Post #1374152

2026-04-17 21:40 UTC

Back on my occasional hobby of trying to translate classics of Turkish rock into English, while attempting to keep some sense of both the rhythm and shape of the words. The first track I did was Bir Derdim Var (from Mor ve Ötesi) which actually renders quite well, so I foolishly thought Şebnem Ferah&#39;s work wouldn&#39;t be a problem... She&#39;s quite the lyricist. &quot;Bu sert iklimli ıssız hayata&quot; roughly translates as &quot;this desolate inclement wind of life&quot;, how&#39;m I supposed to work such poetry into English while retaining rhyme and meter? Good way to spend a Friday evening...

Replies (1)

@Two9A@hachyderm.io 2026-04-17 22:53

Should've gone to sleep an hour ago, but I think I've got something that keeps the meter and retains the theme of the holepunch. It still loses some of the force of the chorus... To the tune of "Delgeç": https://youtu.be/1_69_oOWpfg --- Tear a piece off me, take a corner of my heart Take your pound of flesh, tear my bread and me apart Already down and out, the sidewalk as my place of rest Go 'head and kick me, while I'm down come and kick me Already down and out, fear building up within my chest Go 'head and kick me, while I'm down Somehow I thought I'd gotten used to walking into the wind Cutting at me 'til I'm paper thin Then you fold round like a holepunch Shredding at my life, you know you want to twist the knife Come and kick me While I'm down, come and kick me Twist the knife, come and kick me While I'm down, come and kick me --- Further improvements welcome.

Open ##1810957