The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #124665 Message #2754552
Posted By: Gibb Sahib
28-Oct-09 - 09:56 PM
Thread Name: How to translate a song from Punjabi?
Subject: RE: How to translate a song from Punjabi?
Here's what I get of the "Wedding Song." It might be in the genre "suhag" -- need more context to confirm. What do the album notes say? Anyway, it is being addressed to the bride. If it is a traditional song, it would only be sung amongst the company of women, in the couple weeks prior to the wedding. I don't know if it is a traditional song, or just one meant to evoke that style. The singer is good -- and this is not a value judgement -- but she does not sound like the "traditional" sound of Punjabi women's singing; sounds "trained." Her pronunciation, also, is more of the Eastern dialects, and non-standard on a couple words.
Though I couldn't get it 100% clear, this may give a nice boost to someone else who can finish it off. Apologies for any errors. [Note: capital letters denote retroflex sounds, and ~ denotes nasalization of the preceding vowel.]
Refrain: aaiaa laaRie ni tera sihariaa~ vaala viaahvaN aaia aaiaa te sada rang laaia laaRie...
1. naazaa~ de nal paal ke maape des ne khaalaa (?? des ni kaala??) devaN aape
2, sakhiaa~ ral-mil jhummar paae shaala ih din sabh te aae
3. jaan di vaari ih hoi kahiNa ikk-duuje lai zinda rahiNa
Refrain: He's come, oh bride, your chaplet*-wearer has come to wed He's come to spread everlasting joy, oh bride
1. Your parents nourished you from the water-pump of gracefulness ??The land itself gives you troughs (in which to flow) [Some metaphor ging on here. It's unclear to me.]
2. Your girl-friends get together and dance God willing all days will be like this [rough translation]
3. Vows of sacrificing ones life being said That you may live long for each other
*"chaplet" is the silly English translation one sees used for what is called "sihra" in Punjabi, a sort of face covering of dangling flowers and stuff that the groom wears when he goes to fetch the bride for the wedding.