The smiling child

[Micki 1]

I cannot put in the Greek lyrics now but I have tried to translate, with help.

The smiling child

Music : Mikis Theodorakis

Lyrics : Brendan Behan

It was a morning in August nearly red dawn

I went out to get some air in the blossoming earth

I see a girl heart-rending crying she mourns

it broke my heart (that) the smiling child got lost (to loose the smiling child?)

There was bravery and courage and for ever I'll mourn

the bouncing of the step, the sweet laughter

d am n the hour, curse the moment (that)

our enemies killed the smiling child

He was just killed at the commander's side

and only from an Englishman's bullet he was taken

and hunger's strike in prison

would be my price for loosing the smiling child

My royal love, with love I tell you

for what you did I will mourn (cry) for ever

because you would finish off all our enemies

glory honour to the smiling child

While putting this in I come up with questions about the translation.

Can 'paidi' also be translated different than child ?

'He was just killed at the commander's side' : I'm not sure at all anymore of this line.

And of course, more correction would be wellcome.

Micki

ps thanks for those who I have been chatting with today. I needed that. I'm feeling well again.

[Geske 34]

ΤΟ ΓΕΛΑΣΤΟ ΠΑΙΔΙ

Μουσική: Μίκης Θεοδωράκης

Στίχοι: Brendan Behan

Ήταν πρωί του Αυγούστου κοντά στη ροδαυγή

βγήκα να πάρω αέρα στην ανθισμένη γη

βλέπω μια κόρη κλαίει σπαραχτικά θρηνεί

σπάσε καρδιά μου εχάθη το γελαστό παιδί

Είχεν αντρεία και θάρρος και αιώνια θα θρηνώ

το πηδηχτό του βήμα το γέλιο το γλυκό

ανάθεμα την ώρα κατάρα τη στιγμή

σκοτώσαν οι εχθροί μας το γελαστό παιδί

Μον' να 'ταν σκοτωμένο στου αρχηγού το πλάι

και μόνον από βόλι Εγγλέζου να 'χε πάει

κι από απεργία πείνας μέσα στη φυλακή

θα 'ταν τιμή μου που 'χασα το γελαστό παιδί

Βασιλικιά μου αγάπη μ' αγάπη θα στο λέω

για το ό,τι έκανες αιώνια θα σε κλαίω

γιατί όλους τους εχθρούς μας θα ξέκανες εσύ

δόξα τιμή στ' αξέχαστο γελαστό παιδί

That was the easy bit - now I have to study this... (after some sleep perhaps).

[gazakas 0]

Micki,nice job!

Here are a few corrections:

-σπάσε καρδιά μου εχάθη το γελαστό παιδί can be translated as :break my heart the smiling kid got lost.Attention!σπάσε is an imperative;the poet asks from his heart to break."Kid"is a sufficient alternative for παιδί.

-Είχεν αντρεία και θάρρος:He had bravery and courage...

-ανάθεμα την ώρα κατάρα τη στιγμή:dam ned be the hour ,cursed be the moment

-Μον' να 'ταν σκοτωμένο στου αρχηγού το πλάι/και μόνον από βόλι Εγγλέζου να 'χε πάει:if only he had got killed by the leader's side/and if only he was taken by an Englishman's shot(it's not the word by the word translation,but that's the meaning)

-θα 'ταν τιμή μου που 'χασα το γελαστό παιδί:I would be proud(honoured?)I've lost the smiling kid.

  That's for now  

[Micki 1]

The corrected version, with thanks for the help. I still have a lot to learn and I like it.

The smiling kid

Music : Mikis Theodorakis

Lyrics : Brendan Behan

It was a morning in August nearly red dawn

I went out to get some air in the blossoming earth

I see a girl heart-rending crying she mourns

Break my heart the smiling kid got lost

He had bravery and courage and for ever I'll mourn

the bouncing of the step, the sweet laughter

d amned  be the hour, cursed be the moment

our enemies killed the smiling kid

If only he got killed by the leader's side

and if only he was taken by an Englishman's shot

and hunger's strike in prison

I would be proud to have lost the smiling kid

My royal love, with love I tell you

for what you did I will mourn for ever

because you would finish off all our enemies

glory honour to the smiling kid

Micki

[francois 2]

"To yelasto paidi" (My Laughing Boy) is a translation, or rather, a Greek adaptation from the Irish song by Brendan Behan in his very good play, "The Hostage". Here is the original:

PAT (sings the first verse and the others join in, naturally, as they feel moved, into the choruses and the following verses):

'Twas on an August morning, all in the morning hours,

I went to take the warming air all in the month of flowers,

And there I saw a maiden and heard her mournful cry,

Oh, what will mend my broken heart, I've lost my Laughing Boy.

MEG:

So strong, so wise, so brave he was, I'll mourn his loss too sore

When thinking that we'll hear the laugh or springing step no more

ALL:

Ah, curse the time,and sad the loss my heart to crucify,

Than an Irish son, with a rebel gun, shot down my Laughing Boy.

Oh, had he died by Pearse's side, or in the G.P.O.,

Killed by an English bullet from the rifle of the foe,

Or forcibly fed while Ashe lay dead in the dungeons of Mountjoy,

I'd have cried with pride at the way he died, my own dear Laughing Boy.

RIO RITA: Now one voice.

MEG:

My princely love, can ageless love do more than tell to you

Go raibh mile maith Agath, for all you tried to do,

For all you did and would have done, my enemies to destroy,

ALL:

I'll praise your name and guard your fame, my own dear Laughing Boy.

                              Brendan Behan, "The Hostage", 1958.

I have only heard it by Maria Farantouri.

I wish I could hear Dalaras' interpretation too.

[francois 2]

"Go raibh maith Agath" means "Thanks" in Irish. I guess "Go raibh mile maith Agath" means "Thanks a lot".

[Anna 723]

Go raibh mile maith Agath for the posting!

And to hear Dalaras' version, what's about buying a cd called ' Metropole Orchestra and Dalaras'  

[francois 2]

Po po, diskous pou prepei na agoraso!!! Thanks Anna.

I have to say something else about Brendan Behan: he is still considered as a terrorist in England. But he was not a terrorist: he was only fighting for the freedom of his country: Ireland.

Do read the original English text carefully. The play itself is a masterpiece.