Album:
Que Walou
Originaltext
Deutsch
Übersetzung
Englisch
Hände
Hands
So many years in this world, almost beyond comprehension
The birth date is just an estimate on the birth certificate
But sometimes I take her hand
At the first junction: rubbing
Baking bread, carrying the water bucket, and sewing clothes
But near the callouses from holding the rudder in the hard times
Are also the soft spots3, the wiping the tears away, the hair stroking
Blue stripes that all lead to the aorta
The scars that show what the photo albums sometimes hide
Taut tendons relax when she stretches
Prayerbeads that promise us blessings
Hm-hm, Grandmother's hands give so much and take so little
Grandmother's hands hold everything here together
Grandmother's hands stir the sugar when she drinks tea
Grandmother's hands catch me every time
I can remember her pointer finger slightly trembling
The way she reminded me not to run so fast when I was a kid
I supported her when we walked in the park, but grandma is strong
She carried three generations on her arm
She bashfully fidgets with her wedding band, around which her fingers have grown
Half a century, two people, one meaning of life
And she doesn't need any grand gestures
I celebrate her when I crochet with henna on my nails
I have a very clear picture of her laughing face
as she picked a hand full of love from the almond trees for me
I feel the rough fingertips that always pointed upwards
That inspired us to always strive for more4
Hm-hm, Grandmother's hands give so much and take so little
Grandmother's hands hold everything here together
Grandmother's hands stir the sugar when she drinks tea
Grandmother's hands catch me every time
Grandmother's hand never had very much
And it is always about her5 when I rap about love
She raised me, without worries
Last month her son died (Sammat)
It was my dream to take her to Mecca
But it remained a dream, because weakness came with her old age
To me you have the most beautiful hands
For her6 I would fight lions even if it ends badly
I had crazy good luck to have you as my Grandmother
Your hands gave everything even if they received nothing in return
They pushed their daughter's wheelchair and never lost hope
Because she knows God is up above
Hm-hm, Grandmother's hands give so much and take so little
Grandmother's hands hold everything here together
Grandmother's hands stir the sugar when she drinks tea
Grandmother's hands catch me every time
- 1. crease in the palm; like palm reading
- 2. the german verb is specific to swinging like monkeys do, from branch to branch. Or like children do on the monkey bars. To brachiate is technically the word in English, but no one would say that
- 3. German wordplay: "holding the rudder" and "soft spots" sound the same
- 4. idiom in English
- 5. could be about Grandmother, could be about Grandmother's hands specifically
- 6. could be for Grandmother, could be for Grandmother's hands specifically
Song details
Translation details
asiochi
submitted on 6 Okt 2022 - 19:34
Give a shoutout to asiochi
Kommentare des Autors:
Translation is not super literal from the German. I tried to use natural American English phrasing when applicable.
