Song translation - Against the Wind

Question

I'm trying to translate the lyrics to a mix cd that I'm going to give my ESL students this week. The students are from Central America. 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.

Against The Wind – Bod Seger 1980

It seems like yesterday Parece como ayer

But it was long ago Pero fue hace tiempo

Janey was lovely she was the queen of my nights Janey era linda era la reina de mis noches

There in the darkness with the radio playing low Allí en la oscuridad con el radio tocando suavemente

And the secrets that we shared Y los secretos que compartimos

The mountains that we moved Las montañas que movimos

Caught like a wildfire out of control Encendidos como un reguero de pólvora descontrolado

'Til there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove Hasta que no había nada para quemar ni nada más para demostrar

And I remember what she said to me Y recuerdo lo que me dijo

How she swore that it never would end Como juró que nunca acabaría

I remember how she held me oh so tight Recuerdo cómo me abrazó tan fuerte

Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then Ojala que no sepa ahora lo que no supiera entonces

Against the wind Contra el viento

We were runnin' against the wind Estabamos corriendo contra el viento

We were young and strong, we were runnin' Eramos jovenes y fuertes y corriendo contra el viento

The years rolled slowly past Los años pasaron despacio

And I found myself alone Y me encontré solo

Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends Rodeado de desconocidos que creyera que fueran mis amigos

I found myself further and further from my home Me encontré más y más lejos de mi casa

And I guess I lost my way Y sopongo que perdí mi camino

There were oh so many roads Había tantas calles

I was living to run and running to live Estaba viviendo para correr y corriendo para vivir

Never worried about paying or even how much I owed Nunca me preocupé sobre de pagar ni sobre hasta cuanto debía

Moving eight miles a minute for months at a time Moviendome ocho millas el minuto por meses en seguido

Breaking all of the rules that would bend Quebrando todas las reglas que fueron flexibles

I began to find myself searching Empezé a encontrarme en busca

Searching for shelter again and again en busca de un refugio una y otra vez

Against the wind Contra el viento

A little something against the wind Un poco de algo contra el viento

I found myself seeking shelter sgainst the wind Me encontré en busca de un refugio contra el viento

Well those drifter's days are past me now Pues, los días de vagabundo ya los dejé atrás

I've got so much more to think about Tengo mucho más sobre de que pensar

Deadlines and commitments Plazos y compromisos

What to leave in, what to leave out Qué incluir, qué omitir

Against the wind Contra el viento

I'm still runnin' against the wind Todavia estoy corriendo contra el viento

I'm older now but still runnin' against the wind Ya estoy más viejo pero todavia estoy corriendo contra el viento

Watch the young man run Mira al jóven correr

Watch the young man runnin' Mira al jóven corriendo

He'll be runnin' against the wind Estará corriendo contra el viento

Let the cowboys ride Deja que los cowboys corren a caballo

They'll be ridin' against the wind Estarán corriendo a caballo contra el viento

Answer 1

These are just suggestions...

It seems like yesterday - Parece como que fue ayer

But it was long ago - Pero fue hace (ya) mucho tiempo

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Janey was lovely she was the queen of my nights Janey era linda, era la reina de mis noches

There in the darkness with the radio playing low Allí en la oscuridad con la radio tocando sonando suavemente

Nothing wrong with either "el" or "tocando" as far as I know. Just thought it might sound better with the alliteration.

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Caught like a wildfire out of control - Encendidos Prendidos como reguero de pólvora descontrolado un incendio/fuego sin control (arrasador)

'Til there was nothing left to burn and nothing left to prove - Hasta que no había quedó nada (más) para quemar arder ni nada más para demostrar

The word "caught" seems to carry a double meaning in that it can be used to refer to a fire "catching" (beginning to burn) as well as to the fact that they themselves are caught (captured) by this fire (a possible metaphor for the passion that they feel) that is burning out of control. Have a look at the RAE definition of prender (especially 1, 5 and 6) and see whether you think it might fit better or not. Of course, your original verb "encender" can also be used to mean both "prender fuego" and "enardecer" so it might be better to leave it as it is.

Considering that the word "burning" seems to be a sort of metaphor for the passions and desires shared by Janey and himself, it seems like arder might be a better verb to use to capture this sentiment because it can be used to mean both a literal burning as well as a figurative burning brought on by passions.

And I remember what she said to me - Y recuerdo me acuerdo de lo que me dijo

How she swore that it never would end - Como (me) juró que nunca acabaría

Again, nothing wrong with "recuerdo," just threw in "me acuerdo de" for the alliteration.

Thanks! Good suggestions. - alba3, Aug 16, 2010