Veljo Tormis - How Can I Recognise My Home (Kust Tunnen Kodu)
Taken from "Litany To Thunder" album released in 1999, this song is an Estonian folk song featuring the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. I first heard this song in a mix-tape by Siavash Amini, and I was drawn to the simple yet alluding beauty of the soundscape. Even though I didn't understand a word of what was being sung, I found myself listening to this song in repeat mode. When I finally understood the meaning of the words, I was reminded of the folk songs from my own homeland of Kerala, India. We humans really do share a singular consciousness :) Here is a translation of the lyrics : vellekesed noorukesed-----------------------dear boys dear brothers kus me lähme vastu ööda------------------where shall we go before the night sets in vastu ööda vastu põhja----------------------before the night towards the north vast helgasta ehada---------------------------towards the shining twilight vastu koitu keerulista-------------------------towards the brightness of dawn meie kodu kauge’ella-------------------------our home is far away viisi verstada vaheta--------------------------many miles from here kuusi kuivada jõgeda-------------------------with six dry rivers seitse sooda sitke’eda-----------------------seven sloppy swamps kaheksa kalamerda---------------------------eight seas of fish üheksa hüva ojada----------------------------nine beautiful brooks kümme külma allikada----------------------ten cold springs in between meie meel teeb teele minna--------------we would like to set out on the road teele minna maale saada------------------set out on the road and begin to go osata oma koduje-----------------------------to go towards home märgata oma majaje------------------------to find our own house kust ma tunnen oma kodu----------------how can I recognize my home millest märkan oma maja-----------------how can I find my house küla kümmene seasta-----------------------among ten others in the village talu seitseme taganta-----------------------behind seven strange farms meil on kuu korstenalla--------------------we have the moon on the roof meil on agu akenassa----------------------we have the dawn on the window päeva lävepaku päällä----------------------the sun o the door meil on kojas kullasseppa----------------we have a goldsmith on the house tares taalrite taguja--------------------------a silversmith in the farm saunas sangavitsutaja---------------------a carpenter in the sauna kojast tõuseb kulda suitsu---------------a golden smoke rises from chimney tareharjast haljast suitsu------------------a silvery smoke rises from our farm saunast sangavitsa suitsu---------------an alden smoke rises from the sauna sest ma tunnen oma kodu----------------that’s how I recognize my home sellest märkan oma maja-----------------that’s how I find my house küla kümmene seasta----------------------among ten others in the village talu seitseme taganta----------------------behind seven strange farms I do not own copyrights for the music. Please do buy the album if you like the soundscape. Lyrics and translation courtesy :: http://www.metsatoll.ee/en/laulusonad... Wallpaper courtesy :: DeviantArt
by Jishnu Nair
