a Czech song: Starý muž

Discussion in 'Culture' started by rsalc1, Jul 23, 2009.

  1. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Here is my translation of a song by Jaromír Nohavica.
    I found this translation quite easy and I hope that I didn't make too many mistakes :)

    STARÝ MUŽ
    Až budu starým mužem budu staré knihy číst
    a mladé víno lisovat
    až budu starým mužem budu si konečně jist
    tím koho chci milovat
    koupím si pergamen a štětec a tuš
    a jako čínský mudrc sednu na břeh řeky
    a budu starý muž

    When I am an old man I will read old books
    and press young(?) wine
    When I am an old man I will finally be sure
    of whom I want to love
    I will buy a scroll, a brush and ink
    and like a Chinese wise man I will sit by the river bank
    and I will be an old man.

    Až budu starým mužem pořídím si starý byt
    a jedno staré rádio
    až budu starým mužem budu svoje místo mít
    u okna kavárny Avion
    koupím si pergamen a štětec a tuš
    a budu pozorovat lidi kam jdou asi
    a budu starý muž

    When I am an old man I will acquire an old place to live
    and an old radio
    When I am an old man I will have my place
    by the window of Avion coffee house
    I will buy a scroll, a brush and ink
    and probably I will watch people as they go
    and I will be an old man

    Až budu starým mužem budu černý oblek mít
    a šedou vázanku
    až budu starým mužem budu místo vody pít
    lahodné víno ze džbánku
    koupím si pergamen a štětec a tuš
    a budu mlčet jako mlčí ti kdo vědí už
    starý muž

    When I am an old man I will have black clothes
    and grey neckties
    When I am an old man
    instead of water I will drink
    sweet wine from a pitcher
    I will buy a scroll, a brush and ink
    and I will be silent like he who already knows
    old man

    ----
    It's interesting: the first line of a verse is always "Až budu starým mužem" but the last line is "budu starý muž"
    Does the last line mean that now he finally indeed IS an old man?
     
  2. Alexx

    Alexx Well-Known Member

    Very good :)

    Pozorovat lidi, kam jdou asi (?)
    Watch people, (wonder) where they go


    mladé víno - first wine of season (I guess) - like Beaujolais nouveau (please correct me someone if I am wrong, I am not really into wine)


    Až budu starým mužem (až budu Kým) - nominative
    Až budu starý muž (až budu Kdo) - instrumental


    I guess this varies in the song just because of rythm/rhyme.
     
  3. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Alexx,
    Thanks for the explanations. Díky za vysvětlení. Gracias por las correcciones.

    * Great! A new phrase for me to learn. I will add it to my vocabulary list
    ** I understand what you mean, even though I am not into wine myself
    *** Oops. You wrote the cases in the wrong place. It should be instrumental, then nominative :wink:
     
  4. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    Perhaps “if/as and when I am…” or even “once I become… / as soon as I become”.

    It’s wine fermented for a short period. Nohavica is from the Czech Republic, hence he is more likely to produce the wine of St. Martin than Beaujolais. :wink:

    (Some people use the word “víno” even for the grapes. In this context “mladé víno” could stay for “early grapes”.)

    pergamen = parchment, vellum
    scroll = svitek

    No, you can’t move the “asi” from the subordinate clause to the main clause. This means he wonders what’s the likely destination of the people.

    In Czech we often use “mít (na sobě)” in place of English “to wear”, so perhaps “I will wear”.

    And there is only one necktie in the original. :D

    better: delicious, mellow, tasty

    In the original there is “like they (the people) who already know”. Is the singular the common construction in English?

    “Být + nominative” is used for absolute facts (state) while “být + instrumental” is used for relative/temporary facts (change of state).

    The opening line refers to a change of state:

    once I become an old man (and not before)
    ~ when I retire

    The closing line refers to simple fact (state) of being old (wise) man.
     
  5. rsalc1

    rsalc1 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for all the explanations, wer, I really appreciate your insights.

    * The singular construction is used sometimes in English, for example:
    He who laughs last laughs best
    He who hesitates is lost
    He who is not against you is for you
    He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone
     

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