[Martinswede]

Hi yall!

I mostly write songs in English but sometimes I get a really good strophe/sentiment in Swedish that I base a song on.
Today the Swedish language is getting more and more colonized by, and I quote Irvine Welsh: 'Those tea drinking wankers.' and at times the language that is the home of memories seems to be slipping away.

This is a song I wrote in last years FAWM(2018). Since (The) Internet is global I'd like to supply the song with English translation in the lyrics section of the song. I ask of you to see if the translation makes any sense. Straight on reviews on the Swedish lyrics are also welcome.

Here's the song. Swedish/English

Utan titel / No title

Det behövs så mycket / So much is needed
för att säga ingenting alls / To say nothing at all

Men när orden tar slut / But when it gets quiet
blir allt så kallt / It also gets so cold

Jag kan slösa med min tid / I can waste my time
Varje år jag får / Every year I get

Sluta lura dig själv / Stop pretending to yourself
att saker består  / That things remain

[Chorus]

Du ska inte tro att du behövs, / You shall not think you're needed (Kind of Biblical, I know)
för att göra den här världen vacker / To make this world beautiful
Men du gör den vacker för mig / But you make it beautiful to me

Jag har aldrig sett mörker / I've never seen the dark
Jag har sluppit ljuset med / Nor have I seen the light

Jag var där / I was there
Jag var den som stod breve / The one who just stood by the side

Du ska inte tro att du behövs, / You shall not think you're needed
för att göra den här världen vacker / To make this world beautiful
Men du gör den vacker för mig / But you make it beautiful to me

Cheers,
Martin

[rightly]

This is interesting.

Seems to have a strong beginning, at least it resonates with me.
Then it fades a little for me.

Translations rarely catch the essence and I've at times told myself to stop trying.
They do give a writer a new, or a different perspective, this doesn't make things easier but can have a  interesting effect on the outcome.
In particular, I'm a fan of Fernando pessoa and at some point I'll probably try to catch his essence and commit it to a song.


Can you recommend a Swedish lyric writer who's material has been translated into english?

A different approach can be enriching.

[Martinswede]

Hi @Rightly !

I agree with you that the lyrics loose a bit of the force that drives it.
It might be the esteemed age of thirty three coming this spring or just a clearer head, but I've started to notice a pattern in my lyrics. I usually have a good start and then after a while I come up with a decent chorus, but then I'm left with this blank space between chorus one and chorus two.

In this song I used retrospect and more of a naive point of view to put the chorus in another light. This song borrows the first words from the Swedish author Astrid Lindgrens song 'Idas sommarvisa'. 'Du ska inte tro det blir sommar...'

I thought about sending you a PM, but since I'm still writing to you I'd like to mention that I'm thinking of rehearsing the song 'Mark of Cain' -17 with my community music workshop. If we get it running smoothly I'll see if I can get a live rehearsal video recording to post the 'Open Mic'-section in The Bar.

First time I heard of Pessoa. I'll put him on my 'to read'-list. Most Swedish songs that also have been recorded in English are Eurovision Song Contest- songs. But I recommend Ola Magnells song 'När jag dör'. It's a cover of Loudon Wainwright III:s song 'Unrequired to the third degree'. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoU48MBgwWM

All the best,
Martin

[rightly]

Hi @Rightly !

I agree with you that the lyrics loose a bit of the force that drives it.
It might be the esteemed age of thirty three coming this spring or just a clearer head, but I've started to notice a pattern in my lyrics. I usually have a good start and then after a while I come up with a decent chorus, but then I'm left with this blank space between chorus one and chorus two.

In this song I used retrospect and more of a naive point of view to put the chorus in another light. This song borrows the first words from the Swedish author Astrid Lindgrens song 'Idas sommarvisa'. 'Du ska inte tro det blir sommar...'

I thought about sending you a PM, but since I'm still writing to you I'd like to mention that I'm thinking of rehearsing the song 'Mark of Cain' -17 with my community music workshop. If we get it running smoothly I'll see if I can get a live rehearsal video recording to post the 'Open Mic'-section in The Bar.

First time I heard of Pessoa. I'll put him on my 'to read'-list. Most Swedish songs that also have been recorded in English are Eurovision Song Contest- songs. But I recommend Ola Magnells song 'När jag dör'. It's a cover of Loudon Wainwright III:s song 'Unrequired to the third degree'. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoU48MBgwWM

All the best,
Martin

Hello Martin.

lately I've been thinking of how hard it is to Write a good song. Luck seems to be essential even for the talented and the experienced writer.
I wouldn't be too hard on myself.
Locally, around here, where I live, I seem to have a reputation for writing good material.
I really don't think I'm that good and still get compliments which are often confusing.


I feel some pressure to live up to expectations from others n' from myself.

It's really difficult to write a good one.

_______________


hey, that you might take "the mark of Cain" a bit further sounds really interesting.
I'd love to hear what comes of that. Good luck!


oh, n' check out my newest and probably final Version.
It's a creepy one n' I'm glad to be free of it!


Thanks for the tip.
I'll get around to having a look at that.

It's quite a rare Thing that I have Internet Connection.
I'll work it out.


All the best!