Curate, connect, and discover
We've already learned of the existence of Hamilton in Hamburg, Germany.
And me being slightly obsessed with this play, I wrote down the lyrics of the German text to "Alexander Hamilton" with the help of a friend of mine. There were many arguments between us on what was actually sung but I think this is the most accurate it's gonna get without having the music sheets in front of me.
Literal translation
Contextual translation
"So'n" (so ein) translated to "such a"
Oh and here's the song
https://youtu.be/kxERVyjYvYY
(I've tried my best to translate it back to English as well, just to show some of the choices that were made.)
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Wie wird so'n Bastard, Balg der bloß aus dem Schoß einer Dirne,
How becomes such a bastard, brat who merely out the lap a Cyprian,
How does a bastard, brat, born from the mere lap of a prostitute,
kroch aus dem Gott verdammten, verlorenen
crawled out the god damned, doomed
crawl out of the god damned, doomed
Loch, in der Karibik ohne Titel,
Hole, in the Caribbean without title,
ohne Mittel, ohne Werte,
Without resources, without virtue,
am Ende doch ein Held und ein Gelehrter.
At end yet a hero and a scholar
Somehow end up a hero and a scholar.
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Der zehn Doller Gründervater ganz ohne Vater,
The ten dollar founding father all without Father
The 10$ founding father without a Father
war ein Welt planer, war hungrig und strebsamer,
was a world planner, was hungry and more ambitious,
war einfach 'n Tick smarter, war einfach ein Durchstarter.
was simply a tad smarter, was simply a magnate.
Und schon Chef 'ner Handelsfirma als er vierzehn Jahr war.
And already boss a trading company when he fourteen years was.
And already boss of a trading company at the age of fourteen.
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Und täglich sah er wie sie Sklaven schlachten, verfrachten, wie Vieh,
And daily saw he how they slaves butchered, transported, like cattle
And every day he saw how they butchered and shipped off slaves, like cattle,
aber er schwieg und zeigte nie was er dachte.
but he kept quiet and showed never what he thought
but he kept quiet and never showed what he thought
In ihm wuchs der Wunsch bei was Größerem mitzumachen.
In him grew the wish in something bigger participate.
Within him the wish grew to partake in something bigger.
Der Bruder hätte gebettelt, geräubert für seine Sache.
The brother would've begged, robbed for his thing.
The brother would've begged and robbed for his cause.
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Doch ein Hurricane kam und kannte kein Erbarm'n.
But a Hurricane came and knew no mercy.
Und er stand im Regen, tropfend nass und bettelarm,
And he stood in rain, dropping wet and destitute,
And he stood in the rain, dropping wet and destitute,
hielt er den Stift an seinen Kopf, verband den Kopf mit seinem Herz,
held he the pen to his head, connected the head with his heart.
holding the pen to his head, connected it to his heart.
schrieb seinen ersten Vers, ein Testament für seinen Schmerz,
wrote his first verse, a testament for his pain.
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Sein Talent sprach sich rum, sie sagten "Der Typ ist echt krank".
His talent spoke itself around, they said "the guy is really sick".
Word got around about his talent, they said "this guy is insane".
Machten 'ne Kollekte und verschickten ihn ans Festland.
Made a collection and send him to mainland.
Took up a collection and send him to the mainland.
"Du willst was bewegen, willst studieren und Respekt?
"You want something move, want study and respect?
"You want to have an impact, want to study and have respect?
Dann sag allen erstmal wie du heißt. Wie ist dein Name, Mann?"
Then tell everyone first how you're called. How is your name, man?"
Then firstly tell everyone your name. What's your name, man?"
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Alexander Hamilton.
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Man nennt mich Alexander Hamilton.
One calls me Alexander Hamilton.
They call me Alexander Hamilton
Hab mir Millionen Dinge vorgenomm'n
Have me Million thing planned.
Have planned to do millions of things.
Doch wartet's ab, wartet's ab.
But wait it off, wait it off.
But wait for it, wait for it.
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Er sieht mit zehn den Vater geh'n. Sagte "Mistkerl, danke".
He sees with ten the father leave. Says "trashguy, thanks"
Age ten he watches his father leave. Says "thanks, Asshole"
Zwei Jahre später sind er und die Mutter schwer krank
Two years later are he and the mother heavy sick
Two years later he and the mother fall seriously ill
und halb tot, ihre Augen blutrot und gelblich.
and half dead, her eyes bloodred and yellowish
Und Alex hielt durch doch seine Mutter tat's nicht.
And Alex held through but his mother did it not.
And Alex pulled through but his mother didn't.
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Lebte bei 'nem Vetter, bis der sich dann selbst das Leben nahm.
Lived with a cousin, until he himself then self the life took.
Lived with a cousin until he took his own life.
Als er von Leid umgeben war, keinen Weg mehr sah
As he from suffering surrounded was, no way anymore saw
As he was surrounded by suffering, not seeing a path anymore,
Hört er um sich
Hears he around himself
He can hear from around him
"Alex, sorg für dich selber, verdammt".
"Alex, care for you yourself, damnit".
"Alex, care for yourself, damnit".
Er zog sich zurück und zückte dann jedes Schriftstück aus dem Schrank.
He pulled himself back and drew then every document out the cupboard
He retreated and pulled every scripture from the shelves.
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Denn hätt' er nicht so'n Talent, wär schon seit läng'rem Endstation.
Because had he not such a talent, would already since long terminus.
If he wouldn't have had such talent he would have already hit the end of the road.
So'n Penner den keiner kennt. Doch ohne auch nur einen Cent als Lohn,
Such a bum who no-one knows. But without also just one cent as wage,
This beggar who no one knows. Even without getting a cent of wage,
twenty four seven scheffelt er mehr cash für seinen Hausherr'n.
twenty four seven accumulates he more cash for his host.
24/7 he accumulates more money for his landlord.
Handelt Zuckerrohr und Rum. Und währenddessen klaut und er-
Trading sugarcane and Rum. And meanwhile he steals and
gaunert er jeden Band den er in seine Hand kriegt.
scrounges he every volume which he in his hand gets.
he scrounges every book he can get his hands on.
Dauernd auf der Suche nach Ideen. Unser Mann sticht in See.
Constantly on the search for ideas. Our man stabs in sea.
Always on the search for ideas. Our man is setting out to sea.
Unbeirrt geht er grad an Bord.
Unperturbed goes he now on board.
He's going on board unperturbed.
Sein neues Leben liegt in New York.
His new life lies in New York.
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In New York you can be a new man. (wartet's ab.)
Wait it off.
Wait for it.
In New York you can be a new man. (wartet's ab)
Wait it off
Wait for it
In New York you can be a new man (in New York, New York)
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Wartet's ab!
Wait it off!
Wait for it!
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Alexander Hamilton
Denn wohin dich alle Winde bring'n, (wohin dich alle Winde bring'n)
Because where you all winds bring (where you all winds bring)
Because where ever the winds will carry you
du wirst immer zu weit
You will always too far
You will always be
getrieben, von der eig'nen Zeit.
Pushed, from the own time.
Pushed too far, by your limited time.
Oh, Alexander Hamilton (Alexander Hamilton)
Wenn Ameikas Kinder sing'n
When America's children sing
Wissen sie was du auf dich nahmst?
Know they what you on you took?
Do they know what you shouldered?
Wissen sie was du für sie tatst?
Know they what you for them did?
Do they know what you did for them?
Die Welt wird nie mehr wie sie war.
The world will never more how she was.
The world will never be the way it was.
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Sein Schiff macht grad' im Hafen fest,
His ship makes now within harbour moor,
His ship is now mooring in the harbour.
Sie ziehen an den Trossen.
They pulled on the rope.
Ein Immigranten Kind geboren in den Gossen.
An immigrant child born in the gutter.
Sein Land hat seinen Ruhm mit lauter Lügen übergossen.
His country has his glory with many lies doused.
His country doused his glory with lies.
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Wir kämpften mit ihm.
We fought with him.
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Ich, ich starb für ihn.
I, I died for him.
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Ich vertraute ihm.
I trusted him.
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Ich, ich liebte ihn.
I, I loved him.
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Und ich war sein Freund und erschoss ihn. (schoss ihn, schoss ihn)
And I was his friend and shot him (shot him, shothim)
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Hab mir Millionen Dinge vorgenomm'n.
Have me Million things planned.
Have planned to do millions of things.
Doch wartet's ab
But wait it off
But wait for it
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Wie ist dein Name, Mann?
What is your name, man?
What's your name, man?
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ALEXANDER HAMILTON