The Hungarian suicide song.

joe-90

joe-90

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It's been covered by almost everyone - but have you ever heard it?

Take a look at this list:


Billie Holiday
Björk
Branford Marsalis
Christian Death
Damia
Diamanda Galás
Elvis Costello
Erika Marozsan
Gitane Demone
Greg Brogan
Heather Nova (Movie)
Heather Nova (Radio)
Hernádi Judit
Kronos Quartet
Lil Darling
Lydia Lunch
Marc Almond
Marianne Faithfull
Maros Gabor
Mel Torme
Paul Robeson
Paul Whiteman
Peter Wolf
Priscilla Chan
Ricky Nelson
Sarah Brightman
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Vaughan
Satan's Sadists
Serge Gainsbourg
Sinéad O'Connor
Singing Loins
The Associates
The Smithereens


I've only heard the Heather Nova version.

It is banned to this day on the BBC.

Even the guy who wrote it threw himself out of a 7 story window to his death.

Have you heard it?

joe
 
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Never heard of it but I just downloaded it and will listen to it after work as it's so boring here that it's almost enough to drive me over the edge anyway!
 
Never mind that. If you want to top yourself, just listen to Leonard Cohen.
 
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Leonard Cohen is an acquired taste.

I'm having trouble drawing the connection between this "Hungarian suicide song" and the list of people in the first post. Are all these people of Hungarian descent who have committed suicide?

So far as I know, Elvis Costello is still alive, isn't he?
 
(translation to fit with music etc)

Sunday is gloomy, my hours are slumberless.
Dearest, the shadows I live with are numberless.
Little white flowers will never awaken you,
Not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you.
Angels have no thought of ever returning you.
Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?
Gloomy Sunday.

Gloomy is Sunday; with shadows I spend it all.
My heart and I have decided to end it all.
Soon there'll be candles and prayers that are sad, I know.
Death is no dream, for in death I'm caressing you.
With the last breath of my soul I'll be blessing you.
Gloomy Sunday.

(literal translation from the Hungarian)

it is autumn and the leaves are falling, all love has died on earth

the wind is weeping with sorrowful tears, my heart will never hope for a new spring again

my tears and my sorrows are all in vain, people are heartless, greedy and wicked




love has died!




the world has come to its end, hope has ceased to have meaning

cities are being wiped out, shrapnel is making music

meadows are coloured red with human blood

there are dead people on the streets everywhere, I will say another quiet prayer

people are sinners, lord, they make mistakes...




the world has ended!
 
Apparantly this song was written in 1933, and there's been a number of different translations of the lyrics. The one above was by Sam M. Lewis.

Here, apparantly, is a translation of the same Hungarian lyrics by Desmond Carter: (and I can't understand why the lyrics are so different)


Sadly one Sunday I waited and waited
With flowers in my arms for the dream I'd created
I waited 'til dreams, like my heart, were all broken
The flowers were all dead and the words were unspoken
The grief that I knew was beyond all consoling
The beat of my heart was a bell that was tolling

Saddest of Sundays

Then came a Sunday when you came to find me
They bore me to church and I left you behind me
My eyes could not see one I wanted to love me
The earth and the flowers are forever above me
The bell tolled for me and the wind whispered, "Never!"
But you I have loved and I bless you forever

Last of all Sundays
 
It's not just 7671 that is open to interpretation, then?? :LOL:
 
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