Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: What is he actually singing? (in "California Stars" by Billy Bragg)

  1. #1
    Почтенный гражданин oldboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Россия, Москва
    Posts
    310
    Rep Power
    12

    What is he actually singing? (in "California Stars" by Billy Bragg)

    Youtube: Billy Bragg - California Stars

    I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
    And tell me why I must keep working on?
    Yes, I'd give my life to lay my head tonight
    On a bed of California stars


    I might make a mistake, but I listen to something like "/brɪkɪŋaʊ/" instead of "working on".
    What is he actually singing?
    Thanks for correcting me.

  2. #2
    Moderator Lampada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    СССР -> США
    Posts
    18,025
    Rep Power
    35
    (Googled it).

    Lyrics for California Stars as interpreted by pro-voice

    I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
    On a bed of California stars
    I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
    On a bed of California stars

    I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
    And tell me why I must keep working on
    Yes I'd give my life
    To lay my head tonight
    On a bed of California stars

    I'd like to dream my troubles all away
    On a bed of California stars
    Jump up from my starbed make another day
    Underneath my California stars

    They hang like grapes on vines that shine
    And warm the lovers' glass like friendly wine
    So I'd give this world just to dream a dream with you
    On our bed of California stars

    I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
    On a bed of California stars
    I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
    On a bed of California stars

    I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
    And tell me why I must keep working on
    Yes I'd give my life to lay my head tonight
    On a bed of California stars

    I'd like to dream my troubles all away
    On a bed of California stars
    Jump up from my starbed make another day
    Underneath my California stars

    They hang like grapes on vines that shine
    And warm the lovers' glass like friendly wine
    So I'd give this world just to dream a dream with you
    On our bed of California stars

    So I'd give this world
    Just to dream a dream with you
    On our bed of California stars
    "...Важно, чтобы форум оставался местом, объединяющим людей, для которых интересны русский язык и культура. ..." - MasterАdmin (из переписки)



  3. #3
    Завсегдатай Throbert McGee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Fairfax, VA (Фэйрфэкс, ш. Виргиния, США)
    Posts
    1,591
    Rep Power
    39
    Quote Originally Posted by oldboy View Post
    I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
    And tell me why I must keep working on?
    Yes, I'd give my life to lay my head tonight
    On a bed of California stars


    I might make a be mistaken, but I listen to hear something like "/brɪkɪŋaʊ/" instead of "working on".
    What is he actually singing?
    I listened, and you're right -- it DOES sound like /brɪkɪŋaʊ/!

    But he's really saying "working on," trust me!

    By the way, in regular colloquial speech, the word order here would probably be "I must keep on working" -- that is, most native speakers would understand that on really "belongs" to the verb keep ("to keep on" = "to continue").

    But for the sake of meter/melody, Bragg splits the verb phrase "keep on" and sings "keep working on" -- which is completely correct, but not the most natural order in speech.

    P.S. Note that the consonant w is "voiced," and that's why the "voiceless" p sounds like a b here: as though he's saying I muskee bworkin' on.
    Говорит Бегемот: "Dear citizens of MR -- please correct my Russian mistakes!"

  4. #4
    Почтенный гражданин oldboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Россия, Москва
    Posts
    310
    Rep Power
    12
    Many thanks, Throbert McGee, for the corrections and explanation.
    Thanks for correcting me.

  5. #5
    zxc
    zxc is offline
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    151
    Rep Power
    11
    Yep, he is saying working on.

    Now try this one:




  6. #6
    Завсегдатай Throbert McGee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Fairfax, VA (Фэйрфэкс, ш. Виргиния, США)
    Posts
    1,591
    Rep Power
    39
    According to Weird Al Yankovic (in the parody "Smells Like Nirvana"), the actual words are:


    It's hard to bargle nowdle zouss
    With all these marbles in my mouth...

    Sing distinctly? We don't wanna!
    Buy our album, we're Nirvana!
    Говорит Бегемот: "Dear citizens of MR -- please correct my Russian mistakes!"

Similar Threads

  1. Singing to the work
    By radomir in forum Pronunciation, Speech & Accent
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: February 2nd, 2010, 11:35 AM
  2. Queen, Metallica, and others singing in Russian
    By longing4sky in forum Fun Stuff
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: April 16th, 2009, 07:24 PM
  3. anyone for singing?
    By Lt. Columbo in forum Fun Stuff
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: December 19th, 2008, 08:21 PM
  4. USSR Hymn - All stars
    By Fantomaks in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: October 4th, 2006, 12:15 AM
  5. Singing the alphabet
    By Butter Pie in forum Getting Started with Russian
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: January 12th, 2005, 09:05 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary