I wonder how many people

Debate on Leonard Cohen's poetry (and novels), both published and unpublished. Song lyrics may also be discussed here.
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Henning
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I wonder how many people

Post by Henning »

can help me with a spanish, italien and french version of this poem:

"I wonder how many people in this city live in furnished rooms
late at night when I look out at the buildings
I swear I see a face in every window
looking back at me

And when I turn away I wonder how many go back to their desks
and write this down."

Thanks in advance - keep em coming - them translations !
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ForYourSmile
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Post by ForYourSmile »

"Me pregunto cuánta gente en esta ciudad
vive en habitaciones amuebladas.
Ya tarde por la noche cuando miro hacia los edificios
juro que veo un rostro en cada ventana
que me devuelve la mirada,
y cuando me retiro
me pregunto cuántos vuelven a sus escritorios
y escriben esto mismo."


Translated into Spanish by Alberto Manzano.

There are more people writing this down in other languages that you have not asked:

"Em pregunto quanta gent en aquesta ciutat
viu en habitacions moblades.
Tard a la nit quan miro cap als edificis
juro que veig un rostre en cada finestra
que em retorna la mirada,
i quan em retiro
em pregunto quants tornen als seus escriptoris
i escriuen això mateix."


In Catalan.
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Henning
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Post by Henning »

Thanks a lot FYS !
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ForYourSmile
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Post by ForYourSmile »

Don't mention it. :wink:

Does anybody write this down in German?
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tomsakic
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Post by tomsakic »

I can give you Croatian, Henning;-)
sakuntala
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Post by sakuntala »

Does anybody write this down in German?, ForYourSmile asked.

Sure, why not, although some lines will be loooong...


"Ich frage mich, wie viele Menschen in dieser Stadt in möblierten Zimmern leben
wenn ich spät in der Nacht die Gebäude betrachte
schwöre ich, dass mir aus jedem Fenster ein Gesicht
entgegen blickt

Und im Abwenden frage ich mich, wie viele davon wohl an ihren Schreibtisch treten
um dies aufzuschreiben"

Translated into German by Thomas Krämer

Best wishes,
sakuntala
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Henning
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Post by Henning »

I turned this into a song. But it would be way too short - even for the hitparades. That's why I added a German and French version. But I had to change the structure a a bit depending on the language. The English language is blessed to have many words with one or two syllables only. Your offered Spanish text is almost unsingable. So I have to look for a shorter one.

My German version:

Ich frag mich wieviele Menschen in dieser Stadt in möblierten Zimmer leben. Abends spät geh ich zum Fenster hin und seh in viele fremde Augen, die zu mir rüberschaun. Und geh ich dann zurück, frag ich mich wieviel gerad' das gleiche tun und dies notiern.

My French version:

Je me demande combien de personnes dans cette ville habitent dans des chambres meubles. Le soir tard quand je regard les immeubles je vois un visage qui me regarde dans chaque fenetre. Et quand je me troune, je me demande, combien retournent a leur table et ecrivent ceci.

"Immeubles" is the most questionable part here because it doesn't swing well. But it is ok. In the German version, I had two adapt the second line like this: "Late at night I move to the window and regard unfamiliar eyes, which are looking back at me. "

Just see how this works:

looking back at me
die zu mir rüberschaun
dans chaque fenetre

And when I turn away
Und geh ich dann zurück
Et quand je me troune

And write this down
und dies notiern
et ecrivent ceci

You can hurry at one additional syllable, sometimes at two like in "et ecrivent ceci" but not more.
sakuntala
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Post by sakuntala »

Hello,
sorry, a singable German version is another thing...
Yes, I think your translation works perfectly for that.
Like to hear the result!
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