Vasilis Papakonstantinou - Ena karavi

Thread: Vasilis Papakonstantinou - Ena karavi

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  1. Eudaimon said:

    Default Vasilis Papakonstantinou - Ena karavi

    I don't actually need a full translation, just would be grateful if anyone helps me with understanding the song

    Ένα καράβι παλιό, σαπιοκάραβο
    με κάτι ναύτες τρελούς πειρατές
    σηκώνει άγκυρα άγριο χάραμα
    υπάρχουν θέσεις, αν θέλεις, κενές

    Όταν βραδιάζει, που λες, στο κατάστρωμα
    χίλια φωτάκια θ' ανάβουν μικρά
    στη συντροφιά μας θα έρχεται ο άνεμος
    να μας σφυρίζει τραγούδια παλιά

    Άντε να λύσουμε, να ξεκινήσουμε
    και τους βαρέθηκα, δεν τους μπορώ
    να ξενυχτίσουμε και να μεθύσουμε
    να τους ξεχάσουμε όλους εδώ

    Ένα καράβι παλιό, σαπιοκάραβο
    λύνει τους κάβους κι ανοίγει πανιά
    αφήνει πίσω στραβά και παράλογα
    σηκώνει άγκυρα για μακριά

    Θα ξημερώνουμε πάνω στη θάλασσα
    θα βγαίνει ο ήλιος να κάνει βουτιές
    ο παπαγάλος θα λέει "τους ξεφύγαμε"
    κι εμείς θα ψάχνουμε γι άλλες στεριές

    Άντε να λύσουμε, να ξεκινήσουμε
    και τους βαρέθηκα, δεν τους μπορώ
    να ξενυχτίσουμε και να μεθύσουμε
    να τους ξεχάσουμε όλους εδώ

    What confuses me is the following:
    σαπιοκάραβο
    My dictionary doesn't contain this word, but Google Translate says it's a "floating coffin". It's probably meant to be understood figuratively (σαπιο- = rotten according to the dictionary), but if it's not, it changes the understanding radically: either there is no one alive on the ship (and so they would be two there) or he intends to travel with the pirates?
    με κάτι ναύτες τρελούς πειρατές
    I've got two variants of what it might mean: either it is "[a ship] with some sailors [who are] crazy pirates", or "among some sailors [there are] crazy pirates". The first seems to make more sense.
    υπάρχουν θέσεις, αν θέλεις, κενές
    Literally it means "if you want, there are empty places". At first, I thought it means "inhabited places" where they could go, but then it struck me that it might as well mean "there are free berths (on the ship)". Which is true?
    στο κατάστρωμα χίλια φωτάκια θ' ανάβουν μικρά
    Again two variants: "thousand little lightnings will light up the deck" or "thousand little lights will be lit up on the deck"? If it's the latter, I can't guess what kind of lights they are...
    αφήνει πίσω στραβά και παράλογα
    αφήνω πίσω seems to mean "to leave behind", but I see no object for it. This verb is apparently intransitive in Greek, but in this case it can't mean "to leave behind".

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Mixalopoulos's Avatar

    Mixalopoulos said:

    Default

    #1 When a ship is referred to as a "floating coffin" it means that it is not seaworthy.

    #2 The sailors are crazy pirates.

    #3 "if you want, there are empty places" ie; free berths on the ship if you are crazy enough to enlist.

    #4 "thousand little lights will be lit up on the deck"

    #5 When you set sail you leave behind absurdities and you are blind to them.
    Ρεμπέτικο για πάντα. Μάγκες είμαστε.
     
  3. Eudaimon said:

    Default

    Oh, thank you!
     
  4. feuersteve's Avatar

    feuersteve said:

    Default

    Now I'm curious to know the translation
    Gott zur Ehr, dem nächsten zur Wehr

    What if they gave a fire and nobody came.
     
  5. Mixalopoulos's Avatar

    Mixalopoulos said:

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by feuersteve View Post
    Now I'm curious to know the translation
    An old boat,a floating coffin,
    With some sailors,crazy pirates,
    Lifting anchor,wild dawn,
    There are places,if you like,empty.

    When night falls,you say,on the deck,
    One thousand small lights will illuminate,
    In our company will come the wind,
    Us whistling songs of old.

    Come to resolve,to begin,
    And I'm sick,I do not,
    To spend the night and get drunk,
    Forget them all here.

    An old boat,a floating coffin,
    Fix the ropes and set sail,
    Leaves behind the blind and absurd,
    Lifting the anchor away.

    It will be dawn on the beach,
    The sun will come out to dive,
    The parrot saying "the escaped"
    We will be looking for other lands.

    An old boat,a floating coffin,
    With some sailors,crazy pirates,
    Lifting anchor,wild dawn,
    There are places,if you like,empty.
    Ρεμπέτικο για πάντα. Μάγκες είμαστε.