Текст и перевод песни Andries Bezuidenhout - Wilgedorp Se Rasionaliseringsballade

Wilgedorp Se Rasionaliseringsballade

In die dertigs, na die depressie
Is die stasie hier gebou
En het toe vir vyf dekades
Wilgedorp se tyd gehou

Kort daarna, bank en skool
Koöperasie en ʼn kerk
Silo's en selfs ʼn haarsalon
Vir Maurice om in te werk

Dis die stasiemeestervrou
Wat die kannabeddings onderhou
Terwyl portiere vroeg al poets, poleer
Aan die koperletters bo die deur

Passasiers kom uit die stad
Bly by die Masonic Hotel
In die kroeg kan jy sien hulle luister
Na die stories wat ons vertel

As die goederetrein na middernag
My in die stoepkamer kom wakkermaak
Kan ek omdraai met die wete
Ek kan ure langer slaap

Dis die stasiemeestervrou
Wat die kannabeddings onderhou
Terwyl portiere vroeg al poets, poleer
Aan die koperletters bo die deur

Onlewensvatbaar
Sê konsultant en amptenaar
Nou staan spore langs die silo's braak
Wat gaan die boere maak?

Spekuleer, meganiseer
Masjien maak op waar mens makeer
Frankensteinpitte intensiveer
Gate onder lorries in die teer

Met die spoor gekom om hier te bly
En toe weer padlangs weggery
Want ʼn stasie sonder treine
Is ʼn plek waar jy net agterbly

Die wagkamer is stil
Net ʼn dwaalgees op die perron
Maar as jy fyn luister kan jy nog hoor
Hoe die laaste trein verbykom

Met die spoor gekom om hier te bly
En toe weer padlangs weggery
Want ʼn stasie sonder treine
Is ʼn plek waar jy net agterbly

The Wilgedorp Rationalisation Ballad

In the thirties, after depression
The station was built here
And for five decades, my love
Wilgedorp's time was kept

Shortly after, bank and school
Co-op and then a church
Silos and even a hair salon
For Maurice to work in

The station master's wife
Tends the canna beds
While porters polish early, my darling
The brass letters above the door

Passengers from the city
Stay at the Masonic Hotel
In the pub you can hear them attending
To the stories that we tell

When the goods train after midnight
Wakes me in the lounge room, my sweet
I can turn over, knowing
I can sleep for hours more

The station master's wife
Tends the canna beds
While porters polish early, my darling
The brass letters above the door

Unviable
Say the consultants and the clerks
Now the tracks beside the silos are bare
What will the farmers do?

Speculate, mechanise
The machines take over where people fail
Frankenstein seeds intensify
Potholes beneath the lorries on the road

Came by rail to settle here
Then went away by road
For a station without trains
Is where you only stay behind

The waiting room is quiet
Only a vagrant on the platform, my love
But if you listen you can hear
The last train passing by

Came by rail to settle here
Then went away by road
For a station without trains
Is where you only stay behind