Translations
Translating poetry is less about translating words and meanings, more about the rhythms, the feelings it conveys when reading. That is what makes it exciting, inspiring and such an instructive and rewarding process.
Liberty, erster Vers
Ja, ein Schiff will ich mir bauen!
Schön' sollt ihr nimmer schauen
Auf dem hohen weiten Meer;
"Freiheit" wird vom Maste wehen,
"Freiheit" wird am Buge stehen,
Freiheitstrunken fährt's einher.
Liberty, first verse
Yes, a ship I'll build for me!
More beautiful than ever seen
Far and wide on ocean waves;
"Liberty" is what the flag will say,
"Liberty" will be carved in the mast,
and drunk on freedom we'll sail at last.
Paarreime in absteigender Linie
Von den Gästen
Was einer ist, was einer war,
beim Scheiden wird es offenbar.
Ruft er "Auf Nimmerwiedersehen",
dann laß ihn frohen Herzens gehn.
Sagt er "Leb wohl, so leid mir's tut",
dann sei mal lieber auf der Hut.
Tut er nur "Tschau, bis dann dann" brommen,
dann will das Arschloch wiederkommen.
Couplets in descending lines!
Of guests
How people are, and how they were,
The seperation lays it bare.
If he calls "Goodbye for good",
then shall go light of heart and foot.
But if he calls, "A sad Goodbye"
Be weary then, for it's a lie.
And is he just mumbling "see you soon",
you bet the asshole's back at noon.