Lisa's Piano

This is a translation of a beautiful Afrikaans song (which I only began liking recently), called Lisa se Klavier.

I have a friend

Far away by the blue sea,

Against the side of Table Mountain.

When the sun sets

She plays the most beautiful melody.

Her fingers know the path

Intertwined in white and black.

The piano’s biggest joy -

Heartache and yearning -

The heart’s deepest sorrow understands.

Chorus

Yes, the whole world grows quiet

And listens in the darkest hour

To the night sounds
Of Lisa’s piano.

Lisa can’t stop once she’s begun.
She never lets me walk home
Or say goodbye
Before my last cigarette.

I stand on her balcony
And drink her Apricot tea
And look over Cape Town at night,
The lights and the black, black sea.

Chorus

Yes, the whole world grows quiet

And listens in the darkest hour

To the night sounds
Of Lisa’s piano

 

And below on the sand path
I see the mountain and his friend
Stand still and look up
Far above
Out of the litter of Orange Street.

They know the sounds

That stream out of her apartment well.
After midnight, with the door open,
Even though the neighbours constantly complain,
Lisa becomes every reveller’s dream.

Chorus

Yes, the whole world grows quiet

And listens in the darkest hour

To the night sounds
Of Lisa’s piano

 

Koos Kombuis

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

That's beautiful. The translation is wonderful. Thank you.