Black milk of dawn we drink it at evening
we drink it at midday and morning we drink it at night
we drink and we drink
we're digging a grave in the airs where you won't lie too tight
A man lives in the house he plays with the serpents he writes
he writes when Deutschland is darkened by your golden hair Margarete
he writes it and goes 'fore the house and the stars shine he calls for his hounds
he calls for his Jews a grave in the earth he leaves them to dig
he commands us now play for to dance
Black milk of dawn we drink it at night
we drink it at morning and midday we drink it at evening
we drink and we drink
A man lives in the house he plays with the serpents he writes
he writes when Deutschland is darkened by your golden hair Margarete
Your ashen hair Sulamith we're digging a grave in the airs where you won't lie too tight
He calls push deeper into the soil you and the others sing and you play
he grips at his belt for the iron his eyes are blue
push the spades deeper you and the others play on for to dance
Black milk of dawn we drink you at night
we drink you at midday and morning we drink you at evening
we drink and we drink
a man lives in the house your golden hair Margarete
your ashen hair Sulamith he plays with the serpents
he calls play death sweeter death is a master from Deutschland
he calls stroke the violins more darkly for you'll rise like smoke in the air
for you'll have your grave in the clouds where you won't lie too tight
Black milk of dawn we drink you at night
we drink you at midday death is a master from Deutschland
we drink you at evening and morning we drink and we drink
death is a master from Deutschland his eye is blue
he hits you with bullet of lead he hits you true
a man lives in the house your golden hair Margarete
he sets his hounds on us he gives us a grave in the air
he plays with the serpents and dreameth death is a master from Deutschland
your golden hair Margarete
your ashen hair Sulamith
Thank you for this translation, Justin. Here are a few thoughts and questions:
The "man" in "wir schaufeln ein Grab in den Lüften da liegt man nicht eng" is impersonal. Would it make sense to use "one" instead of "you"?
It sounds to me as if "der schreibt wenn es dunkelt nach Deutschland dein goldenes Haar Magarete" meant that he writes to Germany when it is getting dark, and as if "dein goldenes Haar Magarete" belonged to a different fugal voice.
In "...und es blitzen die Sterne" the action of the stars is hard and sharp. Could it be said in English that stars flash?
In "er greift nach dem Eisen im Gurt er schwingts" the iron is in his belt and I think he sways it.
What made you prefer "we drink and we drink" over "we drink and drink"? In "wir trinken und trinken" the omission of the second wir can be read as containing the disappearance of the ones who are drinking in their very action. Does the second "we" perform a different, perhaps rhythmical, function? Or would "we drink and drink" be difficult to understand?
Posted by: Andreas | April 28, 2013 at 03:44 PM