Tiger urged me to translate one of my favorites among their songs... Having done so, after hesitating for decades, I of course had to translate it to English... (Oct and Nov 2003)


När skördetiden kom/At Harvest Time

(fritt efter Beatles-låten "In My Life")

Skuggor, minnen, platser, vänner
aldrig blekna till intighet.
Vad jag känt och ännu känner
med en styrka av evighet
på förgänglighetens altare förtvina
förvandlas till mull ska vitnat ben.
Fast jag älskade och glömde ej de mina
när skördetiden kom fanns endast en.

Han fick all min heta längtan
sökte bot för själens ensamhet.
Vilsna barn, vart bär din hunger
när gemenskap byts i enslighet?
Genom livet ska du söka efter värde
tills skymningens frid blir intensiv
minns då kärleken som livet grymt förtärde -
och blodets kalla larm. Så var ditt liv!

Carpe diem, ditt liv tarvar en knuff! (= kodan, instrumental i original)


And the translation:

At Harvest Time
(Music: "In my life", by Lennon/McCartney)

Shadows, places, friends and memories
never fade into nothingness.
All my feelings and emotions
have the power of eternity.
At the altar of old vanity decaying
are withering bones and things of yore:
And at harvest time my memories are straying
remembering the love I had before.

'cause I gave him all my yearning
seeking cure from my loneliness.
Erring child with hunger burning
ever seeking your integrity
Just remember: people, never things, will give you
that value you're searching through all strife.
And at twilight time tranquility will burn you -
in cold alert of blood. Behold your life!

Carpe diem, 'cause life needs but a push! (= the coda - with no words in its original version)





Poetry by Caprice
Read 1029 times
Written on 2009-04-10 at 12:27

Tags Friendship  Love  Memories 

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