Резултати претраге

The Storm

The Storm (2018 version)
 
The shore grew quiet, a weary gloom fell,
Carrion crows wheeling above
At the thunder’s insistent warning bell
The still waters began to move
 
The storm will colour the darkening sky
With a flourish of runic fire
And heard in the night-time rain's falling sigh
The strings of a silver lyre
 
Come night the ferocious host will be spent,
Brave men by death carried away
And no-one will tend them, no-one will be sent
To those who fought in the day
Those who took on the unequal fight
And stood as an iron wall
And found peace and undying light
Mid the howl of the night-time squall
 
The storm will colour the darkening sky
With a flourish of runic fire
And heard in the night-time rain's falling sigh
The strings of a silver lyre
Strings of a silver lyre
Strings of a silver lyre
 
Rain will sing the funeral hymn,
And wash every blood-covered brow
The dry grey grass will become for them
The caress of a funeral shroud
Bucklers and swords still held firm in the hand,
No disgrace to have died this way
Before the spirits of their fathers they spotless stand,
Ready for judgement day
 
The storm will colour the darkening sky
With a flourish of runic fire
And heard in the night-time rain's falling sigh
The strings of a silver lyre
Strings of a silver lyre
Strings of a silver lyre
 
It came to pass that they drained to the last
The cup of honour in war
Now flying high in the morning sky
Their souls, so light and pure
Souls, so light and pure
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you

Day of silver

On the day of silver
Wolves will break into song
On the day of silver
The eagle owl will call me on
On the day of silver
Fires will break out in flame
On the day of silver
We will be together again
 
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will prosper and liven our celebrations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Silver day will make of the night
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will bless us night-roamers in our relations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will shine on us with fires of starlight
 
On the day of silver
We all flock to the grassland
On the day of silver
An extraordinary people will sing
Songs that speak of love
Of our longing for a homeland
On the day of silver
In our dance we shall rise and take wing
 
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will prosper and liven our celebrations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Silver day will make of the night
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will bless us night-roamers in our relations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will shine on us with fires of starlight
 
On the day of silver
Stars dissolve through my fingers
On the day of silver
Your beating heart plays like a string
On the day of silver
You will feel your sorrow receding
On the day of silver
Ah, into life will flower your dream
 
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will prosper and liven our celebrations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Silver day will make of the night
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will bless us night-roamers in our relations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will shine on us with fires of starlight
 
Light of the full moon
Will prosper and liven our celebrations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Silver day will make of the night
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will bless us night-roamers in our relations
Light of the moon, of the full moon
Will shine on us with fires of starlight
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you

Tea

Oh, his nibs! He forced me cruelly
Blasted, blinking tea to brew
And I’ve never had, never had a clue
How the blinking stuff to brew
 
And I’ve never had, never had a clue
How the blinking stuff to brew
So I bought a pound (or was it two?)
Tipped it all into the pot
 
So I bought a pound (or was it two?)
Tipped it all into the pot
Chucked in carrot, sprinkled parsley,
Topped it up with pepper root
 
Chucked in carrot, sprinkled parsley,
Topped it up with pepper root
And to add that special zing
I drizzled on some veggie oil
 
And to add that special zing
I drizzled on some veggie oil
Then on the stove I put the whole thing,
And seven times brought to the boil
 
On the stove I put the whole thing,
Seven times brought to the boil
-Sir, your tea awaits, all ready!
All my work, my honest toil!
 
And his nibs replies:
 
If you take heed and make it my way
For as long as you’re alive,
As a bonus for the holiday
I will give you rubles five
 
As a bonus for the holiday
I will give you rubles five
Rubles five I’ll give, for you
To take a walk with you know who
 
Rubles five I’ll give, for you
To take a walk with you know who
With Akulina, yes that’s right,
To binge until you’re proper tight
 
But whoops! His nibs a tiny sip took,
And bellowed, 'Get him out of here!
Beat him blue and beat him black, and
Fling him out upon his ear!'
 
A long, long time I wondered why he
Thrashed and cursed me for a dolt
And then I realized — oh my Lordy!
I forgot the blinking salt
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you

Lift up your eyes

We wandered off, we went astray,
Gave up trying, our souls dejected
Seeing no light along the way,
With dark unrest we were infected
And young and old take arms, and die,
Number of brave men ever falling,
Brother ‘gainst brother raising battle cry,
Betraying kinship’s age-old calling
 
Oh, lift up your eyes!
Dawn is near at hand!
Answer me! For you
Were born here in this land
How long will the dark
Drink its bloody fill?
How long will your heart
Be home to fear’s deep chill?
 
Ah, but our fathers were free, and they
Called us to rise, and no longer kneeling,
We shed the yoke that on us lay,
In their wise counsel we found healing
In heart and soul we joined as one
The force of concord comprehending -
Of another man’s land need we none!
Oh, may our borders know peace unending!
 
Oh, lift up your eyes!
Dawn is near at hand!
Answer me! For you
Were born here in this land
How long will the dark
Drink its bloody fill?
How long will your heart
Be home to fear’s deep chill?
 
Of blood and tears our Mother Earth
Has rivers seen descending,
She recalls the battle plains,
Sword in Livonian hand
But in spite of all her pains,
She proudly stood unbending
Now the time has come for you
To love and care for your native land!
 
Oh, lift up your eyes!
Dawn is near at hand!
Answer me! For you
Were born here in this land
How long will the dark
Drink its bloody fill?
How long will your heart
Be home to fear’s deep chill?
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you

Novgorod Wedding

By the waterside Dobrynya strolls,
To his arm classy Lyubava holds
Ah, Lyubava is as white as a dove,
A Novgorod lady, a cut above
Ah, Lyubava is as white as a dove,
A Novgorod lady, a cut above
 
She adorned herself in rouge and in white
And the fine young lad was smitten by the sight
Single was he, without wife or girl,
Oh Dobrynya of the tumbling curls
Single was he, without wife or girl,
Oh Dobrynya of the tumbling curls
 
Oh you sweetheart, oh my darling, love of mine,
Good Dobrynya with your figure so fine
Oh you dashing, curly-haired, sweet young man,
Make this girl your own as quickly as you can!
Oh you dashing, curly-haired, sweet young man,
Make this girl your own as quickly as you can!
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you

Herr Mannelig

One day, at dawn before the birds
had started to appear,
A princess, child of a cave troll,
Took sudden fancy to a knight,
and to that cavalier
She opened up her soul:
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
 
Twelve mares to you I'll promise, sir,
that in my meadows graze,
The sun rising above them,
No bridle have they ever known,
unsaddled all their days,
Nor can the wind outrun them
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
 
Twelve mills to you I’ll promise, sir,
‘twixt Tillo and Terno,
Their stones all red and golden,
Their wheels they rattle day and night,
with silver all aglow,
No finer e’er beholden
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
 
For you a shirt I'll make,
the like of which you’ve never worn,
No needle ever using,
Three strands of silver plucking
from the tangle of the moon,
The finest silk surpassing
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
 
Love me, and you a blade
of ancient wizardry shall wield
That strikes where you command,
And rolls the heads of all your foes
across the battlefield
While you remain unharmed
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
 
Your gifts I would accept,
for they are very fine indeed,
Were you to God praise giving,
But you’re the spawn of trolls, oh,
you were born of Satan’s seed,
In deepest darkness living
 
Though yearning, I shall shed no tear,
believe me when I say,
Although I'm all alone
I wanted to be human,
but you’ve turned me away
Your heart is made of stone
 
Herr Mannelig, Herr Mannelig, oh won’t you marry me,
Though earth lies dark above me
All that is mine I’ll give to you if you, sir, will agree,
But you must freely love me
But you must freely love me
But you must freely love me
 
(C) Richard Coombes. Feel free to make use of this translation, but please always attribute to Richard Coombes. Thank you