There is more than one type of translation:
- Setting words to music
- Converting a message from one language to another
In both cases, a translation must be accurate. Otherwise, it is a summary or a paraphrase. My voice teacher has frequently seen me dismiss the translations of the Spanish songs in her books! I just sing a new translation to her on the fly. This helps her understand my interpretation of the pieces we are working on. She loves what I do, but setting it in writing is a challenge.
My son got married on August 5, and on one of his visits home with his fiancée I sang a traditional Latin American song to Daniel and Brenda, his bride. I had always sung to him in Spanish, but he was very emotional. I wondered what was special. He said “This describes Brenda, Mom!” He asked me to translate it for them. So I did.
The message was clear in English and in Spanish. They got the words, and it is now here, on my site, as a tribute to my children, Daniel and Brenda.
Si una buena amistad tienes tú
Si una buena amistad tienes tú, | If you have a genuine friend, |
alaba a Dios, pues la amistad es un don. | Praise God, for friendship is a gift. |
Ser amigo es hacer al amigo todo el bien, | A friend always does the best for a friend, |
¡qué bueno es saber amar! | How good it is to love! |
La amistad viene de Dios, y a Dios debe volver, | Friendship flows from God and returns to God |
¡qué bueno es saber amar! | How good it is to love! |
Sí, una buena amistad es más fuerte que la muerte | Death can not break the bonds of friendship |
y cuando uno está lejos, la amistad se va volviendo más fuerte. | And even distance only makes your friendship stronger. |
La amistad es en la vida una canción, | Friendship brings music to our lives, |
la amistad hace vivir al corazón. | Friendship makes our hearts come alive! |
Ser amigo es hacer al amigo todo el bien, | A friend always does the best for a friend, |
¡qué bueno es saber amar! | How good it is to love! |
La amistad viene de Dios, y a Dios debe volver, | Friendship flows from God and returns to God, |
¡qué bueno es saber amar! | How good it is to love! |