As promised, I have translated Józsi Hegedűs’s “Szeretőmnek” (“To My Love,” “To My Valentine,” “To the One Who Loves Me”). It is not a literal translation; instead, it conveys most of the meaning along with rhythms and rhymes. It could be sung to the melody of the song. I actually think it came out beautifully. But there are a few things missing or changed, which I will explain.
| Szeretőmnek Hegedűs Józsi Bennünk fonalak folynak A végük a csillagos égbe Van szépen belefonva A másik a másik zsebébe Az akácos utak maradnak A nap melege meg a szél Ugyanúgy megmaradnak Csak én mentem el, csak én Annyira fúj, igen, annyira fúj a szél Hogy idáig fújt el engem a szél Annyira messzire visz engem az út Mindig rángat valahová a szív Bennünk fonalak folynak A végük a csillagos ég Az erekben langyos aszfalt Csurog a szívem felé Annyira fúj, igen, annyira fúj a szél Idáig fújt el engem a szél Annyira messzire visz engem az út Mindig rángat valahová a szív Annyira messzire fújt el Hogy idáig fújt el a szél Mondjátok meg a szeretőmnek Nem vagyok már az övé Annyira fúj, igen, annyira fúj a szél Idáig fújt el engem a szél Annyira messzire visz engem az út Mert mindig rángat valahová a szív | To My Love Józsi Hegedűs (translated by Diana Senechal) Yarns are flowing inside us, Their end is the starry sky. See that lovely one woven Into the other’s thigh. Acacia roads will abide here, The heat of the wind and the sun, Ever here, ever unchanging. I am the only one gone. Oh, the wind blows, such is the gust of the wind that it has blown me into this distant land. The road bears me so far away from the start, I am ever pulled somewhere by my heart. Yarns are flowing inside us, Their end is the starry vault. My veins hold the lukewarm asphalt Trickling its way to my heart. Oh, the wind blows, such is the gust of the wind that it has blown me into this distant land. The road carries me so far away from the start, I am ever pulled somewhere by my heart. So far away has it blown me That I have been blown to these words. Friends, give my love the message That I am no longer hers. Oh, the wind blows, such is the gust of the wind that it has blown me into this distant land. The road carries me so far away from the start, I am ever pulled somewhere by my heart. |
The first departure is in the first verse: in the original, the yarn (or thread) is woven not into the other’s thigh, but into the pocket. The pocket comes up in many Roma and Hungarian folk songs (for instance, “Zöld erdőben, de magos“): it is the location of love secrets, of promises. So I am a little bit sorry to lose that, but it would be lost in English anyway. The “thigh” is also evocative.
The other departure is in the last verse, where the melancholy of the song bursts open. A literal translation would be, “So far away does it blow me, the wind, that it blows me all the way here. Tell my love that I am no longer hers.” I liked the idea of being blown to those very words, so I took that liberty (for the sake of rhyme too). I love how the song sounds exuberant up to that point, and then you suddenly realize that it isn’t only exuberant.
The twinge of that verse changes how I hear the rest, though it keeps its joy too. I think the song has to do with the experience, on many levels, of diaspora, of being part of a traveling, displaced people but also taking one’s own way through life, often through no plan or intention, but being pulled by the wind, by the heart, to places far away from the origin. On the other hand, the song can be heard on a purely personal level, or as a rather frisky meditation on life.
“Fonal” could be “yarn” or “thread”; I chose “yarn” because it sounds more colorful; also, “yarn” can mean “story” in English. I took a few other small liberties too, but nothing that changes the meaning substantially.
Here is the video once more. Now, even if you don’t speak Hungarian, you can get a sense of the meaning of the lyrics, keeping in mind that the translation departs here and there (pulled by the wind?).
The photo is a still from the video (courtesy of an article in Recorder.hu).
Note: After posting this, I made a small change to the translation: in each occurrence of the chorus, in the fourth line, I changed “forever” to “ever” (“I am ever pulled somewhere by my heart”). I prefer “ever” here (with its meaning of “always” or “constantly”); it’s simpler and more evocative.
Take Away the Takeaway 
Bob Shepherd
/ July 24, 2023Wonderful, Diana. Thank you!
Diana Senechal
/ July 24, 2023Thank you, Bob! I’m glad you like it!