A keresés eredménye

Why Upset Granny?

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man1,
We live together with our granny in a lovely flat.
We live on the ground floor and our granny
Paces the outbuilding, craving information about the whole family.
But although we have a regular mess since the morning,
We don’t tell granny this to keep her in a good mood.
 
Uncle Ziutek – how sad! – although quite a big boy,
He bid farewell to the world with a clothesline.
'How’s Ziuteczek2?', granny’s voice rings out from the attic,
'How’s he doing?' 'Top of the line, granny, top of the line!'3.
But nobody’s in a hurry to give granny the details.
Why upset granny? Let granny be happy.
 
Little cousin Ernestynka, the family’s pride,
was taking jackdaws out of the nest and fell from the ladder.
'How’s the little one?', granny’s happy voice rings out from above,
'How’s she doing?', 'On an upward curve, granny, on an upward curve!'4.
But nobody’s in a hurry to give granny the details.
Why upset granny? Let granny be happy.
 
Daddy had a cash shortage and now he’s in jail.
It was mentioned in press, in Express and in Życie5,
But this fact will not torment our granny,
Because we print a separate newspaper for her.
On a home printer we prepare all the stories
And, in general, we don’t let granny go downstairs.
 
One truth invigorates us: one day our family
Will face a situation where we can only be better off.
And when we’re finally better off, ladies and gentlemen,
Pat-a-cake, we won’t tell our granny anything, either.
Let the grey little head stay undisturbed at her home.
Why upset granny? Let granny be happy.
 

• 1. (After Wikipedia:)The rhyme often accompanies a clapping game between two people. It alternates between a normal individual clap by one person with two-handed claps with the other person. The hands may be crossed as well. This allows for a possibly complex sequence of clapping that must be coordinated between the two. (photos in 'Game' section)
• 2. A diminutive for Ziutek, which is a diminutive itself of a name equivalent to Joseph.
• 3. Play of words. In the original lyrics the author says, literally, that the uncle is doing (or rather 'going') 'like on the line', which is a play of words, taking into account the uncle’s hanging himself on the clothsline.
• 4. Play of words. In the original lyrics the author, replying to the granny’s question about the cousin’s wellbeing, uses an expression which can mean two things: that the girl is doing just great (she’s on an upward curve) or that she’s growing crooked (as a result of the accident).
• 5. Express Wieczorny and Życie Warszawy were two important newspapers issued for several decades since mid-1940s.

Lili Marleen.

The light shines through the dark
because at the gates barracks,
a lantern is burning,
which I know well.
I want to see you this evening
in its radiance.
Lili Marleen.
I want it so, Lili Marleen.
I want it so, Lili Marleen.
 
You are coming
and the two shadows
intertwine into one common shadow
among shining of the beacons.
Let everyone see this image,
my shadow and yours.
Lili Marleen.
And yours, Lili Marleen.
And yours, Lili Marleen.
 
I hear your steps
and golden sparks
carve your face in darkness,
they hurt me.
Who will be with you this evening?
And night until dawn?
Lili Marleen.
until dawn Lili Marleen.
until dawn Lili Marleen.
 
But when I fall into the abyss,
I firmly believe that
one yours kiss
will save me.
You will be with me again this evening
and night until dawn.
until dawn Lili Marleen.
until dawn Lili Marleen.