Hát nhạc Trịnh cho người đến từ xứ sở khác... Sing for a friend from a foreign country (Mục lục @ Tr

Soundtrack saves woman?Ts soul
BY Nguyen Dinh San
I can still remember an encounter I had one afternoon, many winters ago, with a woman who had a troubled past.
Wê?Tll call her Trinh. She now works at a garment factory in Hanoi. And to look at her, nobody could guess the sorrows of her hidden history.
When she was in her twenties, Trinh had been a prostitute who earned her living in the buttresses of tree, in the dark corners of parks or anywhere else she could make money.
She had stayed on the game until she accidentally saw the film Toi loi cuoi cung (The last crime), directed by Tran Phuong, and heard its them song Doi goi em biet bao lan (Life calls you times and again)
The song was written by the well-known composer Trinh Cong Son, and was popular across the country at the time.
She was deeply impressed by the psychological thriller, which won the Silver Lotus at the fifth Viet Nam Film Festival in 1980, and especially by its theme song.
Doi Goi Em Biet Bao Lan moved Trinh to give up the dark life and follow the ?ocall of lovê?
When she had saved enough money, she found a job at a garment factory, Twenty years later, she is still a capable worker and a good wife and mother, No one knows about her past.
Few people can remember the name of the film these days, but the scene where ?oHien the Crocodilê?, played by Phuong Than, roams the deserted streets as the theme song plays still remains unforgettable to many.
The song was performed by Thanh Lan, and its words describe the sorrowful footsteps of a woman who could not control her own life and wandered aimlessly on barren, cold roads
Where are you going dear?
When your soul?Ts so gloomy
When you?Tve no dream
Neither pain nor bitterness
You?Tve been wandering aimlessly
As you?Tve turned numb to pain
The song?Ts melody was slow and unchanging, like the sad plight of a working girl in a world of loneliness and hopelessness.
The songwriter?Ts intention was to replace rhythm with a moderate melody that made listeners feel the woman?Ts sorrow and oppression.
Its melody and its repetition of the question ?oWhere are you going?? had a surprising effect on the audience.
Although real life is difficult and harsh, great works of art hold out a solution or happy ending to human misery.
Similarly, Trinh Cong Son?Ts song began describing the woman?Ts life but ended with sympathetic lyrics that opened up a bright new horizon for her
Where are you going?
Have you heard the call of love?
Let?Ts burry your sorrows of live
Back to you, your tranquil days
Back to your heart, shun shine
Back to your sense, slight fragrance
The song writer, seemingly on behalf of humanity and a love for life, wanted to comfort Hien the Crocodile and others like her who have given up hope.
His song promised her that peace and happiness would return to her life, bringing with it the will to live ?" live would call her, not just once but many times.
Even thought many young people have never seen the film, they know the song as one of the best works by a great musician.
Its ability to bring Trinh back to the love of life is perfectly understandable.

(From Sunday Vietnam News November 23, 2003)
Tôi trY về khỈi lại dòng sông
Đánh thức màu xanh của tôi: Yêu thỈỈng, khát vọng

Cảm ơn ông, MuadongHaNoi... Ông khi nào cũng dịu dàng động viên tôi.
tặng ông, bởi tôi không biết lấy gì ở đây để bày tỏ sự cảm kích của tôi ông ạ.
Tôi bị hắt xì hơi thật đấy, khi mở cái trang này ra và nhận lời nhắn của ông. Buồn cười thật... Thì đây, tôi gửi ông và mọi người cái link tuyệt vời này, của một người bạn, người anh mà tôi đã nhắc tới ngay từ bài đầu tiên của topic này.
http://vuthanh.cjb.net/
Mời các bạn vào đó, tìm lần lần theo dấu vết, sẽ thấy khoảng hơn 20 bài hát của Trịnh Công Sơn đã được dịch ra tiếng Anh, và đa số có thể hát được đúng melody bằng tiếng Anh. A great work!
Tuy nhiên chiều nay tôi đã xin phép chủ nhân trang web này được đăng lại các bản dịch đó lên đây, để mọi người tiện theo dõi một cách có hệ thống.
Xin được cảm ơn chân thành đến anh VT và Frank Dương, người đã có công dịch hơn hai mươi bài hát này một cách cực kỳ nghiêm túc và cẩn trọng, đã cho phép lys được sử dụng những bản dịch của anh ở Box Nhạc TRỊNH này.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys


Được tigerlily sửa chữa / chuyển vào 18:45 ngày 03/04/2004

Following is VT''s work:
2pm, Thursday, 24 April 2003: Some days ago, a Vietnam war veteran (Alan Brinton) asked me to translate Trinh Cong Son songs to English. It''s quite hard, I said, due to the deep layers of meanings in Trinh''s lyrics. Fortunately and coincidently, another veteran from the war (Frank Duong, Clara''s dad) has agreed to help me in this.

Although the translations are superficial and may contain mistakes (sorry I don''t have enough time, or knowledge , to check), hope that the main meanings of Trinh''s songs are still delivered. Understanding will bridge the gap between souls and between nations, hopefully.
11:44am, Sunday, 27 April 2003: Last Friday night, I tried to translate a bit of "The love song of a madman", then the urge drove me to spend the whole Saturday to translate some more . It''s fun. Generally, I attempted to translate those songs as correct as possible, in such a way that people can sing them too. However, the compromise between these 2 criteria might produce something that... you may want to comment upon . Feel free to do that.
Because the Trinh''s original lyrics (words, grammar, word order, etc.) are often beautifully strange, I also tried to follow that by ignoring some grammatical rules and such. The (italic word in parentheses) were put there for the sake of correctness (up to my knowledge) or explanation, but I prefer to bypass it when singing.
NB: Well frankly it''s just my inability that I cannot sing with these words in . So just do what you like to do .

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

http://vuthanh.cjb.net/
Ballad to the Dead
Bài ca dành cho những xác người (Hue 1968)
(Translated by Frank Duong)
The bodies of the dead lie floating in the river
They lie in the field,
On the rooftops of the city
And in the winding streets
The bodies of the dead lie lost
Under the eaves of the pagodas
In the churches of the city
At the doorsteps of the deserted houses
Oh Spring - the bodies of the dead bring a scent to the rice paddies
Oh Vietnam - the bodies of the dead add breath to tomorrow''s soil
The way there, though full of obstacles (literally - spikes)
Because around here - here were humans
The bodies of the dead lied all around here
In this cold rain
Near the bodies of the old and weak
Lie the bodies of the young and innocent
Which body is the body of my brother
In this ****
In those burnt out areas
Next to the maize and sweet potato field
(Repeat all)
Which body is the body of my brother
In this ****
In those burnt out areas
Next to the maize and sweet potato field
Song for the corpses
Bài ca dành cho những xác người (Hue 1968)
(Translated by Nguyễn Vũ Thành, 28.9.2003)
Corpses float on rivers
lie in the fields
on roofs in the city
on the tortuous roads
Corpses lie lonely
under pagoda eaves
in churches of the city
on a wild veranda
Oh Spring, corpses nourish the paddy-fields
Oh Viet Nam, corpses give strength to future soil
The way we go, though with thorns
Then hereabouts, there''re people
Corpses lie about here
in this cold rain
near corpses of the aged (old and weak)
are corpses of the naive
Which corpse is my younger (brother and sister)
in this ****
in fire-and-smoke areas
near beds of maize, (sweet) potato
(Repeat all)
Which corpse is my younger
in this ****
in fire-and-smoke areas
near beds of maize, potato

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

By the lonely life
Bên đời hiu quạnh
(Translated by Nguyễn Vũ Thành, 29.9.2003)
Once, suddenly heard my native place
A voice calling me, sounded quite gentle
Heart was quite calm, but why so sad
Startled, just saw I had sung for long
(hưm...hừm........hưm)
(hưm....hừm..............hưm)
Then one time, packed clothes and left
Thought I''d forget the sorrow at homeland
Heart was quite calm, but why so sad
Startled, just saw I had cried for long
(hưm...hừm........hưm)
(hưm....hừm..............hưm)
Which desert road I had gone by
Road to my love, there''re quivering sunlights
Roads were tranquil, heart missed nothing
Startled, looked around oh strange streets
(hưm...hừm........hưm)
(hưm....hừm..............hưm)
Which road led me to drunkeness
Once in a dream, I saw I passed away
Though tears falled down, heart wasn''t sad
Startled, woke up oh sunlight had risen
(hưm...hừm........hưm)
(hưm....hừm..............hưm)


My friend asked me why I didn''t use the word "realize" for this case. It''s because (I feel) in this song I feel the author is watching himself, he''s him and not, inside and outside himself at the same time. I don''t know to explain, so use this
VT: nhi`n ra
VT: tai vi bai nay
VT: no kieu nhu la`
VT: tu* minh nhin minh
VT: mi`nh nhi`n min`h
mitdacbiettuot: o*`... giai thich the nghhe duoc day nhi?
VT: tuc la mi`nh day ma ko phai mi`nh
VT: nen saw thi` no'' ro y day hon
VT: la realize
VT: realize thi` mi`nh van co`n la mi`nh
mitdacbiettuot: oi me oi...
VT: co`n saw thi` hi`nh nhu mi`nh dang tach ra, ma` van loanh quanh dau day


All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

Four seasons change leaves
Bốn mùa thay lá
(Translated by Nguyễn Vũ Thành, 29.9.2003)
Four seasons (are) like leaves
Four seasons (are) like clouds
Rivers connect two hands
with the ocean
Night waits the light
Rain asks sunlight
The sun twinkles above
both far and near
Rivers are boats
Far clouds are sails
Each autumn dew is no longer boundless
Rain-drops
Flower buds
dating together in the font yard
Don''t date but come
Don''t wait but leave
Four seasons change leaves
change flowers, change lives unceasingly
By the blue sky
new buds and seeds
leave at eternity-land
a shape of smile
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

Bống is not Bống

Bống không là Bống
(Translated by Nguyễn Vũ Thành)
Bống is not Bống, where is Bống now
Bống is not Bống, is not in (a) pond
Bống jumps ashore, (Bống) goes window shopping
Golden light supports, gives Bống a house
Find love, find love in sun, you encounter a rain
Oh well find love in midday, sadness sparsely comes
Find love, find love on mountain, you meet flying clouds
Oh well find love in market, love''s already faded
Bống is not Bống, Bống wears ao-dai
Bống goes out (from) alley, walks deliberately
There is a road Bống will never reach
Joy, sadness meet in human life (incarnation)
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

Going downtown alone in the evening
Chiều một mình qua phố

(Translated by Frank Duong)
Evening, going down the roads alone, quietly I remember remember your name
Midnight heat was not up yet, a type of flower turns purple
Evening, going down the roads alone, quietly I remember remember your name
My heels are tender and weak, sadly calling so I can remember the name
Last evening, how many smiles on the lips
So we could still remember each other
Last evening how many hands inviting
Sorrow hearing the sad lips
Whenever we still had each other, please give the eternity
Whenever we cease to have each other, do understand the pains
Evening, going down the roads alone, quietly I remember remember your name
Oh wind do rise, do let the dust on the road make my eyes sore
Evening, going down the roads alone, quietly I remember remember your name
The clothes of the past had not grown accustomed to the dust of the world, waiting for autumn to make them yellower
Evening, going down the roads alone, listening to the waters still flowing around
The footsteps are so familiar and sad, praying to god let me keep my youth
going downtown alone in the evening, quietly I remember remember your name
Out there there is no more soft heat, out there who will remember the name
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

Wait to see brilliant fatherland
Chờ nhìn quê hương sáng chói
(Translated by Frank Duong)
Here I wait, there you wait,
In a small house, mother sits and waits too,
The soldier waits on the deserted hilltop;
The prisoner waits in total darkness
How many years have we been waiting?
How many years have we been waiting?
How many years have we been waiting?
Waiting for ever when we all awaken with a large shout of joy
Waiting for the heart of hatred to sink deep
Waiting for the peace to come, waiting for the sound of the three regions
Waiting for the steps to be made on roads with no mines and spikes
Waiting for the roads to be reconnected and vehicles to travel through all three regions
Waiting for the good news that the whole nation has been waiting for
Waiting for mother''s forehead to lighten with the dawn
Waiting for the tears to dry,
waiting for the stones to sing
Waiting for foods and clothes for the children without homes
Waiting for the day Vietnam reunites for the love without borders
Waiting for the bugle to sound to bring home all the boys
Waiting for hearts to no longer hold any hatred and grudges
Waiting for nights without curfews and mornings with comfort
Waiting for the aromatic rice to grow under the hands of our own people
Waiting for the hearts that love the country and are determined to build the peace
Waiting for the hearts that are happy throughout the villages
Waiting for the land to resound of songs of freedom
Waiting for trees to change leaves; waiting for flowers to blossom
Waiting for us to go around streets that are not strange
Waiting for a bright country and the mothers'' eyes are no longer blurred with tears
Waiting for the bugle to sound to bring home all the boys
Waiting for hearts to no longer hold any hatred and grudges
Waiting for nights without curfews and mornings with comfort
Waiting for the aromatic rice to grow under the hands of our own people
Waiting for the hearts that love the country and are determined to build the peace
Waiting for the hearts that are happy throughout the villages
Waiting for the land to resound of songs of freedom
Waiting for trees to change leaves; waiting for flowers to blossom
Waiting for us to go around streets that are not strange
Waiting for a bright country and the mothers'' eyes are no longer blurred with tears
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys

The remained eye
Con mắt còn lại
(Translated by Nguyễn Vũ Thành)
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
The remained eye looked at my life
saw me rising high, saw me getting down.
The remained eye saw love fading
love, in two hands, one day vanished.
The remained eye was (the) eye of whom
the remained eye saw me sighing.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
The remained eye saw one to two
saw you as love, saw you (as) wild beast.
The remained eye suspected my love
crazily loving, crazily missing.
The remained eye saw (white) clouds flying
the remained eye saw me sadly.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
The remained eye saw life as emptiness (sunyata, Buddhism meaning)
saw you as nihility (nothingness), saw you as sunlight.
The remained eye quietly, kindly
saw you leaving, your heart (was) far away.
The remained eye was a dark night
the remained eye was an ardent night.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
The remained eye saw life as emptiness
saw you as nihility (nothingness), saw you as sunlight.
The remained eye quietly, kindly
saw you leaving, your heart (was) far away.
The remained eye was a dark night
the remained eye was an ardent night.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
Two eyes remained, cried (over) human by one
two eyes remained, one cried (over) human.
This song is written for a Trịnh''s friend, who lose one of his eyes during the Vietnam war.
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full: unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (ECCLESIASTES)

lys


Được tigerlily sửa chữa / chuyển vào 17:41 ngày 03/04/2004