Mani Matter

Language Corner

swanrm 14 February 2012 01:55 1

Our grandaughter loves the song ds lotti shilet by Mani Matter.

I don't even know what the title (hence my login name) means?

Can anyone translate the title (word for word) and does anyone know where I could find the lyrics and translate them into English?

Thanks in advance

dslottishilet

bright_sminda 14 February 2012 03:34 2

http://www.hyperkommunikation.ch/per...tter_texte.htm

taivorge_ist 14 February 2012 06:19 3

It means:Lotti (girl's name) squints (looks cross-eyed)

timpbellsy 14 February 2012 09:11 4

Lyrics are here. Sorry but I only hadtime for a rough translation. It basically says the she squints. Therefore no one know where to look (which eye) so this makes her dangerous. As dangerous as Al Capone. That women can be make you hot by the way they look at you - therefore Lotti can kill two men at once the batting of her eyes. If she goes down the street men will be in love left and right. She's a pretty girl but be careful when you meet her as she is twice as dangerous as another women.

Ds Lotti schilet:

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

niemmer weis wos mit de Ouge häre zilet

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

drumm...

Wie dr Al Capone, wo so vill i weis

früecher mal het gulte als Statsfind Nummer eis

und mit sim Revolver als öffentlichi Gfahr

isch das Meitschi gfährlech mit sim Ougepaar

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

niemmer weis wos mit de Ouge häre zilet

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

drumm...

Wenn dir wüsst was Froueblicke mängisch chöi

dass eim heiss im Chopf wird und zittrig ide Chnöi

dänket wie das Lotti würkt uf die wos gseht

äs mit jedem Ougeufschlag breicht geng zwe

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

niemmer weis wos mit de Ouge häre zilet

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

drumm...

Wenns dür d Strasse louft de geits de Manne schlächt

s hinterlaat verliebti links so guet wie rächts

doppellöifig schiesst us Lottis Ougespiil

Amor sini Pfiile übers Chrütz itz z Ziil

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

niemmer weis wos mit de Ouge häre zilet

Ds Lotti schilet, ds Lotti schilet,

drumm...

sisch es hübsches Meitschi das mues mer im laa

aber we drs träffet, dänket doch de draa

sisch de gliich es gfährlechs, gfährlechs Meiteli

zwöi mal me no als es d Froue süsch scho sii

armousane 14 February 2012 09:33 5

I'm very glad Mani Matters songs are carried down to younger generations. He was an absolutely brilliant poet, songwriter, had a dark side to him (most characters in his songs die in a weird way) and was a very critical of society.

Tragic, he died young in a car accident.

Whoever wants to improve his Bern German should do it with his songs...

bright_sminda 14 February 2012 10:18 6

Some of his songs have become classics and if you search on Youtube you'll find plenty of covers in different musical styles by young amateur bands and artists. I'm very happy that these songs are living on and that the younger generation is also able to connect with them. Some of his themes have also been taken up and developed further in popular culture. I recently met a little girl who is singing some Mani Matter songs at school. I think that's great.

Acraiment 14 February 2012 10:38 7

Totally agree with this. My favourite Mani Matter song is 'Hemmige' Stephan Eicher's cover version!

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:23 8

Hi lost_inbroad

Thankyou so much for such a quick reply.

Now I understand the picture on the youtube post for this song.

This has been my first post and I'm still trying to find my way around this site and how to use it and send replies.

I hope this reply works, many thanks again

Squinting Lottie

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:37 9

Wow irish_temptation

Thank you so much for such a quick and thorough reply.

Since this was my first post on this site I was unsure what to expect, but your response )and so many others) has been great.

Now that you have given me the lyrics, can you suggest anywhere on line where I could do a" line my line" translation.

I have just started trying to learn German and find the Google translator really helpful.

So far I haven't been able to find a free on line site where I could begin to learn Swiss German, or alternatively an online Swiss German to English dictionary to help me translate text.

Once again, very many thanks for your reply

Squinting Lottie

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:40 10

Hi irish_temptation

Having just sent you a thankyou reply I now realise that my typing is bad and that apparently I don't actually need to repeat /include all the text that you sent to me.

Apologies for the cumbersome reply, but my sentiments remain sincere....many thanks for your help

Squinting Lottie

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:42 11

Hi Amogles

Thanks for your reply

I have looked at the link and although I didn't find the lyrucs to lottie shilet it was interesting to see lyrics for so many of his other songs.

Thankyou anyway

squinting lottie

claulia 14 February 2012 11:42 12

I'm afraid that this will be rather difficult - or at least I am not aware of any app/site that can handle translations from Swiss German to either Standard German or English as yet. The problem lies with the local dialect - there are no fix rules or grammar for it, so there is currently no way to do this with a machine, most of the time you'll need somebody who does understand the language (if I may call it that, quite another discussion...)

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:45 13

Hi Sarel

Thanks for your input

We will try to look out for more of his songs...once we get a little more proficient in Swiss German.

Squinting Lottie

swanrm 14 February 2012 11:51 14

Hi Herc82

Thanks for the advice..having said that do you know of any source to buy any good teaching books or a good Swiss German to English Dictionary?

I appreciate your input

Squinting Lottie

armousane 14 February 2012 11:59 15

I think you have to learn german first and swiss german will come with time otherwise you'll have a "durenand im fadezeindli"

(mess in the knittingbasket) meaning, you'll mix swiss with german without knowing what is what...

claulia 14 February 2012 12:03 16

Sorry, I grew up with this dialect, so not your best source, but here are a few links:

Swiss German - Learning / Basic Vocabulary / Translations Swiss German to English

iPhone App for learning Swiss German

Can someone teach me a swiss german dialect?

There are plenty more threads that deal with this topic all over the forum though - good luck!

swanrm 14 February 2012 12:10 17

Hi Sarel

Thanks for your advice, I guess my problem is not knowing where to look to translate Swiss German words.

Your phrase above "durenand im fadezeindli" would be a complete mystery if you hadn't given me the translation....where do you suggest that could I go to, to try and translate words and phrases for myself??

I have a long way to go with my German studies (teaching myself largely with the help of German Grammar books and Dictionares) but everyone's responses on this forum have been very interesting.

Thanks again

Squinting Lottie

bright_sminda 14 February 2012 13:12 18

It would be tricky to translate with a dictionary as the spelling in Swiss German isn't standardised so different people may choose to spell the same word differently.

Additionally, you will find that even within the main dialects there are sub-dialects which can be different in subtle ways from one valley to the next and sometimes even between villages.

The best way to do a line by line translation is to sit down with somebody who will help you.

I would like to translate this song for you but I don't have the time right now.

Evel_Vishi 14 February 2012 14:09 19

I couldn't find any translation of the song to German or English. So I translated it myself into German. Of course a lot of the wit and went lost. But anyway, here it is:

Lotti schielt, Lotti schielt,

Niemand weiss, wohin es mit den Augen zielt

Lotti schielt, Lotti schilet,

darum

Wie einst Al Capone, der soweit ich weiss

Früher mal als Staatsfeind Nr. 1

Und mit seinem Revolver galt als öffentliche Gefahr,

ist das Mädchen gefährlich mit seinem Augenpaar

Lotti schielt, Lotti schielt,

Niemand weiss, wohin es mit den Augen zielt

Lotti schielt, Lotti schilet,

darum

Wenn ihr wisst, was Frauenblicke manchmal können,

so, dass es einem heiss im Kopf wird und zittrig in den Knien,

Denk daran, wie Lotti auf die wirkt, die es sehen

weil es mit jedem Augenaufschlag zwei erwischt

Lotti schielt, Lotti schielt,

Niemand weiss, wohin es mit den Augen zielt

Lotti schielt, Lotti schilet,

darum

Wenn es durch die Strassen schlendet, geht es den Männern schlecht

Es hinterlässt Verliebte links so gut wie rechts

Doppelläufig schiesst aus Lotti’s Augenspiel

Amor seine Pfeile über Kreuz und ins Ziel

Lotti schielt, Lotti schielt,

Niemand weiss, wohin es mit den Augen zielt

Lotti schielt, Lotti schilet,

darum

Es ist ein hübsches Mädchen, dass muss man ihm lassen

Aber, wenn ihr es trefft, denkt doch daran

Es ist gleichwohl ein gefähliches, gefährliches Mädchen

Zweimal mehr, als dass es Frauen sonst schon sind

swanrm 14 February 2012 15:16 20

Thanks anyway, I appreciate all your help - Squinting Lotti