I've grown accustomed to listening to music in different languages: Gaelic, Dutch, Swedish, French, German and, if I include some choral masses in my classical collection, some Latin as well. I'm more of a music and sound person, it seems. I find that, even with some English-language songs that I've known for decades, I still don't know all the words and, with some others, still haven't a clue what the songs mean!
On occasion, I've enlisted the help of native speakers to help me with translations. I did this only recently with a song in Dutch called Zusje ("Sister"). I wanted to know more about the song because, in all the thousands and thousands of songs I've heard over my lifetime, I can't recall any other song that touches on the topic of how brothers feel about their sisters. My Dutch friend Stephanie wrote:
The song is called "Sister". They sing about the relationship between brothers and sisters, when you are young you act differently and that you feel you and your sister are so different but at the same time so alike. And a sort of looking out for your sister and then about nowadays: you would want to see your sister more, but you don't; you never said it, but want to say you love your sister. I hope you kind of understand it a bit, it is hard to explain with just translating the words.
I had help from Simone, a wonderful friend and Corrs fan from the French island of Réunion, help me with understanding the words to some of Nolwenn's songs - she gave me these translations of a couple songs from the debut album:
14 Février (February 14th)
There are some days
Days where gods forget you
Where some memories are weigh
Days you shouldn't have to live
Or put inside brackets
Just one day
That I crossed off
Forever
February, 14 th
There are days
Days which are your enemies
Worth than Friday, 13 th
Days that passed by in slow-motion
Just one day
Of the calendar
February, 14 th
When you know the time
When you know the hurt
That it takes, to forget
When you know the emptiness
When you live that lack
Meanwhile, loving anymore
Loving anymore
There are some nights
That we never want to see
That brings you on the edge of a cliff
Nights too white to escape
Because they make you uncomfortable
Like that day
Of the hourglass
Just one day
February, 14th
Suivre une Étoile (Follow a Star)
Follow a star
And let yourself sway softly in the wind
Sail away
On storm sails and old tackles
Fill up with (I don't know how to say "Air du temps"
In our lonely races
Lost passengers with different designs
Inventors, commercial travellers
We move forward, without knowing anything
Lovers or fishermen
We all go to the same stories
Follow a star
For her, proceed to all fights
Sail away
Against the sky, feel high enough
And make the citadels tumble and fall
All my virtual ramparts
Be that as it may
Look for my silk road
On my way to Brocéliande
Following Perceval
I would like to find my legend
Be attached to an Ideal
Follow a star
And get carried away by the wind
Sail away
On storm sail and old tackles
Despite of fear
I want to keep the best for my heart
The Love in the Soul
Through this world, I feel
That someone is waiting for me
And meet on this earth
A little bit of interdependent love
Be that as it may
Look for the road that brings me to you
Follow a star
Up above, run softly in the wind
sail away...
Steverino