Smell Like Teen Spirit: Latin Edition

Smells Life Teen Spirit: Latin Edition I Posted by Brittany Britanniae on Oct 30, 2020 in Latin Language

Salvete Omnes,

As I contemplated this month on what to write – I looked at previous posts from around this time. Some highlights to draw your attention to are:

This month I wanted to talk about this awesome translation of a classic Nirvana song. I have included the English and Latin lyrics of the song, and next month we are going to dive deeper into the cases, word choice (there were not guns in ancient Rome), and more. But, I don’t wish to inundate you with the details this month. So, let this be a listen and study post and next week tune in for the answers and explanations.

If you celebrate Halloween, be safe this weekend!

ENGLISH LYRICS

Load up on guns

and bring your friends

It’s fun to lose and to pretend

She’s over bored and self-assured

Oh no, I know a dirty word

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulato!

An albino!

A mosquito!

My libido!

Yeah!

I’m worse at what I do best

And for this gift, I feel blessed

Our little group has always been

And always will until the end

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulato!

An albino!

A mosquito!

My libido!

Yeah!

(Solo)

And I forget just why I taste –

Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile

I found it hard, it’s hard to find

Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello, hello, hello, how low?

Hello, hello, how low, how low?

Hello, hello, hello

With the lights out, it’s less dangerous

Here we are now, entertain us

I feel stupid and contagious

Here we are now, entertain us

A mulato!

An albino!

A mosquito!

My libido!

A denial! (x9)

LATIN LYRICS

Salvé, salvé, salvé, parve?

Pará pílís, trahe amícós
Perdere, fingere fruor
Perlassus est et superbus
Ó nón, cupídinem sció

Sine lúce, angor minus
Oblectáte, nunc híc sumus
Mé sentió aeger, stultus
Oblectáte, nunc híc sumus
Barbarus, albínus, culex et, mea libídó
Hei! Hae, ha ha ha ha!

Peior est bonitás meá
Ipsó múnere beátus sum
Noster globus semper fuit
Et úsque ad fínem erit

Et cúr sapere dédiscó
Ita, ut rídére, putó
Dúrum rébar, dúrum rérí
O vah, bene, níl tantí

Negátió! Negátió! Negátió! Negátió! Negátió!