Antique Retrocinations

First, there was a song by Bob Dylan :

When you're sad and lonely and you haven't got a friend just remember that death is not the end. And all that you held sacred falls down and does not bend, just remember that death is not the end.ⁱ Not the end, not the end, just remember that death is not the end.

When you're standing at the cross-roads that you cannot comprehend just remember that death is not the end. And all your dreams have vanished and you don't know what's up the bend, just remember that death is not the end. Not the end, not the end, just remember that death is not the end.

When storm clouds gather round you and heavy rains descend just remember that death is not the end. And there's nowhere there to comfort you with a helping hand to lend, just remember that death is not the end. Not the end, not the end, just remember that death is not the end.

Oh the tree of life is growing where the spirit never dies and the bright light of salvation shines in dark and empty skies. When the cities are on fire when the burning flesh of men just remember that death is not the end. And you search in vain to find just one law abiding citizen just remember that death is not the end. Not the end, not the end, Just remember that death is not the end.

This was then translated into Romanian sometime during the 80sⁱⁱ :

Cind necazuri te doboara si prieteni n-ai sa-i strigi tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Si ce slaveai in taina e asa cum nu-ti explici tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Nu-i aici, nu, nu-i aici, nu, tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici.

Cind oprit la o rascruce drumul nu stii sa-l prezici tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Cind nu mai ai nici vise si nu stii cum sa te ridici tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Nu-i aici, nu, nu-i aici, nu. Tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici.

Cind s-aduna norii negri, ploaia cade ca un brici, tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Mingiiere n-ai, nu vezi acum miini intinse de amici... tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Nu-i aici, nu, nu-i aici, nu. Tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici

Pomul vietii creste mindru unde spiritul e viu. Lumineaza iar salvarea cerul gol si cenusiu. Cind orasele-s in flacari, musunoaie de furnici, tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Si cind cauti in zadar un om printr-atitea mii de venetici tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici. Nu-i aici, nu, nu-i aici, nu, tine minte, sfirsitul nu-i aici.

And now let's put it back to English :

When misfortune overwhelms and you've no friends to call upon keep in mind, the end's not here. When what you secretly worshiped in private becomes something you can't begin to even, keep in mind, the end's not yet. Not here, no, not yet, no, keep it in mind, it's still not the end.

When stopped at the crossroads your own way you can't predict, keep in mind, the end's not here. When you've no dreams left and no idea how to stand again, keep in mind, the end's not here. Not here, no, not yet, no, keep it in mind, it's still not the end.

When dark clouds rain straight razors, keep in mind, the end's not here. Solace absent, a friendly hand unknown, keep in mind, the end's not here. Not here, no, not yet, no, keep it in mind, it's still not the end.

The tree of life grows proudly where the spirit's alive, salvation lights up again the empty, gray skies. When towns are aflame, so many anthills, keep it in mind, the end's not here. When you pointlessly seek a human among untold thousands immigrantsⁱⁱⁱ, remember, the end's not here. Not here, no, not yet, no, keep it in mind, it's still not the end.

Now then. Quite the trip words take through the minds of men, isn't it. Not quite the same trip as artificial "intelligence" provides, is it.

1. EVERY. SINGLE. "source" on the internet (which really means, ONE SINGLE piece of idiocy copied mindlessly a billion times) gives this line as "all that you hell sacred falls down and dows not bend". Are you fucking kidding me ?

   The Internet makes you stupid. ZERO philology/polilogy as to what the fuck "dows" may be and why exactly "hell" replaced held and so on. Just "the way it is", "consensus", "normalcy" and my undying hope that the "terrorists" rape and then burn alive every last one of you. [↩]

2. By the West-oriented "rockers", which is... well, not exactly a thing of its own. Or if it ever might have been, it certainly never actually came to it. [↩]
3. Venetic literally means, one who has come. Because, you know, the man who goes and the man who comes -- they're not the same one. [↩]