Arguably the most well-known song in Azerbaijan and something of a second national anthem I believe. A beautiful song. I have long thought about attempting to translate it, but have been avoiding it because of the difficulty of some lines. I look forward to getting lots of help with this one!
The first two stanzas are the ones that I am familiar with, but there is a third stanza. It is very hard to translate. I notice that Alim Qazımov sang the first and third stanzas for Eurovision. I also noticed he replaced "gülü sulu" with "gülü qönçə" instead - flower buds. Some sources list "Nə ola bir gün görəm" as "Gün ola mən bir görəydim". But, these small changes aside, the song is pretty much as below.
You will probably notice that all lines are 7 syllables long. Online sources say this is because the poem is written in the Bayati form. I will assume then that there is room for interpretation of some lines since they are strictly limited in this way. So, here's my first go at a translation... Thanks to a posting I will alter the translation of the final stanza. Very helpful commentary!
Sarı Gəlin
Fair-haired Bride
Tender buds should not be picked.
Fair-haired bride.
But they will not give me your hand.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.
Shepherd, return your flock,
Would that I could see
My love's beautiful face.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.
Aşıq ellər ayrısı,
Şana tellər ayrısı,
Bir gününə dözmədim,
Oldum illər ayrısı.
Neynim aman, aman, sarı gəlin.
The ashug sings, beyond compare,
Her glorious locks, nonpareil,
I cannot endure another day,
After years of separation,
Oh, what can I do,
Fair bride.
The first two stanzas are the ones that I am familiar with, but there is a third stanza. It is very hard to translate. I notice that Alim Qazımov sang the first and third stanzas for Eurovision. I also noticed he replaced "gülü sulu" with "gülü qönçə" instead - flower buds. Some sources list "Nə ola bir gün görəm" as "Gün ola mən bir görəydim". But, these small changes aside, the song is pretty much as below.
You will probably notice that all lines are 7 syllables long. Online sources say this is because the poem is written in the Bayati form. I will assume then that there is room for interpretation of some lines since they are strictly limited in this way. So, here's my first go at a translation... Thanks to a posting I will alter the translation of the final stanza. Very helpful commentary!
Sarı Gəlin
Fair-haired Bride
- Saçın ucun hörməzlər
- Gülü sulu dərməzlər
- Sarı gəlin
- Saçın ucun hörməzlər
- Gülü sulu dərməzlər
- Sarı gəlin
Tender buds should not be picked.
Fair-haired bride.
- Bu sevda nə sevdadır
- Səni mənə verməzlər
- Neynim aman, aman
- Neynim aman, aman
- Sarı gəlin
- Bu sevda nə sevdadır
- Səni mənə verməzlər
- Neynim aman, aman
- Neynim aman, aman
- Sarı gəlin
But they will not give me your hand.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.
- Bu dərənin uzunu,
- Çoban, qaytar quzunu, quzunu
- Bu dərənin uzunu,
- Çoban, qaytar quzunu, quzunu
- Nə ola bir gün görəm
- Nazlı yarın üzünü
- Neynim aman, aman
- Neynim aman, aman
- Sarı gəlin
- Nə ola bir gün görəm
- Nazlı yarın üzünü
- Neynim aman, aman
- Neynim aman, aman
- Sarı gəlin
Shepherd, return your flock,
Would that I could see
My love's beautiful face.
Oh, what can I do?
What can I do?
Fair-haired bride.
Aşıq ellər ayrısı,
Şana tellər ayrısı,
Bir gününə dözmədim,
Oldum illər ayrısı.
Neynim aman, aman, sarı gəlin.
The ashug sings, beyond compare,
Her glorious locks, nonpareil,
I cannot endure another day,
After years of separation,
Oh, what can I do,
Fair bride.
1 comment:
It is very interesting and quite difficult to translate. However I see you overcome it very well.
But I would like to tell something about last couplet in which the word "ayrı" are used several times. Written form of these words are same but have subtle difference in meaning. That we call homonym. In first sentence, "ayrı" in a sense it does not mean separation, it means it is differing from others positively, mostly used in speech. For example, sən ayrı insansan very simple sentences, it means you are so excelling from others positively, you are different, you have special place. In first sentence, Aşıq ellər ayrısı - Ashik has its special place between the people.
In second sentences, its meaning is also same. In third it finally means separation.
By the way, it is common for bayati. And in bayati the main meaning is told in third and last sentences.
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