Georges Moustaki - Ich bin ein Fremder

Hello
Posted for corrections. I found this exceedingly difficult for me to translate. I am sure much will be learned from the corrections.
To listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmG6eJHAtNM

Georges Moustaki - Ich bin ein Fremder


Ich bin ein Fremder den man haßt
und dessen Schnauze dem nicht paßt
der darin sieht was er nicht fand.

I am a stranger that you hate
and whose visage/attitude is not liked.
By the one who sees in it what he misses/could not find (in his own life).


Ich häng' am Leben nicht am Geld
als ein von jedem Wind der Welt
zerzauster Hirt aus Griechenland.

I cling to life not to money
as one from every wind in the world
(an) unkempt shepherd from Greece.


Verrät sich nicht mit dieser Hand
der Vagabund, der Musikant
der stahl - doch auch nach Sternen griff.

Does he not reveal with this hand
the vagabond, the musician
who stole - but still reached for the stars.


Dem Mund sieht man es an gewiß
wie oft er küßte trank und biß
und auf den Ruf den guten pfiff.

His mouth, one sees it indeed
how often he kissed, drank and bit
and so often flouted on a good reputation.


Ich bin ein Fremder den man haßt
und dessen Schnauze dem nicht paßt
der brav als Bürger Wurzeln schlug!

I am a stranger that you hate
and whose visage/attitude is not liked.
Who tried to strike roots as a good citizen!


Die braune haut ist heut' noch glatt
weil sie sich glattgerieben hat
an allem as nur Röcke trug!

The brown skin is still smooth today
Because it has rubbed itself smooth
on everything which only wore skirts!


Was machte nicht mein Herz schon mit
das leiden ließ und selber litt
und suchte beides zu versteh'n

What did my heart not have to suffer/tag along yet
Which let others suffer but also suffered itself
and looked to understand both.


Und meine Seele diese heiß
noch immer liebt obwohl sie weiß:
sie wird der Hölle nicht entgeh'n!

And my soul still hotly
loves this although it knows:
It will not escape Hell!


Ich bin ein Fremder den man haßt
und dessen Schnauze dem nicht paßt
der immer 'Angst vor morgen' hat!

I am a stranger that you hate
and whose visage/attitude is not liked
Who always has “Fear of Tomorrow”


Dich meine Kleine fange ich
und halte dich und trinke mich
an deinen zwanzig Jahren satt.

I catch you my little one
and hold you and drink
of your twenty luscious years.


Ich bin dein Prinz und bin dein Knecht!
Wie du mich willst es ist mir recht
nur liebe mich und du wirst seh'n:

I am your prince and your servant!
However you want me, it is OK with me
just love me and you will see:


dann wird die Zeit zur Ewigkeit
der Raum - ein Meer von Seligkeit
vor dem wir beide staunend steh'n!

Then the time becomes as eternity,
the room – a sea of bliss
before which we both being amazed stand!


Laß' uns in dieser Ewigkeit
in diesem Meer von Seligkeit
noch oft gemeinsam untergeh'n!

Let us into this eternity,
into this sea of bliss
often together disappear!

I can very much understand you This song is hard since it comes up with so strange structures!

und dessen Schnauze dem nicht paßt
der darin sieht was er nicht fand.
and whose nose does not fit him
Who sees therein something he did not detect.
and whose visage/attitude is not liked
By the one who sees in it what he misses/could not find (in his own life)


Verrät sich nicht mit dieser Hand
He does not betray himself with this hand
Does he not ... (and I'd also have left the "himself" outside, but then you also have to change betray into something that more fits the meaning of verraten)


Dem Mund sieht man es an gewiß
wie oft er küßte trank und biß
und auf den Ruf den guten pfiff.
His mouth, one sees it indeed
how often he kissed, drank and bit
and at his reputation the good whistled.
That's so cute! The verb is "auf etwas pfeifen", not just "pfeifen", so a possible translation is "and so often flouted on a good reputation"

... der brav als Bürger Wurzeln schlug!
Who was brave as townspeople struck!
Who was trying to be a good citizen
Who tried to strike roots as a good citizen (if you don't want to lose the imagery)

Was machte nicht mein Herz schon mit
Which did not make my heart already leave
What did my heart not have to suffer/tag along yet

das leiden ließ und selber litt
Which let others suffer but also suffered itself


Dich meine Kleine fange ich
und halte dich und trinke mich
an deinen zwanzig Jahren satt.
I catch you my little one
and hold you and drink
to your twenty luscious years.
How does that look when you "drink to her twenty years"? I see glasses being raised there I think it's rather "drink from" or "drink of", it means that the person takes strength from the other one, yours is more like the "Cheers-version", right?

Hi Steena,

I was right, much to learn. This one tied my brain in knots. At least I got a couple of smiles out of you from my mistakes. They are rather funny. Yes, I went with Cheers! "drink to" versus "drink of". The one with "root" really hurt my brain trying to understand Thanks for your help. Sometimes even when I know the words the meaning still escapes me. I imagine when I write in German I torture your language way more than this. I think I fixed everything that needed fixing. It sounds much better now.

In case of such songs it's best to go the elementary-school-way of thinking See the line as a sentence and find the main parts of it first, subject, verb and then see what else there is to find.

... der brav als Bürger Wurzeln schlug
is of course a relative clause ("der ..."), "der" also being the subject. "schlug -> past tense of schlagen" is the verb, Wurzeln yet belongs to it "Wurzen schlagen ´-> put down roots". Then you just have to sort out what "brav" and "als Bürger" could mean in this context.
I admit I had to read some of the stanzas twice to get such a structure done!

Oh no! I liked your German messages! You should try to do that more often, it's a next stage beyond just translating! Practice makes perfect