Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Tiptoe through the tulips

Japanese translation:

チューリップ畑をつま先で

Added to glossary by humbird
May 15, 2008 16:44
16 yrs ago
English term

Tiptoe through the tulips

English to Japanese Art/Literary Poetry & Literature lyrics of a song
Tiptoe through the tulips is a popular song published in 1926 (or so Wikipedia says. I didn't know of the song). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiptoe_Through_the_Tulips Youtube has some singings, for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skU-jBFzXl0

Now, what does tiptoe here mean exactly? Does this mean to walk through the tulips (with the lover) so quietly that peple do't notice it? Does this mean something else, or am I missing the whole (or hidden) point?

The whole lyrics:

Tiptoe to the window, by the window, that is where I'll be
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me!

Tiptoe from your pillow, to the shadow of a willow tree
And tiptoe through the tulips with me!
Knee deep in flowers we'll stray,
we'll keep the showers away.
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight, will you pardon me? Come tiptoe through the tulips with me!
---

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Proposed translations (Japanese)
4 チューリップ畑をつま先で
Change log

May 17, 2008 16:03: humbird Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): KathyT

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Discussion

Roger Johnson May 17, 2008:
Hi. no disrespect meant. (sorry) What I meant was that these types of translations are so difficult to do, but as a translator you still have to produce a translation. Have a nice day
humbird May 17, 2008:
Hi Roger, I respectfully disagree what you said. Why a song doesn't deserve translation? Million of songs were translated into different languages. Although you have every rights to have a fun out of posting like this. I certainly did. Thank you Yuki -san
Roger Johnson May 16, 2008:
Sorry guys, I laughed so hard when I saw this, I just had to respond. If its a song, translation doesn't work well...it basically means to take a stroll thru the flowers...translation..thats up to you! bye (sorry wasn't much help)
RieM May 15, 2008:
Yuki さん、こんにちは。youtube を見て思わず笑ってしまいましたが.. これはEng-Engで質問した方がもっと回答がつくと思いますよ。でも、あまり深い意味はないような気がしますが。

Proposed translations

2 hrs
Selected

チューリップ畑をつま先で

まず最初にお答えしたいのですが、あなたの解釈で間違いありません。
また私はRie さんと同じ意見です。もし tulip にはなにかの深い意味があるとお考えでしたら、英語のほうにポストしたほうがよいと思います。

ただ、tulip と言う言葉になにか裏の意味があるという見聞は、私の知る限りまったくありません(日本では チューリップ=花の下が長い=好色家、というような)。
どの辞書を見ても定義は似たようなもので、隠された意味は見当たりません。下記のは Merriam Webster のオンライン辞書からの一例です。
Main Entry: tu·lip
Pronunciation: \ˈtü-ləp, ˈtyü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin tulipa, from Turkish tülbent turban — more at turban
Date: 1578
: any of a genus (Tulipa) of Eurasian bulbous herbs of the lily family that have linear or broadly lanceolate leaves and are widely grown for their showy flowers; also : the flower or bulb of a tulip

さてこの歌詞ですが。
この花は満開を過ぎますと、ひとひらひとひらが順々に落ちて行きます。風があればもちろんのこと、そよ風がなくてもそっと落ちてゆきます(いまはちょうどその時期)。
だからそんな状況を背景にして、単に「満開のチューリップ畑のなかを、そっとつま先で歩こう」ということに過ぎないのだと思います。
つまり恋人同士のソフト(英語では tender) な心境を表したものでしょう。
エヴィス・プレスリーの唄に Love me ternder というのがありました。


Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "humbird さん、Rieさん、 Rogerさん、ありがとうございました。いまオタワでTulip Festivalをやっていまして、それに演奏に来る日本人がこの歌を演目に入れたけれども何か裏の意味があるんじゃないか、と聞いてきたのです。どうも特に無いようですね。助かりました。"
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