Paroles et traduction Raimonds Pauls & Valdemārs Zandbergs - Balāde Manam Vectēvam

Balāde Manam Vectēvam

Mans vectēvs bija ļoti prātīgs.
Cits šuva jaunus goda svārkus
Un bija ar savu spēku plātīgs,
Bet vectēvs uztaisīja zārku.

Es negribu, ka citiem raizes,
Ja gadās nomirt man ar joni.
Nu, atliks jums līdz kapiem aiznest,
Un uzlikt virsū kādu kroni.

Zārks, protams, tukšā nestāvēja,
Pats vectēvs bijīgi un rāmi
Tur lika iekšā zāļu tējas
Un reizēm kādu medus rāmi.

Būs labāk smarža mūža mājai,
Kad divpadsmitā stunda sitīs,
Viņš teica, pieceļoties kājās,
Un izņēma no bārdas biti.

Uz bēniņiem viņš bieži gāja,
Kaut bērni teica - ko tu maisies,
Bet kaktā zārks to brīdināja -
Daudz laika nav vairs, vecais, taisies.

Un vectēvs vaiga sviedros rāvās,
Un nešķīrās no savas pīpes,
Ar bezmiegu pa naktīm kāvās,
No rīta atkal bij' uz strīpas.

Viņš nedomāja - kaut kur dosies,
Bet aizgulējās kādā rītā.
Es skaļi saucu: Vectēv, mosties, vectēv, mosties!
Viņš nepamodās vairs, aiz spīta.

A Ballad for My Grandfather

My grandfather was very clever.
Others sewed new Sunday suits
And were proud of their own strength,
But grandfather made a coffin.

I don't want to trouble others,
If I happen to die suddenly.
Well, you will just have to carry me to the graveyard,
And put a wreath on top of me.

The coffin, of course, did not stand empty,
Grandfather himself fearfully and calmly
Put some herbal tea in it
And sometimes a honey frame.

The smell of the eternal home will be better,
When the twelfth hour strikes,
He said, rising to his feet,
And took the bee out of his beard.

He often went to the attic,
Although the children said - why do you interfere,
But the coffin in the corner warned him -
You don't have much time left, old man, get ready.

And grandfather struggled in the sweat of his face,
And did not part with his pipe,
Fought with insomnia at night,
In the morning he was back in line.

He did not think - he would go somewhere,
But overslept one morning.
I shouted loudly: Grandfather, wake up, Grandfather, wake up!
He didn't wake up again, out of spite.