Songs

Kui kajab muusika ('When music echoes')

by Ester Mägi From Kolm laulu Betti Alveri luulele (3 songs on poems by Betti Alver) (1981)

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Text & Translation

Kui kajab muusika ('When music echoes')
Estonian source: Betti Alver

Kui kajab muusika ja naeruhääl on hele,
Näod hõõguma ju löövad rõõmuroast,
Siis läbi linna lumeväljadele
Ma tasakesi põikan pidutoast

Nüüd kustub kaugel kumav aknarida.
Täis pilkusid on taevapimedik.

Ma seisatan.

Sa tuled jällegi, mu kohtunik,
Ja küsid jälle jälle midagi.
Kuid mida, mida sa siis ei tea?

Sa näitad minule mu armetust
Ning jällegi on osatada vaja
Sul minu eluhoolt, mu elumaja,
mu enda hellitust ja edevust.

Su käes on korraga kui kulurohi
Mu rinnalt kistud hõbelill.

Nii raske, raske tuule rajuvil
Sa rebid kõik mu hingehilbud maha.

Ma oma võimetuses vahel vihkan sind!
Kuid sinuta, mu süüdistaja,
Ma siiski siiski elada ei taha,
Ma elada ei saa, ma elada ei tohi, tohi!

When music echoes
English translation © Kai Rüütel

When music echoes and the laughing-voice is light,
Faces start glowing from the food of joy,
Then through the town to the snow-fields
I quietly sneak away from the party.

Now is extinguished the distant glowing line of windows.
Full of glances is the darkness of the sky.

I stop.

You come again, my judge,
And ask again and again something.
But what, what don’t you know?

You show me how pathetic I am
And again you mock
my life-care, my dwelling,
my self pampering and vanity.

Like dried grass in your hands
Is the silver flower torn from my bosom.

Even so, in a heavy, heavy raging wind
you tear off all the rags of my soul.

In my impotence I sometimes hate you!
But without you, my accuser,
I nevertheless do not want to live,
I cannot live, am not allowed to!

Kui kajab muusika ('When music echoes')
Estonian source: Betti Alver

When music echoes
English source: Kai Rüütel

Kui kajab muusika ja naeruhääl on hele,
When music echoes and the laughing-voice is light,
Näod hõõguma ju löövad rõõmuroast,
Faces start glowing from the food of joy,
Siis läbi linna lumeväljadele
Then through the town to the snow-fields
Ma tasakesi põikan pidutoast
I quietly sneak away from the party.

Nüüd kustub kaugel kumav aknarida.
Now is extinguished the distant glowing line of windows.
Täis pilkusid on taevapimedik.
Full of glances is the darkness of the sky.

Ma seisatan.
I stop.

Sa tuled jällegi, mu kohtunik,
You come again, my judge,
Ja küsid jälle jälle midagi.
And ask again and again something.
Kuid mida, mida sa siis ei tea?
But what, what don’t you know?

Sa näitad minule mu armetust
You show me how pathetic I am
Ning jällegi on osatada vaja
And again you mock
Sul minu eluhoolt, mu elumaja,
my life-care, my dwelling,
mu enda hellitust ja edevust.
my self pampering and vanity.

Su käes on korraga kui kulurohi
Like dried grass in your hands
Mu rinnalt kistud hõbelill.
Is the silver flower torn from my bosom.

Nii raske, raske tuule rajuvil
Even so, in a heavy, heavy raging wind
Sa rebid kõik mu hingehilbud maha.
you tear off all the rags of my soul.

Ma oma võimetuses vahel vihkan sind!
In my impotence I sometimes hate you!
Kuid sinuta, mu süüdistaja,
But without you, my accuser,
Ma siiski siiski elada ei taha,
I nevertheless do not want to live,
Ma elada ei saa, ma elada ei tohi, tohi!
I cannot live, am not allowed to!

Composer

Ester Mägi

Ester Mägi is an Estonian composer, widely regarded as the First Lady of Estonian Music.

Poet

Betti Alver

Elisabet "Betti" Alver was one of Estonia's most notable poets. 

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