Translating Songs...
The other night I had my boyfriend listen to my favorite song, (Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen,) and he asked what it meant. Well, I ended up attempting to translate the whole thing into Spanish today. This task went a little above my Spanish skills (although I think it was a very good learning exercise for me,) so I was hoping somebody here could look over my translation and tell me if it makes any sense.
First, the original lyrics-
It's four in the morning, the end of December
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
New York is cold, but I like where I'm living
There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening.
I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert
You're living for nothing now
I hope you're keeping some kind of record.
Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her that night that you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?
Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You'd been to the station to meet every train
And you came home without Lili Marlene
And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And when she came back she was nobody's wife.
Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well I see Jane's awake - She sends her regards.
And what can I tell you my brother, my killer?
What can I possibly say?
I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you
I'm glad you stood in my way.
If you ever come by here, for Jane or for me
Your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.
Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
I thought it was there for good so, I never tried.
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her, that night that you planned to go clear
Sincerely, L. Cohen
And my attempted translation-
Son las cuatro de la mañana, a finales de diciembre
Te escribo ahora para saber si estás major
Nueva York es frío, pero me gusta donde vivo
Hay música en la calle Clinton durante toda la noche.
He oído que estás construyendo tu casita en dentro el desierto
Ya vives por nada, espero que estés anotando algún tipo de historia.
Sí, y Jane vino con un mechón de tu pelo
Dijo que le diste a ella esa noche que planeabas ir libre
¿Habías ido libre?
La última vez que te vi, te parecía tan viejo
Tu famosa gabardina azul se estaba desgarrado en el hombro
Habías estado en la estación para encontrar todos los trenes
Y volviste a casa sin Lili Marlene
Y diste a mi mujer un copo de tu vida
Y cuando ella se volvió, era la esposa de nadie.
Te veo ahí con la rosa en los dientes
Una mas ladrona gitana delgada
Pues veo Jane está despierto - Ella te envía saludos a tí.
¿Y qué puedo decirte a mi hermano, a mi asesino?
¿Qué puedo decir?
Supongo que te echo de menos, supongo que te perdono
Me alegro de que te interponiste en mi camino.
Si alguna vez vienes por aquí, por Jane o por mí
Tu enemigo está durmiendo, y su mujer es libre.
Sí, y gracias, por las preocupaciones que le quitaste de los ojos
Pensé que estaba allí para siempre, así yo nunca intenté.
Sí, y Jane vino con un mechón de tu pelo
Dijo que le diste a ella esa noche que planeabas ir libre
Saludos, L. Cohen
1 Answer
Lyricsfreak has many songs in English already translated into Spanish and vice versa. I would compare your translation to the one they have and see where the differences are. Show your boyfriend and see if it makes more sense to him.
