Request for translation help with three Slovak songs

[Francoise Rosset]

Dear SEELANGers:

Could I trouble you to "help" me verify three translations of three 
short Slovak songs -- my Slovak is non-existent.

I am asking as a favor to my colleague, the college's music director.
The college chorus is singing three of Bartok's Slovak songs as part
of this year's Vespers program, which always includes songs from a
variety of places. Tim was given existing translations for the songs
and has asked me to check that these are indeed adequate.
I've been able to recognize about seven words. I have some niggling
doubts. The translations certainly don't seem very literal -- are they
far off? I'm probably wrong because my instincts are based on Russian.

The songs are pretty classic (see texts below):
Dancing Song From Medzibrod
Song of the Hayharvesters from Hiadel
Dancing Song from Poniky

I'm doing my best to put the songs into this message, but I have no
idea what will happen to the diacritics. Can't attach a document, so
if you can help and want to see a proper copy of the songs, in rtf 
format, please contact me directly at:
frosset at wheatonma.edu

I will send you the file.

Also, does anyone know of an established, authoritative source that
might offer standard English translation? We could not find one.

Thank you so very much for any and all help,
-FR



Dancing Song From Medzibrod
Rada pila, rada jedla	
Rada tancovala,	
Ani si len tú kytličku 	
Neobranclovala, 	
Nedala si štyri groše       	
Ako som ja dala,	
Žeby si ty tancovala, 	
A ja žeby stála.

translated as:
She loves to drink, 

and she loves to dance,

but she’s a lazy

worker. 

I paid the piper good money

so that she could dance. 

It isn’t fair that she dances wildly

while I sit here alone.


Song of the Hayharvesters from Hiadel

Na holi, na holi,	
Na tej širočine 	
Ved’som sa vyspala
Ako na perine.	

Už sme pohrabaly, 	
Čo budeme robit’?
S vŕšku do doliny 	
Budeme sa vodit’. 	

After the harvest,

gathering the hay

in the mountains



isn’t it wonderful

to come home

to a soft feather bed
to sleep!

Dancing Song from Poniky

Gajdujte, gajdence 	
Pôjdeme k frajerce!	
Ej, gajdujte vesele, 	
Ej, že pôjdeme smele!

Zagajduj gajdoše! 	
Ešte mám dva groše:	
Ej, jedon gajdošovi, 	
A druhý krčmárovi.
	
To bola kozička, 	
Čo predok vodila,
Ej, ale už nebude,
Ej nôžky si zlomila.

Bagpipers play,

dancers whirl!

When we can no longer pay the

players, the party will end!

Keep on playing, piper!

Here’s money for the inn keeper.

Here’s some 

for the piper.

The drums and

the bagpipes

inspire wild

dancing!


	


Francoise Rosset, Associate Professor
Chair, Russian and Russian Studies
Wheaton College
Norton, Massachusetts 02766
Office: (508) 285-3696
FAX:   (508) 286-3640

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