translation of "la maza"

Thread: translation of "la maza"

Tags: None
  1. raia_b said:

    Default translation of "la maza"

    can anyone translate this song- "la maza" - to english? Thanks.
     
  2. marifen's Avatar

    marifen said:

    Default

    LA MAZA-SILVIO RODRÍGUEZ
    The mallet

    Si no creyera en la locura
    If i didn’t believe in the madness
    de la garganta del sinsonte
    Of the neck of the bird “sinsonte”
    si no creyera que en el monte
    If i didn’t believe that in the mountain
    se esconde el trino y la pavura.
    Is hiding the trill and the dread
    Si no creyera en la balanza
    If i didn’t believe in the scales
    en la razón del equilibrio
    In the reason of balance
    si no creyera en el delirio
    If i didn’t believe in the delirium
    si no creyera en la esperanza.
    If i didn’t believe in the hope
    Si no creyera en lo que agencio
    If i didn’t believe in what i achieve with skill
    si no creyera en mi camino
    If i didn’t believe in my road
    si no creyera en mi sonido
    If i didn’t believe in my sound
    si no creyera en mi silencio.
    If i didn’t believe in my silence

    que cosa fuera
    What would be
    que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
    What would be the mallet without quarry (to cut out stone)
    un amasijo hecho de cuerdas y tendones
    A mix made of ropes and tendons
    un revoltijo de carne con madera
    A mess of flash with wood
    un instrumento sin mejores resplandores
    An instrument without better gleams
    que lucecitas montadas para escena
    Than small lights getting on to the scene
    que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
    What would be- my heart- what would be
    que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
    What would be the mallet without quarry (to cut out stone)
    un testaferro del traidor de los aplausos
    A figurehead of the traitor of the applauses
    un servidor de pasado en copa nueva
    A servant of the past in new cup
    un eternizador de dioses del ocaso
    A perpetuator of declining goddesses
    jubilo hervido con trapo y lentejuela
    An exultation boiled with cloth and sequin
    que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
    What would be- my heart- what would be
    que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
    What would be the mallet without quarry (to cut out stone)
    que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
    What would be- my heart- what would be
    que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera.
    What would be the mallet without quarry (to cut out stone)

    Si no creyera en lo mas duro
    If i didn’t believe in the most cruel
    si no creyera en el deseo
    If i didn’t believe in the desire
    si no creyera en lo que creo
    If i didn’t believe in what i believe
    si no ceyera en algo puro.
    If i didn’t believe in something pure
    Si no creyera en cada herida
    If i didn’t believe in every wound
    si no creyera en la que ronde
    If i didn’t believe in what comes around
    si no creyera en lo que esconde
    If i didn’t believe in what hides behind
    hacerse hermano de la vida.
    Making oneself brother with life
    Si no creyera en quien me escucha
    If i didn’t believe in whoever listens to me
    si no creyera en lo que duele
    If i didn’t believe in what hurts
    si no creyera en lo que queda
    If i didn’t believe in what stays
    si no creyera en lo que lucha.
    If i didn’t believe in what fights
    Que cosa fuera...
    What would be…
     
  3. raia_b said:

    Default

    thank you for the quick reply. I must say i donwt really understand that song evan with the translation do you understand what the poet meant
     
  4. marifen's Avatar

    marifen said:

    Default

    well indeed it's a difficult song- poem
    ;a maza-the mallet and the cantera- the quarry are two things that cannot exist each one on its one. In order for the mallet to be able to act, it needs a quarry to act upon. it can apply to many, things-pairs, practically to everything
    here it means mainly that the author with his mind and ben is in a way the mallet who draws out his songs-experiences from his surroundings and his people's lives-la cantera. He would be nothing without his peoples real identity and beliefs so he keeps believing and searching for that something pure that exists somewhere between his sences and which will lead him to a new hope, a new intention!
     
  5. raia_b said:

    Default

    thank you again. I can understand the song better now.
     
  6. marifen's Avatar

    marifen said:

    Default

    you are welcome!
     
  7. Santiago Perez said:

    Default Actually...

    I disagree with the above posts on some points, so I figured I'd present my own spin on "La Maza"

    As regards the song's meaning, there may be something to the above response, but I think it misses the point a bit. To me this song expresses Silvio's rage at those who won’t fight for what they believe.
    It is his scorn at the state of a human being devoid of Will or courage, at those satisfied to applaud tradition and the old regime and stand for injustice in order to further their own contentment. It is not a metaphysical reflection, as the above poster made it seem. It is a revolutionary hymn, an appeal to actual life.
    But most of all, it is a call to arms.

    Note: I translate "Que cosa fuera" as "What can be said?" because a direct translation does not carry the meaning well.


    La Maza
    If I did not believe in the madness
    from the mockingbird’s throat,
    if I did not believe that in the hills
    hides the trill and the dread.

    If I did not believe in balance,
    in the reason for equilibrium.
    If I did not believe in delirium,
    If I did not believe in hope.

    If I did not believe in what I’ve wrought,
    If I did not believe in my path,
    If I did not believe in my sound,
    If I did not believe in my silence.

    And what can be said?
    What can be said of the mallet without quarry?
    Naught but a paste made with strings and tendons,
    a jumble of flesh with wood.
    A tool with no greater splendour
    then that of lights mounted for the stage.
    What can be said, oh my love, what can be said?
    What can be said of the mallet without quarry?
    A mouthpiece for the traitor who applauds,
    a servant of the of the past
    who is poured in a new cup.
    A perpetuator of the gods of the dusk,
    a delight served in rags and lentils.
    What can be said, oh my love, what can be said?
    What can be said of the mallet without quarry?

    If I did not believe in that which is hardest,
    If I did not believe in desire,
    If I did not hold to my beliefs,
    If I did not believe in something pure.

    If I did not believe in every wound,
    If I did not believe in the one that’s coming,
    If I did not believe in what is hidden,
    by making oneself life’s brother.

    If I did not believe in those who hear me,
    If I did not believe what hurts,
    If I did not believe in what is left,
    and is still prepared to fight!
    Chorus
    Last edited by Santiago Perez; 11-25-2008 at 05:44 PM.
     
  8. davidcom93 said:

    Default

    Hey very good translations, I liked more second one tough just becasue the first one misses the point about revolution. Santiago Im making a new video clip of these song and I like ur translation. Do you mind if I use it for my video clip of "La Maza"
     
  9. Guin Negrete said:

    Default I love your translation!!! Great job!

    Yeah i agree with you, no offense to the prior posts but they were literal word for word translations so it lost too much of its meanings. Songs can not be translated word for word or it gets lost in translation.

    Anyway I thought you might like to read my version and help me correct my errors if you could be so kind.

    Thanks in advance:

    Here is my translation:

    THE HUB

    "If I did not believe in the madness within the mocking bird's throat,

    If I did not believe that in the mount, wheat & shrill terror lie.

    If I did not believe in balance,

    In the equilibrium of reason.

    If I did not believe in the concept of delusion
    If I did not believe in the power of hope.
    If I did not believe in what holds fast
    If I did not believe in my own path
    If I did not believe in my sound
    If I did not believe in my silence.
    What would it be?
    A hub without a quarry
    A tangled mess made of cords and tendons
    A jumble of meat splintered with wooden pieces
    An instrument mounted, without a scene of flashing lights

    What would it be, my love, what would it be?
    What good would be a hub without a quarry?

    A leader of the traitor of applause
    A wolf in Sheeps clothing returning home.
    A Twilight of the Gods eternizador
    A boiled cloth of jubilee and sequins

    What would it be, my love, what would it be?
    What good would be a hub without a quarry?
    What would it be, my love, what would it be?
    What good would be a hub without a quarry?

    If I did not believe in what was difficult
    If I did not believe in the desire
    If I did not believe in my beliefs
    If I did not believe in something pure
    If I did not believe in every scar
    If I did not believe In what prowls
    If I did not believe in who hides, the brotherhood of life
    If I did not believe I could be heard
    If I did not believe in things that hurt me
    If I did not believe in what was leftover
    If I did not believe in REVOLUTION!

    What would it be?
    What good would be the hub without a quarry?
    A tangled mess made of cords and tendons
    A jumble of meat splintered with wooden pieces
    A perfect instrument mounted without a scene of flashing lights
    What would it be, my love, what would it be?
    What good would be a hub without a quarry
    A leader of the traitor of applause
    A wolf in Sheeps clothing returning home
    A Twilight of the Gods eternizador
    A boiled cloth of jubilee and sequins

    What would it be, my love, what would it be?
    What good would be a hub without a quarry?
     
  10. bedroomeyes's Avatar

    bedroomeyes said:

    Default For what it's worth...

    ...here's my version.


    If I didn't believe in the lunacy
    from within the throat of a mockingbird
    If I didn't believe that in the hills
    hide the trill and dread.
    If I didn't believe in the scale
    in the reason for balance
    if I didn't believe in delusion
    if I didn't believe in hope.
    If I didn't believe in what I can accomplish
    if I didn't believe in my own path
    if I didn't believe in my sound
    if I didn't believe in my silence.

    What is?
    What is a pick with no quarry?
    a hodgepodge of rope and tendons
    a mishmash of flesh and timber
    an instrument lacking greater radiance
    than little stage lights
    What is-darling-what is?
    What is a pick with no quarry?
    a spokesperson for the applauding traitor
    a server of the past in a new glass
    an immortalizer of the gods of dusk
    jubilation brewed with rags and sequins

    What is-darling-what is?
    what is a pick with no quarry?
    what is-darling-what is?
    what is a pick with no quarry?

    If I didn't believe in the hardest thing
    if I didn't believe in desire
    if I didn't believe in what I believe
    if I didn't believe in something pure.
    If I didn't believe in every wound
    if I didn't believe in whichever is to come
    if I didn't believe in what lies beneath being a brother to life.
    If I didn't believe in those who listen to me
    if I didn't believe in what hurts
    if I didn't believe in what is left behind
    if I didn't believe in what we're fighting for
    What is...
    Last edited by bedroomeyes; 05-02-2015 at 02:44 PM.
    The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.
    -Albert Einstein