Song translation - Both Sides Now
I'm trying to translate the lyrics to a mix cd that I'm going to give my ESL students next week. The students are from Central America. I will be posting these fairly regularly for the next few days. Thank you so much to anyone who has the time to proofread the translation. I'm trying to translate them as word for word as possible but still make sense. I don't want to take a lot of creative liberties with the translation unless it's necessary to keep the same meaning. Thanks for your help.
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell 1969
Ambos Lados Ahora
Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
Moños y rizos del cabello de angeles y castillos de helado en el aire
and feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way.
y cañones de plumas a todos lados, así he visto a las nubes.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
Pero ya sólo tapan el sol, lluevan y nievan sobre todos
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way.
Tantas cosas que hubiera hecho pero nubes se pusieron delante de mí.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
He visto a las nubes de ambos lados ahora
from up and down, and still somehow
de arriba y de abajo y todavia por alguna razón
it's cloud illusions I recall.
son las ilusiones de nube que recuerdo (Illusions in English can only mean deceptions without the additional meaning of hopes and thrills like in Spanish. So, should I translate it as engaños o falsas apariencias to be more clear?)
I really don't know clouds at all.
Realmente no conozco a nubes en absoluto (??no sé nada de nubes en absoluto??)
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
Lunas y junios y norias, lo que sientes de bailar mareada (???)
When every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
Cuando todos los cuentos de hadas se conviertan en realidad, así he visto al amor
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
Pero ya es sólo otro show. Los dejas riendose cuando te marchas
and if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.
y si te importa, no los dejas saberlo, no te desenmascara
I've looked at love from both sides now,
He visto al amor de ambos lados ahora
from give and take, and still somehow
de dar y recibir y todavia por alguna razón
it's love's illusions I recall.
son las ilusiones del amor que recuerdo
I really don't know love at all.
Realmente no conozco a amor en absoluto
Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "I love you" right out loud,
Lagrimas y temores y sentir orgullosa a decir “te amo” en voz alta
dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I've looked at life that way.
sueños y planes y muchedumbre de circo, así he visto a la vida
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
Pero ya viejos amigos se portan extraños, mueven la cabeza, dicen que
I've changed.
he cambiado
But Something's lost and something's gained in living every day.
pero algo está perdido y algo está ganado en vivir todos los días
I've looked at life from both sides now,
He visto a la vida de ambos lados ahora
from win and lose, and still somehow
de ganar y perder y todavia por alguna razón
it's life's illusions I recall.
son las ilusiones de la vida que recuerdo
I really don't know life at all.
No conozco la vida en absoluto
1 Answer
Nice song, I have Nana Mouskouri singing it in my music collection, sorry I can't translate the lyrics we will have to wait for a native or advanced speaker. Oh sorry I see you have already translated it, looks good to me.
