Paroles et traduction Laurika Rauch - Katrina

Katrina

Katrina van die Bo-kaap
Het voor haar deur gestaan
′N Boot lê in die hawe
Matrose kom al aan

Oor Strandstraat na die Boereplein
Die donker strate in
En netnou sal Katrina
Se nagtaak weer begin

'N Halfverlepte hoedjie
Hang parmantig oor een oog
Die rooi veer is verinneweer
Maar staan nog met ′n boog

Katrina dra haar beste rok
Sy stryk die kreukels plat
So fyn asof 'n vryer wag
Het sy haar uitgevat

Maar eer sy van haar huis gaan
Kyk sy 'n keer weer om
Lank sal die leë ure wees
Voordat sy daar kan kom

Katrina stap deur Roosstraat
Astrant met slentergang
Wie raai nou aan haar houding
Dat sy na huis verlang

Nou kom sy by haar susters
Die rawe van die nag
Wat by die hoeke uitskel
Of somber staan en wag
Katrina ken haar roeping
′N Harpy van die eer
′N Noodgedwonge rower
Wat alles tog ontbeer

Katrina haat die lewe
Katrina vrees die dood
Katrina gaan haar slentergang
Verdien haar bitter brood

Katrina

Katrina from the Bo-Kaap
Has been standing on her doorstep
A ship is anchored in the harbor
Sailors are embarking

Through Strand Street to the Boereplein
In the dark streets
And soon Katrina
Will begin her nightly task again

A slightly faded hat
Perches jauntily over one eye
The red feather may be bedraggled
Yet still stands with an arc

Katrina wears her best dress
She smooths out the wrinkles
As fine as if a lover were waiting
Has she dressed up

But before she leaves her house
She takes one last look around
Long will the empty hours be
Before she can get there

Katrina walks through Rose Street
Defiantly with a slow gait
Who would guess by her attitude
That she was longing for home?

Now she has reached her sisters
The ravens of the night
Who stand out at the corners
Or wait around looking gloomy
Katrina knows her calling
A harpy of honour
A forced robber
Who lacks everything

Katrina hates life
Katrina fears death
Katrina goes her slow gait
Earning her bitter bread