Bengali literature and music in India have a rich heritage of boatman songs. Boats have been an integral part of journeys and separations in stories.
I am not sure if translations are allowed in the Poetics prompt, and I shall delete the piece if it violates rules.
The song I’ve chosen to translate here is from a classic Hindi movie made in 1963 – Bandini.
Translation
O, the one to leave the house Come back if life allows…. Don’t forget, don’t wipe out This shore, this path calls out… your childhood pals who stood by you… will all go looking for you in sorrow moist eyes will ask for your whereabouts tomorrow someone there reminds you at each step those who left for the other side have not come back Will someone tell us what’s the secret there what’s it all about? Don’t forget, don’t wipe out This shore, this path calls out O, the one to leave the house Come back if life allows…. Original song
Something happened an the site closed down as I tried to post my reply here. I hope it will work this time.
I read your translation twice and watched the full video. Both are wondrous. I think many cultures have their boat songs….the idea of wondering what is there when one crosses to the other side, represented by the end of the ocean where the horizon and water meet…the sunset here. Also there are those who wait anxiously for their loved ones to return from their voyage out into the sea….be they Portugese fishermen out to sea to provide for the livelihood of their families. Either way….I am enamored with your words and the haunting aspect of the music…the tears on the face at the end of the video also relay this tremendous sadness…
This is just a beautiful post! Thank you.
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Thank you so much, Lillian! Your comment made up for whatever dimensions lacking in the post.
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Beautiful song. Songs of yesteryears are magical and meaningful. 🙂
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They just touch an emotional chord in certain moments or moods 🙂
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Very true, Ma’am. 🙂
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It’s really interesting to see a translation. There’s a lot of noise on social media at the moment about illustrators and translators getting proper recognition, so I think as long as you acknowledge the original fully and it’s an original translation it’s fine to give us one once in a while. I’d be sad not to see your own stuff!
It’s such a universal theme – I think there must be songs in every language about women hoping their men will come back from sea. I’m thinking about Ireland and Scotland particularly, because those are the songs I heard in my childhood, but I’m sure there are songs in Spanish, French, Norwegian, all sorts of African and Asian languages. And I guess we all know that fear – even if someone’s just late home, there’s often a brief moment of “what if…!”.
Lovely to hear the original. What a majestic face.
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Thank you, Sarah! The face is that of Nutan, one of the topmost Bollywood actresses of yesteryears. She is no more now.
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My favorite song. Thanks. Kishor Kumar’s-O Majhire is also beautiful. Beautiful translation.
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Youtube has many songs, but not the original videos.
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❤ Wondrous and beautiful, Reena. My scalp is tingling at the music and tears fill my eyes at your translation.
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It is a very emotional song. Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome.
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I love your translation… in which nothing is lost! Very nice!
Dwight
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Thank you, Dwight!
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Beautiful song, Reena.
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Thank you, Punam! It strikes a chord with those familiar with old movies. It used to be a different genre altogether.
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You are welcome, Reena. Yes, those were different times.
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I love that song! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you, Mrityunjay!
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My pleasure.
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