Aarzemnieki
(Jöran Steinhauer/Jöran Steinhauer, Aija Gusare)
Ir pienācis brīdis, lai atvadītos
no drauga, kas bija ar mums
Jo dažreiz viņš arī man nebija blakus,
tas bija liels zaudējums
Jau lidostā pirmais, kas sagaida mani,
ir autobuss sabiedriskais
Par 50 santīmiem mājās es tikšu,
tas taču galvenais
Konduktors saka – “man žēl,
bet par koferi 50 vēl”
Paldies latiņam, latiņam, latiņam, latiņam,
lā lālā lālā lālā
Viss sākās ar lasi, kas šodien man varbūt
vēl kabatā mētājas,
Un stārķis, kas draugos ar sēni un skudru,
par dzīvi šo bēdājas
Pat skursteņslauķim, tam nebija laika
laimi no jumtiem man nest,
Un Pētera baznīcā tagad ir klusi,
jo gaili laiks līdzi vest.
Vilciens jau debesīs brauc,
vēl pēdējam iekāpt ir ļauts!
Paldies latiņam, latiņam, latiņam, latiņam,
lā lālā lālā lālā
Kas esi tu, svešais? No kurienes nāc?
Lūk, tāds ir mans jautājums
Vai būsi tu kārtīgs un uzticams draugs
un paliksi vienmēr ar mums?
Kāpēc tik grūti ko jaunu ir sākt, kad vecais vēl derīgs mums šķiet?
Kaut zinām, ka gailim un skursteņslauķim tur augšā tik labi iet
Nāc, Milda, man drīz kabatā,
Tur laša vairs nav tik un tā!
Paldies latiņam, latiņam, latiņam, latiņam,
lā lālā lālā lālā
ENG:
Thank you, little Lat
It’s time to say goodbye
to a friend, who has been with us
Whenever he wasn’t with me in the past,
it felt like a big loss
There’s already a public bus
waiting for me at the airport
It’ll cost me 50 santims to get back home
That’s the main thing
The ticket officer says – “I’m sorry
but for your suitcase you pay another 50!”
Thank you, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat
la lala lala lala
It all started with the salmon,
which still may be in my pocket today,
And the stork, which is friends with the mushroom and the ant,
he mourns for his life.
Even for the chimney sweep wouldn’t have time anymore
to bring me down some happiness from the roofs,
also Saint Peter’s church is quiet,
because the rooster’s taking time away with him.
The train’s heading towards the sky,
passengers – get onboard!
Thank you, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat
la lala lala lala
Who are you, stranger? Where do you come from?
That is my question
Will you remain a good and reliable friend
and stay with us forever?
Why is it so hard to start something new
when the old still seems valid to us?
Although we know that the rooster and the chimney sweep
are supposed to be fine up there
Come on, Milda, get in my pocket soon!
The salmon is gone anyway
Thank you, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat, little Lat
la lala lala lala
About the song
“Someone told me the other day, if I ever held a TED talk in the future, it should be on ‘How to become a country’s best friend’. Ironically, Paldies Latiņam starts with a reference to the peculiar relationship Latvia always had towards their banknotes and coins. After doing my school exchange programme, and spending my social gap year there, I got to know Latvia well enough to anticipate what the nation’s emotional reaction would be, when faced with the upcoming loss of their good, old currency. For many, a symbol of independence.
Even though we may not be able to bring back what or whom we’ve lost, we can cherish the memories. Occasionally, a song can help. This time it did. It became a ‘goodbye-anthem’. Additionally, it opened many doors for me personally. Certainly, it gave confidence to a country, being historically confronted with uncertainty way too often.
Now, that the Lat has gone for several years, people would still call me ‘Latiņs’ (‘Little Lat’) on the street. Still, there are plenty of stories around Paldies Latiņam – some untold, some open-ended. One story is my ongoing friendship with Latvia.” – Jöran Steinhauer