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Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:54 pm
by Jamie_Lambo
I sometimes get asked to translate Cambodian songs into English,
Its something i enjoy doing anyway and do it a lot in my spare time for studying/practicing my Khmer, probably about 3-4 songs a week,
So if anyone has any song requests they would like, feel free to drop a message here or PM,

Ps. I cant guarantee the songs to be completely bulletproof, translating/interpreting Khmer>English is sometimes hard to be completely accurate, but they should be close enough

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Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:05 pm
by Jamie_Lambo
@that genius
that genius wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:01 am Jamie, s'il vous plait...

Preap Sovath - Besdong Anatha

ឆាកជីវិតដូចសុរិយាអស្ដង្គត
Chhak Jivit Doch Soreya Ostongkot
Life like the scene of a sun setting

គេចមិនផុតពីភពដ៏ងងឹតសូន្យសុង
Kech Min Phot Pii Phop Dor NgoNgut Son Song
To avoid not coming to an end of an existence which is completely dark

រស់នៅខ្វះភាពកក់ក្ដៅស្រស់ស្រាយស្រទន់
Ros Nov Khvos Peap Kok Kdao Sros Sray Sraton
To survive lacking a state of unconstrained warmth

ដូចយប់យន់លិចលង់ក្នុងភពអន្ធការ
Doch Yub Yon Lech Long Knong Phop Anteaka
Similar to late nights perishing within the earths darkness


ស្រមោលពីអតីតក្នុងចិត្តអួអាប់
Sromaol Pii Ahtit Knong Jet Ua Aab
The shadow from the past inside feeling troubled

ទ្រូងអភ័ព្វជីវិតផ្សាភ្ជាប់នឹងទុក្ខា
Trong Aphap Jivit Phsa Phjoab Nung Tokka
The center of this unfortunate life is painfully linked with suffering

អស់សង្ឃឹមទៅហើយ បេះដូងអនាថា គ្មានវាសនាថ្នមបី
Os Songkum Tov Hery, Besdong Anata, Kmean Vea Sonea Thnom Bey
Gone and finished hope already, a wandering heart without any fortune to carry it carefully


បងគឺជាអ្នកខុសមែនទេ ទើបពៅមាសមេធ្វើយ៉ាងហ្នឹង
Bong Kur Jia Neak Kos Men Te? Terb Pov Meas Me Tver Yang Hnung?
Am i really a wrong person? so then my beloved you act this way?

ប្រកាន់ខឹងនឹងបងដែលស្រលាញ់ចរណៃ
Brakan Kung Nung Bong Dael Srolanh Joronai
Offended with me, the one who loves you

បើមែននោះ ឲ្យបងសុំទោស បងខុសព្រោះហ៊ានស្នេហ៍ស្រី
Ber Men Nus, Aoy Bong Somtoas, Bong Kos Proas Hean Snei Srey
If its really that, let me apologise, i'm wrong because I dare to love you

មិនមើលស្រមោលខ្លួនឯង
Min Merl Sromaol Kluan Aing
Not looking at the shadow of myself


បងជាប្រុសដែលឆ្លុះកញ្ចក់ ធ្មេចនេត្រាមិនមើលខ្លួនប្រាណ
Bong Jia Bros Dael Chhlos Kanhjak Tmech Netra Min Merl Kluan Bran
I am man who looks into the mirror, closing both eyes to not look at myself

មិនប្រមាណប្រាថ្នាកល្យាណ មិនកោតក្រែង
Min Broman Pratna Kalyan Min Kaot Kraeng
Not guessing the excellent wishes that don't respect

ធ្វើឲ្យអូនអាក់អន់ចិន្ដា ចំបែងរង្កៀសចិត្តព្រោះរូបបង
Tver Aoy Oun Aak On Chenda Jombaeng Rongkeus Jet Proas Rub Bong
I make you dissapointed and upset because of me


ឆ្លុះកញ្ចក់ទាំងធ្មេចនេត្រា
Chhlos Kanhjak Teang Tmech Netra
I look at myself in the mirror and close both eyes

មិនមើលប្រាណថាជាអ្នកណា
Min Merl Bran Tha Jia Neak Na
Not looking at the body... who is that?

ម្តេចក៏លបលួចប្រាថ្នាបុប្ផាក្នុងសួនសួគ៌ា
Mtech Kor Lob Luach Pratna Bopha Knong Suan Suakea
How come I secretly wish my darling is in the garden of heaven

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:20 pm
by explorer
Not exactly what you offered, but somebody should make a printable version of this with each paragraph in Cambodian and English, so people can hand it to police on appropriate occasions, and point to the appropriate paragraph.

https://bunbopith.files.wordpress.com/2 ... -khmer.pdf

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:22 pm
by John Bingham
Great idea. One thing I find interesting is how songs from other languages are translated into Khmer. I understand there are huge difficulties in translating what might be a very short sentence into Khmer (or vice-versa), so often the lyrics were completely reworked. There's one song that I really like, there are literally hundreds of versions of it. It is "Sunny" Bobby Herb. Just a quick background to the song:
Hebb's parents, William and Ovalla Hebb, were both blind musicians. Hebb and his older brother Harold performed as a song-and-dance duo in Nashville, beginning when Bobby was three and Harold was nine. Hebb performed on a TV show hosted by country music record producer Owen Bradley.

Hebb wrote the song in the 48 hours following a double tragedy on November 22, 1963, the day U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and Hebb's older brother Harold was stabbed to death outside a Nashville nightclub. Hebb was devastated by both events and many critics say that those events and critically the loss of his older brother inspired the lyrics and tune. According to Hebb, he merely wrote the song as an expression of a preference for a "sunny" disposition over a "lousy" disposition following the murder of his brother.
Sunny
Bobby Hebb
Sunny
Yesterday my life was filled with rain
Sunny
You smiled at me and really eased the pain
Now the dark days are gone, and the bright days are here
My sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you
Sunny
Thank you for the sunshine bouquet
Sunny
Thank you for the love you brought my way
You gave to me your all and all
And now I feel ten feet tall
Sunny one so true, I love you
Sunny
Thank you for the truth you let me see
Sunny
Thank you for the facts from A to Z
My life was torn like wind-blown sand
And a rock was formed when you held my hand (oh, sunny)
Sunny one so true, I love you.
Sunny
Thank you for the smile upon your face
Hmm, sunny
Thank you, thank you for the gleam that shows its grace
You're my spark of nature's fire
You're my sweet complete desire
Sunny one so true, yes, I love you
Sunny
Yesterday, all my life was filled with rain
Sunny
You smiled at me and really-really eased the pain
Now the dark days are gone, and the bright days are here (oh, sunny)
My sunny one shines so sincere
Sunny one so true, I love you
I love you (sunny)
I love you (sunny)
Signin' I love you (sunny)
Yes, I love you (sunny)
So here's the Sin Sisamuth version, how does it translate:



If anyone wants to check out other versions of the song I'd recommend the original:



Or the ultimate....


Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:16 pm
by Jamie_Lambo
John Bingham wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:22 pm Great idea.

So here's the Sin Sisamuth version, how does it translate:


Hey JB, thanks, ill try translate it tonight before bed if not ill do it sometime tomorrow mate :beer3:

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:25 pm
by that genius
Jamie_Lambo wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:05 pm @that genius
that genius wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:01 am Jamie, s'il vous plait...
:bow: :bow: :bow:

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:41 pm
by Jamie_Lambo
John Bingham wrote: Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:22 pm Great idea.
@John Bingham sorry for the delay i wrote it out once then i lost it so had to re write the whole thing again :suicide:
Sisamouth uses so many different terms of endearment about the girl hes singing about in this song i think it holds a world record,
one thing Khmer has is a vast vocabulary of lovey dovey words, so it was hard putting some of it into English without repeating myself too much but yeah here ya go...

Sinn Sisamouth - Soney Bondol Jet

សូនី គ្រាន់តែឃើញអូនភ្លាមចិត្តរៀមបេតី
Soney, Kroan Tae Khern Oun Pleam Jet Ream Betey
Soney, Just as soon as i saw you i fell in love

ចរណៃ នៅក្រោមមេឃលើដី មានតែអូនមួយ
Joronai, Nov Kraom Mech Ler Dey Mean Tae Oun Mouy
My beautiful gem, Under the sky and above the ground I only have you

អូនស្រស់ម្ល៉ឹងៗ បេះដូងបងរញ្ជួយ សូនីស្រស់
Oun Sros Mlung Mlung, Besdong Bong Ronhjuay, Soney Sros
You are beautiful so much it makes my heart tremble, Beautiful Soney

សម្ផស្សលាក់ន័យ ចរណៃ បងសូមស្នេហ៍
Sompos Leak Naey, Joronai, Bong Som Snei
Beauties hidden meaning, My beautiful gem, i love you


សូនី ភក្ដ្រាអូនញញឹមដូចជាដួងខែ
Soney, Phakdra Oun Nhor Nhum Doch Jia Duong Kae
Soney, your face smiles like the moon

មាសស្នេហ៍ សែនស្អាតអ្វីម្ល៉េះទេ កែវព្រលឹងបង
Meas Snei, Saen Sart Avey Mles Te? Keov Prolung Bong
My beloved, what makes you so extremely beautiful this way, My dearest love

បងសូមអង្វរលន់តួនួនល្អង សូនីស្រស់
Bong Som Ongvor Lon Tua Nuan Laong, Soney Sros
I apologise my darling, beautiful Soney

មេត្តាបងផង ឆោមយង់បងស្នេហ៍ស្រី
Metta Bong Pong, Chhaom Yong Bong Snei Srey
Please forgive me, gleaming beauty i love you


សូនី សូមតែអូនអាណិតមេត្តាប្រណី
Soney, Som Tae Oun Anet Metta Broney
Soney, please darling be kind and show compassion

ចរណៃ សូមស្រដីមួយម៉ាត់ឬមិនជឿចិន្ដា
Jornai, Som Srodey Mouy Mat Ruu Min Juar Chenda
My beautiful gem, please say one word or don't believe?

បងពិតជាស្មោះលុះអស់សង្ខារ សូនីស្រស់
Bong Pit Jia Smaos Los Os Songkar, Soney Sros
I will truly be honest the whole life, beautiful Soney

បងថ្នមកាយា សូនី បងស្នេហ៍ស្រី
Bong Thnam Kaya Soney, Bong Snei Srey
I will take good care of you Soney, i love you
(last verse repeated)

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:50 pm
by John Bingham
Thanks a lot geezer. So basically the whole sense of the song has been changed. The original was about the singer's brother (and JFK) dying, feeling terrible but then looking at the good points about the deceased and the bright side of things. The Sin Sisamouth version is more of a basic love song.

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:07 am
by Jamie_Lambo
John Bingham wrote: Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:50 pm Thanks a lot geezer. So basically the whole sense of the song has been changed. The original was about the singer's brother (and JFK) dying, feeling terrible but then looking at the good points about the deceased and the bright side of things. The Sin Sisamouth version is more of a basic love song.
yeah, this is Cambodia pretty much all their songs are about love and heartbreak :plus1:

Re: Cambodian Song Lyrics (requests welcome)

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:52 pm
by Jamie_Lambo


Todays song...
Aok Sokun Kanha - Nuk Pteas (Miss Home)

ទីក្រុងឆើតឆាយ តែស្ដាយកូនរស់ឯកា
Ti Krong Chhart Chhay, Tae Sday Koun Ros Aii Kar
The city is exceptionally beautiful but I regret living alone

មាតាបិតា សុខទុក្ខយ៉ាងណានៅផ្ទះ
Meada Beta, Sok Tukk Yang Na Nov Pteas
How is my parents health back at home?

សម្លឹងទៅផ្លូវ យើងនៅឆ្ងាយគ្នាខ្លាំងណាស់
Somlung Tov Plov, Yerng Nov Chngay Knea Klang Nas
I look down the road but we are still so very far from each other

ពេលមេឃមានភ្លៀងន្ទេះ កូនយំនឹកផ្ទះកក់ក្ដៅ
Pel Mech Mean Pleung Ndis, Koun Yom Nuk Pteas Kok Kdao
When the clouds have rain and thunder I cry and miss the comfort of home


កាយនៅទីក្រុង អារម្មណ៍កូននៅឯស្រុក
Kay Nov Ti Krong, Arom Koun Nov Aii Srok
My body is in the city but my mind is still in the village

ស្រមៃបានក្បែរម៉ែពុក ស្រនោះម៉ែធ្លាប់ស្រែកហៅ
Sromai Ban Kbaer Mae Puk, Sro Nus Mae Tloab Sraek Hav
Daydreaming I'm able to be close to my Mum and Dad, being aggravated that Mother used to call loudly

នៅឮរងំ ពាក្យពេចន៍ពុកខ្ញុំប្រដៅ
Nov Luu Rongom, Peak Pech Puk Khnom Bradov
I still hear it pleasantly, and my Fathers voice telling me off

យើងធ្វើស្រែក្រោមថ្ងៃក្ដៅ តែរស់នៅសប្បាយចិត្ត
Yerng Tver Srae Kraom Tngai Kdao, Tae Ros Nov Sabbay Jet
We work the rice field on the hot days, but still live happily


នឹកផ្ទះណាស់ បទចាស់ស្ដាប់ហូរទឹកភ្នែក
Nuk Pteas Nas, Bot Chas Sdap Hor Dtuk Pnek
I miss home so much, listening to the old music as my tears pour

ពុកអើយម៉ែអើយកូនបែក រៀនស្គាល់អ្វីជាជីវិត
Puk Ery Mae Ery Koun Baek, Rian Skoal Avey Jia Jivit
Oh father! Oh mother! I am broken, I've learnt and know what life is now

ឱ ក្ដីស្រមៃនៅឆ្ងាយ មិនមែននៅជិត
Ao Kdey Sromai, Nov Chngay Min Men Nov Jit
Oh even though i daydream, I'm still far away and not near by at all

តែធ្វើឲ្យកូនចេះគិត គំនិតមិនដូចពីក្មេង
Tae Tver Aoy Koun Jes Kit, Komnit Min Doch Pi Kmeng
Only makes me always think that its not same in the city


ទោះរស់នៅឆ្ងាយ ចិត្តកាយកូននៅដដែល
Toas Ros Nov Chngay, Jet Kay Koun Nov Dor Dael
Even though I live far away, I feel I'm still the same as before

ទោះគ្មានអ្នកណាមើលថែ ក៏កូនអាចថែខ្លួនឯង
Toas Kmean Neak Na Merl Thae, Kor Koun Aach Thae Kluan Aing
Even if I'm without someone to watch over me, I'm then able to take care of myself

ពុកម៉ែកុំព្រួយ ថ្ងៃមួយគង់ផុតចំបែង
Puk Mae Kom Pruay, Tngai Mouy Kong Put Jombaeng
Mum and Dad don't be worried, one day ill be safe and put an end to your concerns

រាល់ថ្ងៃកូនប្រាប់ខ្លួនឯង ជីវិតត្រូវតែតស៊ូ
Rol Tngai Koun Brap Kluan Aing, Jivit Trov Tae Tor Sou
Every day i tell myself, in life you have to continue bravely!