Ha én rózsa volnék, nem csak egyszer nyilnék,
Minden évben négyszer virágba borulnék,
Nyílnék a gyereknek, nyilnék én a lánynak,
Az igaz szerelemnek és az elmúlásnak.
Ha én kapu volnék, mindig nyitva állnék,
Akárhonnan jönne, bárkit beengednék,
Nem kérdezném tQle, hát téged ki küldött,
Akkor lennék boldog, ha mindenki eljött. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/brody_janos/ha_en_rozsa_volnek.html ]
Ha én ablak volnék, akkora nagy lennék,
Hogy az egész világ láthatóvá váljék,
MegértQ szemekkel átnéznének rajtam,
Akkor lennék boldog, ha mindent megmutattam.
Ha én utca volnék, mindig tiszta lennék,
Minden áldott este fényben megfürödnék,
És ha egyszer rajtam lánckerék taposna,
Alattam a föld is sírva beomolna.
Ha én zászló volnék, sohasem lobognék,
Mindenféle szélnek haragosa lennék,
Akkor lennék boldog, ha kifeszítenének,
S nem lennék játéka mindenféle szélnek.
If i were a rose bush, i wouldn't bloom just once;
i would blossom four times every year:
once for the young man, once for the maiden,
once for the true love and once for their final passing.
If i were a gate, i would stand wide open;
come from where they may, i would let anyone through. I would never ask, "tell me who sent you? "
i would simply be glad if all could enter.
If i were a window i would be so wide
that the whole world could be seen though me;
people would look through with understanding -
nothing would be hidden.
If i were a small street i would always be clean;
every evening, i would be bathed in clear light;
and if, some day, steel girders crushed the life from me,
even the earth beneath me would mourn in desolation.
If i were a national flag, i'd never wave in anger:
winds from all directions could never provoke me. I would be stretched out, stiffly:
never a slave to the direction of the wind.
Translation by dave rado, based on the translation by petheo janos
I believe the following modifications make it read better and more grammatically in english:
Ha én rózsa volnék (if i were a rose bush)
___
If i were a rose bush, i wouldn't bloom just once;
i would blossom four times every year:
once for the young man, once for the maiden,
once for the true love and once for their final passing.
If i were a gate, i would stand wide open;
come from where they may, i would let anyone through. I would never ask, "tell me who has sent you? "
i would only be glad if all could enter.
If i were a window i would be so huge
that the whole world could be seen though me;
people would look through with understanding
and nothing would be hidden.
If i were a small street i would always be clean;
every evening, i would be bathed in clear light;
and if, some day, steel girders crushed the life from me,
even the earth beneath me would mourn in desolation.
If i were a nation's flag, i'd never wave in anger:
winds from all directions could never provoke me. I would be stretched out stiffly,
never a slave to the direction of the wind.
Translation by dave rado, based on the translation by petheo janos
If i were a rose bush, i would not bloom just once. Yearly i would blossom, true devotion four times:
once each for the young man, once for the young maiden,
once for ever-true love, and their final passing.
If i were a gate then, i would stand wide open
come from where they may come, i would let them pass through
i would never ask them, “tell me who has sent you? ”
i would only be glad, if they all could enter.
If i were a window, i would be so great big,
that the whole world could be, seen without distortion
eyes with understanding, all could look out through me
i would only be glad, if nothing were hidden.
If only a small street, i would always be clean
every blessed evening, i would bathe in clear light
and if some day steel threads crushed the life within me,
even earth beneath me, would mourn in desolation.
As a nation’s flag i’d never wave in anger
winds from all directions could never provoke me
i would only be glad if they fixed me stretched out
and would not be slave to all manner of ill winds.