A bit of background info on my DnD party and this song:
My Bard is called “Stedd Lautenfein” which roughly translates to “Stedd Lutefine” and that’s also the reason for the name in soundcloud. The picture of the party sitting there was drawn by our GM and is actually our party not some random fantasy image from the web. So the bard sitting there is Stedd. The one sitting in center is Giddi.
The song is about one of our party members, Giddi Sutten. He is called “Captain” in the song, but isn’t really one. He’s kind of the loudmouth in the group and thinks he’s a hero and leader, but really really isn’t and the only one who can’t see that is Giddi himself. He’s kind of a poor mans Jack Sparrow or something. So the “Captain” thing is a kind of running gag because he keeps telling people he is one and everyone knows he isn’t. Still - my bard decided to make him the hero in his song, because my bard wants attention for his music, but surely doesn’t want the attention of a potential hero slayers or some such.
In recent game sessions my bard seems to have established himself as quasi-leader. I think because he usually has no quarrel with the group and tries to find a solution that fits everyone. Just… what a good leader does.
Also the vampire in the party confided only in Stedd.
The party might decide otherwise when they find out what he does to enjoy himself, but I digress.
Captain Giddi Sutten is not really a Captain, but a loudmouth and good guy when you don’t take him too seriously.
Original German lyrics:
(Verse - Strumming Pattern A - Joint Venture like)
E (I) B (V)
Captain Giddi Sutten war im Kampfe
E (I) B (V)
Und teilte starke Schläge aus
E (I) B (V)
Ich spielt nur meine Klampfe
E (I) A (IV)
Und das Schlachtfeld war ein Graus
(Chorus part 1 - Strumming Pattern B)
F#m (ii)
G#m A (IV)
Dank Schneid und Schild
G#m iii F#m (ii)
Lebt er (noch)
G#m iii F#m (ii)
Lebt er (doch)
(Chorus part 2)
A (IV)
Doch...
B (V)
Im Schild war ein Sprung!
A (IV)
Und dann stand er wieder
A (IV)
in der Schmiede und sang:
Ich schmiede mein Schild! X X
Ich schmiede mein Schild! X X
Captain Giddi Sutten war im Walte (Walde)
Er wollt' nur schnappen frische Luft
Schurken kamen aus 'ner Spalte
Wollten ihn bringen in die Gruft
(Chorus)
Captain Giddi Sutten war auf'm Berge
und suchte schicke Erze
Da wüten saure Zwerge
wollten Giddi an sein Herz äh
(Chorus)
Captain Giddi Sutten war Zuhause
Ihm wurd das all's zuviel....
(fade out)
(fade in) ......
Auf ihn fiel ein Klavier
in seinem eig'nen Revier
(Chorus)
(Chorus - part 2 only)
Very roughly translated English lyrics. Keep in mind a lot of word choices were made so it fits into the rhyme in the original, which is missing in the translation. It’s always A-B-A-B except for the last verse with the fade out. There it is A-B-C-C.
(Verse 1)
Captain Giddi Sutten was in battle
dealing out some hard blows
I was just playing my guitar
and the battlefield was a horror
(Chorus part 1)
Thanks to (his) vim and shield
He's alive (still)
He's alive (yet)
(Chorus part 2)
Yet
The shield had a crack
and then he was standing
in the smithy again and sang:
I'm fixing my shield! X X 2 3 4
I'm fixing my shield! X X 2 3 4
(Verse 2)
Captain Giddi Sutten was in (the) forest
Just wanted to breathe some fresh air
Some miscreants came out of a cleft
wanting to bring him to his grave
(Chorus)
Captain Giddi Sutten was on a mountain
and was looking for nice ores
Then came some angry dwarfs
Trying to rip his heart out (erm..)
(Chorus)
Captain Giddi Sutten was at home
He just had enough of all that...
(fade out)
...
(fade in)
On him fell a piano
In his own territory
(Chorus - repeat part 2)
Also a few mentions of words/meanings that were hard to translate:
“Klampfe” - It means guitar, but it’s a colloquial word. I haven’t found an equivalent.
“Schneid” - It’s not even commonly known in German. In fact the person playing Giddi Sutten has asked me what it means. It’s a strange mix of courage, strength and a few other positive attitudes. The best I could find was “vim”. Not sure if I use it correctly here. Also “Schneid und Schild” is a nice alliteration that’s now missing, but there’s a lot of places like that.
What actually doesn’t work in both languages is the “Spalte” / “cleft” part. I used “Spalte” which doesn’t really work when talking, but in the context of the song it works. Just used the first translation for it. It’s just that suddenly some miscreants emerge. It doesn’t really matter from where, but “Spalte” was a rhyme.
I am also strangely proud of the rhyme “Erze” und “Herz - äh”.
“äh” = “eh/erm” so it’s just a filler, but that filler causes it to rhyme. It kind of is cheap, but it’s exactly the style I imagine.
Okay, I stop explaining how much better the original is compared to the translation. Enjoy.
(I’m more of an Entwistle Apostle)
, It’s the first time I’m sharing such things with fellow bassists.
, but I really want to know what you guys think and possibly get some suggestions.