you too. |
| . . . . . |
El Necio
|
The Fool (English Translation)
|
Para no hacer de mi ícono pedazos,
para salvarme entre únicos e impares,
para cederme un lugar en su Parnaso,
para darme un rinconcito en sus altares,
|
For not tearing my image to pieces,
for considering me one of the special and unique,
for bestowing me a spot in their Parnassus,
for allowing me a place in their altars, |
|
|
me vienen a convidar a arrepentirme,
me vienen a convidar a que no pierda,
me vienen a convidar a indefinirme,
me vienen a convidar a tanta mierda. |
they come inviting me to repent,
they come inviting me to be on the winning side,
they come inviting me to forget who I am,
they come inviting me to so much bullshit. |
|
|
Yo no se lo que es el destino,
caminando fui lo que fui.
Allá Dios, que será divino.
Yo me muero como viví. |
I don't know anything about fate,
I’ve always picked my own path.
Leave it to God, who’s supposedly holy.
As for me, I'll die the way that I lived. |
|
|
Yo quiero seguir jugando a lo perdido,
yo quiero ser a la zurda más que diestro,
yo quiero hacer un congreso del unido,
yo quiero rezar a fondo un hijonuestro. |
I want to keep fighting for a lost cause,
I'd rather do things backwards than by the book,
I want to bring about a congress of the united,
I want to earnestly pray an Our Son. |
|
|
Dirán que pasó de moda la locura,
dirán que la gente es mala y no merece,
más yo seguiré soñando travesuras
(acaso multiplicar panes y peces). |
They'll say the time of craziness has passed,
they'll say the people are bad and undeserving,
but I'll keep on dreaming up mischief
(maybe even multiplying bread and fishes). |
|
|
Yo no se lo que es el destino,
caminando fui lo que fui.
Allá Dios, que será divino.
Yo me muero como viví. |
I don't know anything about fate,
I’ve always picked my own path.
Leave such things to God, who’s supposedly holy.
As for me, I'll die the way that I lived. |
|
|
Dicen que me arrastrarán por sobre rocas
cuando la Revolución se venga abajo,
que machacarán mis manos y mi boca,
que me arrancarán los ojos y el badajo. |
They say that when the Revolution collapses
they'll drag me over the rocks,
smash my hands and mouth to bits,
tear out my eyes and clapper. |
|
|
Será que la necedad parió conmigo,
la necedad de lo que hoy resulta necio:
la necedad de asumir al enemigo,
la necedad de vivir sin tener precio. |
Maybe foolishness was born together with me,
the foolishness which has made me a fool now:
the foolishness of taking on the enemy,
the foolishness of living without a pricetag. |
|
|
Yo no se lo que es el destino,
caminando fui lo que fui.
Allá Dios, que será divino.
Yo me muero como viví. |
I don't know anything about fate,
I’ve always picked my own path.
Leave such things to God, who’s supposedly holy.
As for me, I'll die the way that I lived. |
