De brulloft

As de dea myn namme neamde
En myn libben kaam oan ein
Soest dan sizze datst by my bleaust
Ek al seachst ik wie fersein

Joechst my bloed foar myn bloedbrulloft
Soest my fuortjaan as in heit
Soest my liede nei it alter
Ek al wie ik in oar ta breid

Soest noch wachtsje op it ja-wurd
Seidest dat dan sachtjes mei
Soest my helpe út myn lichem
Dat ik frij wie op myn wei

Dan joech ik oer

As dan alles eins wol ree wie
Hiel myn libben wie oan kant
As de tiid my oan mysels liet
Mei de dea as brêgeman

Soest dan sizze dat it goed wie
Dat der leafde wêze soe
Dat ik opgie yn myn dreamen
Dat ik no fertrouwe koe

Dan joech ik oer

As ik dy stean seach út ’e fierte
En my dat betinken die
Dat ik sels al wie’k ferlern en blyn
De leafde útfûn hie

Dan joech ik oer

Lyrics: Lhasa de Sela, free translation: Nynke Laverman // Music: Lhasa de Sela // English translation: Judith Wilkinson

Translation

The wedding

If Death were to call my name
And my life would be no more
Would you tell me that you’d stay
Even though I was spoken for

Would you give me away as a father
Give me blood as the blood-knot was tied
Would you lead me to the altar
Though I was another man’s bride

Would you still wait for my ‘I do’
Would you whisper that very same ‘yes’
Would you help me out of my body
So I could be free nonetheless

Then I’d surrender

If everything had been completed
And the end of my life here loomed
If time left me to myself
With Death as my dark groom

Would you tell me it was all right
That love would be by my side
That I’d rest in the realm of my dreams
Where all of my doubts had died

Then I’d surrender

If I saw you in the distance
And suddenly knew in my mind
That I’d still discovered love
Even though I was lost and blind

Then I’d surrender