THE VILLAGE UP NORTH

Some weeks ago I have finally seen the band Maj Karma live. They are Finnish, of course, and I have started to listen their music a couple of years ago. Even with that poor knowledge of Finnish language as I had in those times, I was able to realise the band was featuring strong lyrics; well, now I understand lyrics of Maj Karma's songs without dictionary.

There is a particular Maj Karma's song I really feel attracted to - and not because it seems to be an old hit. Again, it's the lyrics. The story of my latest play that I wrote back in 2006 and also my personal story. So, here I provide you with the translated lyrics. For better understanding you can also read this article about Sodankylä, the village in the Arctic Circle and then you can also enjoy Maj Karma's video.

Sodankylä

Tää on Sodankylä kaukana, täynnä ihmeitä.
This is Sodankylä, full of wonders.
Kesä saattaa olla lämmin, vaan ei näin ylhäällä.
Summer can be warm, but not up here.
Sä jäit seisoon pakkaseen, mun oli mentävä.
You stood still in the frost, I had to go.

Se on surullista, niin kovin surullista.
This is sad, so very sad.

Me oltiin napapiirin rakastavaiset, vähän aikaa vaan.
We were lovers of the Arctic Circle, only for some time.
Ja nyt kun satu on ohi, ei tarvi matkustaa,
And now when the story is over there is no need to travel,
rakkaimpansa luokse aina jonnekkin pohjolaan.
to the lover always somewhere up north.

Se on surullista, tai ei oikeastaan...
This is sad, or not really...

Joo, mä tajusin ettei, tajusin ettei me,
Yes, I realised we won't, I realised we won't
enää nähdä toisiamme.
see eachother again.
Mä sanoin hyvästi ystävä hei, e-ei.
I said farewell my friend, hei, no-no
Joo, mä tajusin ettei, tajusin ettei me,
Yes, I realised we won't, I realised we won't
enää nähdä toisiamme.
see eachother again.
Vaan onko väliä sillä, no ei, e-ei.
But does it really matter, well no, no-no.

Sodankylä, Sodankylä.

Soi Sodankylän Seita-baareissa iskelmä.
In Sodankylä's Seita-bar schlager is playing
Ollaan onnellisii, kaikki on hienosti-hä.
We are happy, everything is well-eh.

Sodankylä, Sodankylä.

Joo, mä tajusin ettei, tajusin ettei me,
Yes, I realised we won't, I realised we won't
enää nähdä toisiamme.
see eachother again.
Vaan onko väliä sillä, no ei, e-ei.
But does it really matter, well no, no-no.

Sodankylä, Sodankylä.
Sodankylä, Sodankylä.

Hei, Sodankylä. Sodankylä.
Sodankylä, Sodankylä.

Tää on Sodankylä kaukana, täynnä ihmeitä.
This is Sodankylä, full of wonders.

SYKSY

kuulaina öinä syksyn
kajo täyttää taivaan hohtoon
sarasteen koittaessa
taivaanlaki ylle kumartuu
huomenen tervehdyksen
kaikuessa aamuruskoon
pimeän selänteen kääntyessä
takaisin suo meille yön tummuus
loisteeton päivyt

Tenhi

Kanelikirja on kaksivuotias. Onnea, ja kaunista syksyä!

Cinammon book is a two-year-old. Beautiful autumn to my dear friends and fellow bloggers!

MOMENTS OF TRANSLATION

Uuno Kailas (1901 -1933)

Paljain jaloin
Bosih nog
translated by Kaneli

Niin mä kerran
Tako nekoč
tieni aloin
začel sem pot
niin mä kuljen:
tako hodim:
paljain jaloin.
bosih nog.

Avohaavat
Žive rane
syvät näissä
njih globoke
ammottavat
odpirajo
kantapäissä:
se v pete:

rystysihin
not v členke
joka kiven
vsakter' kamen
jäänyt niist' on
od njih ostal
verta hiven.
je del krvi.

- Mutta niinkuin
-A kot tako
matkan aloin,
začel sem pot,
päätän myös sen:
jo končam še:
paljain jaloin.
bosih nog.

Silloinkin, kun
Tudi kadar
tuska syvin
bol globoko
viiltää, virkan:
reže, kriknem:
- Näin on hyvin.
- To je dobro.

Tapahtukoon
Naj zgodi se
tahtos sinun,
želja tvoja,
Kohtaloni,
Moja usoda,
eikä minun
in ne moja.

LEAP DAY

Just because it occurs only every four years. Just because it feels strange. Just because the past days, today including, were not that very cheerful...

Uuno Kailas: Contemplation

Ei seesty pääni päällä,
tuo vanhat pilvet päivä uus.
Ja joka päivä täällä
on pieni ikuisuus.

CALM, SO CALM

Today it was Slovenian Cultural Holiday. Gray, rainy and sleepy. Slightly sad, as Slovenian poets can be. The Holiday is deducated to our gratest poet France Prešeren as he died on this day back in 1849. His heart was broken since he was in love with some fancy girl that did not care about him at all. Well, I guess I understand him. Alright, but for the Cultural Day I will contribute one of my translations from the archive, not to waste it (Kaneli translator wannabie). The poem is a lyrics from the band Verenpisara (Drop of Blood). I like it as I am attracted to the image of water. There must be a strong stroy behind. So I went deeper into the poem. Indeed it was slightly odd, but nevertheless. The lyrics confused me at first... but after consulting some native speakers I happened to met, my assumptions were confirmed. Translating such poems with some very basic knowledge of Finnish is an interesting practice. Poems do use language differently; that makes things even more tricky... and yes, perhaps I will try to translate some genuine Slovenian poetry into Finnish next time.

Sinun tyyneytesi vie voiton kaikesta

Your calmness defeats all

Tvoj mir premaga vse

piirrän eteesi viivan, älä astu sen yli

I draw a line infront of you, do not step over it

Narišem črto predte, ne stopi čez

piirrän eteesi veteen viivan, älä astu sen yli
I draw a line infront of you on the water, do not step over it

Narišem črto predte v vodo, ne stopi čez

kuljetan sinut pintaan, imen vapaaksi ilmasta
I carry you into the surface, I suck free from the air

Popeljem te v gladino, svoboden zajamem zrak

vesi on tyyni, sinun tyyneytesi vie voiton kaikesta
Water is calm, your calmness defeats all

Voda je mirna, tvoj mir premaga vse

puhun sinulle kosketan hiuksiasi
I speak to you I touch your hair

Govorim ti, dotikam se tvojih las
kuljetan sinut pintaan, imen vapaaksi ilmasta

I carry you into the surface, I suck free from the air

Popeljem te v gladino, svoboden zajamem zrak
vesi on tyyni, sinun tyyneytesi vie voiton kaikesta
Water is calm, your calmness defeats all

Voda je mirna, tvoj mir premaga vse

minun kuivakukkani umpeutui, värinä kädestä reidelleni
My dried up flower closed, shivering from the hand to my thighs

Moja suha roža se je zaprla, drget z roke na moja stegna
ruususuu etääntyi tyhjän vihani ympäriltä
Rosey mouth drew away from the soroundings of my empty anger

Rožnata usta so se odmaknila iz okolice moje prazne jeze

tuhkan kevytkenkäiseen tanssiin
Into the loose dance of ashes

V lahkotni ples pepela

TIME OF FEASTS

Today, I was given this lyrics to check out. It belongs to Finnish punk band Au Pair; listen to the exact song HERE. Hei, just do it, guys totally rock! Well, but since I take every single thingie in this life so bloody seriously, I have also noticed I am able to translate these words. As it can be seen. And yes, this is my first ''published'' translation from Finnish. Wow.

JUHLAT

CELEBRATION

Puhun asioista
I talk about things
joita en ymmärrä
That I don't understand
Kirjoitan sanoja
I write words
joita en käsitä
That I don't comprehend
Koko elämäni turhaan yrittänyt olla jotain
All my life I've tried to be something in vain

Olen humaani
I'm humanist
Olen empaatti
I'm empathist
Osaan nuoleskella
I 'm able to lick
tärkeitä perseitä
Important arses
Vaikka olen ihan vitun typerä
Though I'm so fuckin'stupid

Ja kahdenkymmenen vuoden päästä
And twenty years after
Istun läski isäntä
I'll sit, fat master
juhlapöydän päässä
At the festive table
Jos en sitä ennen ammu itseäni vahingossa
If I won't accidentally shoot myself before that

TODAY'S LYRICS

Flogging Molly
ANOTHER BAG OF BRICKS

T`was in the early evenin

`Near the presence of the moon

You told me you would meet me here

Well now is not too soon

This dagger twisting in my back

Tells me I never should

Have trusted everything to fall

From beggar to fool

I see your face like every race

A serpent with two arms

Devouring me while rains the sun

With dreams in foreign lands

This cold dark tormented hell

Is all I`ll ever know

So when you get to heaven

May the devil be the judge

With another bag of bricks

I scratch your name across these walls
And with my blood turns red
Then drips upon my killing floor

Where I now call my bed

No precious light to harbor

Like so many here before

Now breathes a thousand more
With another bag of bricks
Temper filled with blindness
Leads this lost and lonely man
Dragged around your whipping tree
A scourge you can`t command
So deafen me with silence
Drown me with your roar
Scowl me with your hollow eyes
Still burnin` to the core
No door will go unanswerd
Like so many closed before
No vagabond to knock upon
This tired and beatin` war
When all return to exile
Free from all once bound
Decline and brawl old parasites
The truth will yet be found

Hei, dear people, so what kind of lyrics makes you cry?