Saturday, August 9, 2008

Feeling Lazy ^^;

I was surprised when I saw that I only had one post for the whole month of July... I hadn't noticed it go by so quickly. ^^; I can't think of anything vaguely interesting to talk about right now, so I decided to take another crack at translating Tagalog songs into English. This time I chose a few songs from Imago, one of my favorite Pinoy bands. Their lyrics are subtle and almost wistful...I had some trouble thinking of a way to preserve the delicacy of the Tagalog words. English can be so terse sometimes.

All right, here goes... Just like before, these translations are largely literal, and I tried to stick to the original Tagalog. Each one done right after the other, all in one sitting. (So, don't expect these to be too good... XP) Enjoy :)

note: I didn't check the original lyrics after I downloaded them...when I listened to the songs again I found a little error in Sundo's lyrics -.-;; it's a rather big change in the meaning of that particular stanza...I've corrected both the original and the translation here. I've also edited Taning's translation a bit ^^ Oh boy, I'm supposed to be writing my share of my group's thesis proposal, it's due on Monday... XP


Akap by Imago

Nagtatanong
bakit mahirap
sumabay sa agos
ng iyong mundo

Nagtataka
simple lang naman sana
ang buhay
kung ika’y matino

Sabihin sa akin lahat ng lihim mo
iingatan ko
Ibaling sa akin ang problema mo
kakayanin ko

Pikit mata
kong iaalay
ang buwan at araw
pati pa sapatos kong suot

Nagtatanong
simple lang naman sana
ang buhay
kung ika’y lumayo

sabihin sa akin lahat ng lihim mo
iingatan ko
ibaling sa akin ang problema mo
kakayanin ko

Sasamahan ka sa tamis
sasamahan ka sa dilim
sasamahan ka hanggang langit
sasamahan ka sa tamis
sasamahan ka sa pait
sasamahan ka sa dilim
sasamahan ka hanggang langit Sasamahan ka

Ohhh..woohoh..

sabihin sa akin lahat ng lihim mo
iingatan ko
ibaling sa akin ang problema mo
kakayanin ko


Embrace (English Translation by Tina)

I want to know
why it's hard to follow
the way your world turns

I'm confused
Life would be so much simpler
If you were a decent guy

Tell me all your secrets
I'll keep them safe
Tell me all your problems
I'll deal with them

With my eyes closed to the world
I'd offer you the moon and the sun
Even the shoes on my feet

I want to know why
Life would be so much simpler
If you would leave me alone

Tell me all your secrets
I'll keep them safe
Tell me all your problems
I'll deal with them

I'll be by your side when life is sweet
I'll be by your side in the darkness
I'll be by your side all the way to heaven
I'll be by your side when life is sweet
I'll be by your side when life is bitter
I'll be by your side in the darkness
I'll be by your side all the way to heaven
I'll be by your side

Tell me all your secrets
I'll keep them safe
Tell me all your problems
I'll deal with them


Sundo by Imago

Kay tagal kong sinusuyod ang buong mundo
Para hanapin, para hanapin ka
Nilibot ang distrito ng iyong lumbay
Pupulutin, pupulutin ka

Sinusundo kita,
Sinusundo

Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo

Sa akin mo isabit ang pangarap mo
Di kukulangin ang ibibigay
Isuko ang kaba tuluyan kang bumitaw
Ika’y manalig
Manalig ka..

Sinusundo kita
Sinusundo

Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mong mula ngayon pag-ibig ko’y sayo

Handa na sa liwanag mo
Sinuyod ang buong mundo
Maghihintay sayo’ng sundo


Waiting for You (English Translation by Tina)

note: "Sundo" has no equivalent in English; literally it refers to a person who fetches someone else from a place (eg, a nanny fetching a child from nursery school is a "sundo"). On the other hand, its abstract form, "kasunduan," refers to an agreement or contract. I guess there's usually some kind of prior agreement between the "sundo" and the person being fetched... Anyway, I used the image of waiting instead. :)

I scoured the world for so long
Just to look for you
Wandering through the district of your loneliness
I'll help you get up again

I'll come for you
I'll come

Believe me when I say that my love belongs to you from now on

Entrust your dreams to me
My love is endless
Give up your fears, release them completely
Have faith in me
Have faith

I'll come for you
I'll come

Believe me when I say that my love belongs to you from now on

I'm ready for your light
I scoured the whole world
I'll wait for you


Taning by Imago

San mapupulot ang pag-asa
may katuwiran ba ang sala
ngiti ko ang iyong galak
langit ko ang iyong kandungan

Permiso sa isang araw na makasama ka
abiso ng pusong bulag na humahanga

Tama bang aminin na nating may taning
tong pag-ibig natin
dakila man walang kasaysayang kakapit
sa bulag na pag-ibig

Sa’n hihingi ng patawad
kung walang dalang dahilan
tangis ko ang iyong pagluha
nais ko ang iyong kalayaan

Permiso sa isang araw na makasama ka
abiso ng pusong bulag na humahanga

Tama bang aminin na nating may taning
tong pag-ibig natin
dakila man walang kasaysayang kakapit
sa bulag na pag-ibig

Tama bang aminin na nating may taning
tong pag-ibig natin
dakila man walang kasaysayang kakapit
sa bulag na pag-ibig

Permiso sa isang araw na makasama ka
abiso ng pusong bulag na humahanga

tama bang aminin na nating may taning


Not Enough Time (English Translation by Tina)

Where can hope be found?
Is there justification for a crime?
Your happiness brings me joy
Heaven lies in your lap

Permission to be with you for one day
Advice from a heart that blindly admires you

Is it all right for us to admit
that someday our love will end?
No matter how great it is,
history will not honor
such blind love

Where will we ask for forgiveness
if we have no excuses?
Your tears bring me grief
I want you to be free

Permission to be with you for one day
Advice from a heart that blindly admires you

Is it all right for us to admit
that someday our love will end?
No matter how great it is,
history will not honor
such blind love

Permission to be with you for one day
Advice from a heart that blindly admires you

Is it all right for us to admit
that someday our love will end?

3 comments:

Bharat said...

Nice :) very heartfelt soulful songs... But if someone sang them in English, I bet they'd be just another pop song or whatnot....

English can be so terse sometimes :P

Emir Rio Abueva said...

wow! matagal ka na ngang di nag-update eh... Busy?! :D

Anonymous said...

@emir: nag-comment ang isa pang matagal ding mag-update. haha. peace

@tina: sana from ibang bands naman :D Waiting For You is fine but Not Enough Time? baka ano pa bang ibang pwede sa Taning? hehe. sana may iba pang post :)) (parang ako may ibang post maliban sa tv shows ah, haha)