Mpb

[Delacroix]

Long time ago , i think in translate some national lirics and post here for people take a look.
Of course a translation never is the same, in poetry as the original. And for me is impossible because of my lack in English knoledge.
Today I find one site with one tranlation. Take a look.
Is one of my favorite songs from my favorite Artist.
The original song is: "O Meu Guri"- Chico Buarque
Is about a miserable(state of wealth(money)) Mother and her son.


My son
(Chico Buarque,1981)

When my offspring was born, kind sir,
It was not the [right] moment for him to be born
He was already born with a face of hunger
And I didn't even have a name to give him
How I supported him, I can't explain
I just supported him and he supported me
And one day in his innocence he told me
That he would go a long way
Look at this
Look at this
Look at this, my son, Look at this
Look at this, it's my son
And he is going a long way


He returns sweating and quickly from his job
And always brings a present to surprise me
So many golden nacklaces, my son,
That there is no neck to put around
He brought me a bag with everything already in it
Keys, bankbook, rosary and amulet,
A handkerchief and a bunch of documents
So that finally I can identify myself, look at this
Look at this, ah my son, look at this
Look at this, it's my son
And he is going a long way


He arrives on the hill like a lorry
Bracelet, cement, watch, tyre, recorder
I pray till he arrives here on the top
This wave of robberies is horrible
I comfort him, he comforts me
I put him on my bosom for him to sleep
Suddenly I wake up, I look to the side
And the bloody guy already went to work, look at this
Look at this, ah my son, look at this
Look at this, it's my son
And he is going a long way


He gets into the newspaper, headline, photo
With blindfold on the eyes, caption and the initials
I don't understand those people, my son
Who make so much trouble
The boy in the woods, I think he's laughing*
I think he's nice, lying on his back
Since the beginning, I told you, my son
He told that he would go a long way
Look at this, look at this
Look at this, my son, Look at this
Look at this, it's my son

* In this verse, the mother sees a newspaper photo of her son's corpse lying in the bushes. (he was most certainly murdered by off-duty policemen, who get together to form Death Squadrons, financed by local businesses.)


Translation by Andreas Iwainsky with help, advice and criticism of the friendly people . No guarantee for correctness.

[C Elegans]

Very good lyrics, Delacroix, although I understand the translation can't fully capture the original.

Depressing, but true for so many people

[Delacroix]

Originally posted by C Elegans
Very good lyrics, Delacroix, although I understand the translation can't fully capture the original.

Depressing, but true for so many people

Yes it's a little depressive.
The feelings of the Mother, as mother, is so well expressed; she didn't perceive her son was a thief and also by avoid his death.


Ps: If someone know of any good non-english lyric/poetry; i'd like to see the translation.

[Dottie]

Originally posted by Delacroix


Ps: If someone know of any good non-english lyric/poetry; i'd like to see the translation.

I have been quite fond of Violeta Parra from times to times, But im not sure its because of the lyrics.

[C Elegans]

Originally posted by Delacroix
The feelings of the Mother, as mother, is so well expressed; she didn't perceive her son was a thief and also by avoid his death.

Yes, that's what I liked the most, how her view of her son differs from the readers, when we read it we immediately understand her son is a thief, but in her eyes, he is a provider, a carer, he brings happiness and even glamour to their life.

I don't know....as to the meaning, I see it differently. I see her refusing to do the right thing cause she likes the stuff he gives her...In a bigger way, he does it FOR her...he senses her need and destroys his life to fulfull her need for "glamour"...she made no attempt to stop him, not out of innocence, denial or niavete but out of self intrest. ..She, in short, created him to be her thief....but how do we know he is ONLY thief? Maybe he murdered for those baubles for mama....A mother is a powerful influence on a young man, I know if I brought home items such as necklaces for my ma, she'd ask where I got it.
I was poor...very poor... Still am. But once I stole item from store. I got a thick ear and had to go take it back and apologise.
Poverty and mother's love does not equate justification for crime nor blindness to it.
But hey, maybe I am missing out on the whole point. But I gave up existential angst a long time ago.