Wherefore
Wherefore, my friend, we're fighting here
this bloody battle, tell me, what
we are killing for - dishonour rules wherefore
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you'd begun
remember, friend, a loving mother's beloved son.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheeks, their wife's lips and sister's brow?
Instead of this they're staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you may hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But even more, let's take a stand and pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's but a stupid word
for silly games they used to play.
Wherefore, my friend, we're fighting here
tell me, dear friend, wherefore
we're killing here - dishonour rules wherefore?
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like youand me
remember, friend, in mother's loving arms.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheek and wife's lips and sister's brow
Instead of this are staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you can hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now, how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But evenmore, let us now pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's are but stupid words
for silly games they used to play.
Dies ist der Versuch einer Übertragung eines Reimgedichtes in Deutsch, das ein Kriegsveteran des Zweiten WK geschrieben hat, der Cousin meines Vaters. Fallschirmspringer auf Kreta, Lebensretter eines griechischen Jungen, Afrikafeldzugteilnehmer, involviert in die Invasion in der Normandie, in Kriegsgefangenschaft in Schottland. Er wird 86 Jahre alt und möchte im Mai nach Kreta, auf das Treffen der Veteranen der Fallschirmspringer dort. Vielleicht gibt es dort Gelegenheit, seine Verse in der englischen Version vorzutragen. Wenn jemandem ein Fehler in der englischen Übertragung auffällt, wäre ich froh, wenn er es anmerkt.
Die Reime schaffe ich leider nicht zu übertragen, mir geht es v.a. um die Grammatik.
Im Deutschen heißt es "mein Freund", ich konnte mich nicht entscheiden, ob ich "my friend", "dear friend" oder "buddy" benutzen soll, buddy ist wohl das Wort mit dem sich Soldaten untereinander ansprechen.
this bloody battle, tell me, what
we are killing for - dishonour rules wherefore
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you'd begun
remember, friend, a loving mother's beloved son.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheeks, their wife's lips and sister's brow?
Instead of this they're staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you may hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But even more, let's take a stand and pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's but a stupid word
for silly games they used to play.
tell me, dear friend, wherefore
we're killing here - dishonour rules wherefore?
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you
remember, friend, in mother's loving arms.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheek and wife's lips and sister's brow
Instead of this are staining now
the fighting grounds
with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you can hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now, how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But evenmore, let us now pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's are but stupid words
for silly games they used to play.
Dies ist der Versuch einer Übertragung eines Reimgedichtes in Deutsch, das ein Kriegsveteran des Zweiten WK geschrieben hat, der Cousin meines Vaters. Fallschirmspringer auf Kreta, Lebensretter eines griechischen Jungen, Afrikafeldzugteilnehmer, involviert in die Invasion in der Normandie, in Kriegsgefangenschaft in Schottland. Er wird 86 Jahre alt und möchte im Mai nach Kreta, auf das Treffen der Veteranen der Fallschirmspringer dort. Vielleicht gibt es dort Gelegenheit, seine Verse in der englischen Version vorzutragen. Wenn jemandem ein Fehler in der englischen Übertragung auffällt, wäre ich froh, wenn er es anmerkt.
Die Reime schaffe ich leider nicht zu übertragen, mir geht es v.a. um die Grammatik.
Im Deutschen heißt es "mein Freund", ich konnte mich nicht entscheiden, ob ich "my friend", "dear friend" oder "buddy" benutzen soll, buddy ist wohl das Wort mit dem sich Soldaten untereinander ansprechen.
ElsaLaska - 12. Dez, 23:38
My five cents
- 1 u.a.: Wherefore: Scheint mir gehobenes und eher antiquierteres Englisch zu sein... Wäre "For what" besser anstelle des "wofür"?
- 4: a man like _us_
- 5: loving _mother's arms_
- 7: statt her immer their
- 8: purple: steht das für "rot färben"? mir kommt "redden" oder "stain red" besser vor
- 9: of theirs: Nee, ist nicht gut, lieber their blood, auch wenn Dich vom Reim her in die Enge bringt
- 18 (wenn ich mich nicht verzählt habe): once a day heißt: einmal am Tag. Eines Tages müsste one day heißen.
Man merkt aber schon Elsas Sprachgefühl!!!
zusätzlich
Zeile4: 'a man like me' oder ' men like us', nicht 'a man like us'
Zeile6-9:
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again their mother's cheeks, their women's lips and sister's brows
Instead of this they are staining now
the fighting grounds with purple blood of theirs
Zeile 14:
statt 'buddy' würde ich in Zeile 14 'buddy soldier' verwenden.
Zeile 17-20:
But even more, let us now pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's but a stupid word
for silly games they used to play.
Das hier wäre dann meine Version:
Wherefore, my friend, we're fighting here
this bloody battle, tell me, wherefore
we're killing here - dishonour rules wherefore
The enemy - a man like me, began his life like you and me
remember, friend, in loving mother's arms.
How many killed on battlefields are never to come home
to kiss again her mother's cheeks, her women's lips and sister's brows
Instead of this they are staining now
the fighting grounds with purple blood of theirs
and as you listen you can hear
the begging pleading crying
and sometimes, friend,
the silent sound of praying.
My buddy soldier, are you thinking now, how this will end for us?
Wherefore, my friend?
Let us accuse this slaughter fury hell
But even more, let us now pray,
there'll come a day, our children, friends,
will realize that battle's but a stupid word
for silly games they used to play.
Ich hoffe, ich konnte dir weiter helfen.