"Opa Cupa"

topic posted Sun, September 16, 2007 - 12:19 PM by  Julie
Does anyone know the translation of this song? The general idea that I've found through the miracle of Google is that it is a call to dance - but I'm not even sure if that is correct...would love to know what the actual lyrics are.
Here's a link to the lyrics: www.lyricsspot.com/gothart-...1313.html
and a youtube video of a band performing the song: www.youtube.com/watch and of course, I would be remiss if I didn't include The Indigo's performance to the song: www.youtube.com/watch
Thanks!
posted by:
Julie
Maryland
  • Re: "Opa Cupa"

    Sun, September 16, 2007 - 1:06 PM
    I only have what is labeled a rough translation of the meaning of the lyrics into German, from "Folkssongs for nearsighted people" (which I found somewhere on the web):

    "Ich bin dieser Junge, ich spiele am besten. „Soll Gott sie töten“ [ein Fluch]. Die Mädchen fangen mich. Wen immer ich fange, ich gebe niemandem was. Nur ein Mädchen möchte nicht. Sie fragt nach mir. Alle Mädchen tanzen . Aber Ruzha tanzt nicht. „Soll Gott sie töten.“ Komm, Ruzha, komm tanzen. Du wirst dir einen Ehemann nehmen. „Soll Gott sie töten.“ Die Musikanten werden aufhören. Refrain: O, opa cupa. Ärgere mich nicht. Dein Vater wird sterben, wenn du nicht tanzt. Lumbaj, lumbaj.... Komm, komm... "

    This roughly means: I am this guy, I best play "god kill her" (a curse). Girls catch me. Whomever I catch, I never give anybody anything. Only one doesn't wanna. She asks for me. All girls dance, but Ruzha doesn't. "god kill her" (a curse). The musicians will stop. Chorus: Don't upset me. Your dad will die if you don't dance. Come, come.

    Even though I am a native German speaker, it's hard to make sense of things, and I am sure my translation doesn't quite capture things. Assume that this is about as trustworthy as running puns or metaphors through Babelfish. Of the lyrics you posted - I'd trust Gothart (www.gothart.cz, also on Emusic).
  • Re: "Opa Cupa"

    Tue, April 8, 2008 - 12:32 PM
    I was looking for the meaning of these lyrics too and found this thread:

    tribes.tribe.net/voiceofro...b4052d049f

    • Re: "Opa Cupa"

      Tue, April 8, 2008 - 3:58 PM
      I am this guy. I am the best player. etc...

      I would not dance to these lyrics if I were you.
      • Re: "Opa Cupa"

        Tue, April 8, 2008 - 8:42 PM
        When I first heard a version of this song (the one on the "Le Serpent Rouge" CD) I loved it and thought, "I have to dance to this! I have to know what it means!" and now I do and the knowledge made me quite sad. I agree, I don't think I want to perform to this song any more.
        • Re: "Opa Cupa"

          Wed, April 9, 2008 - 3:36 PM
          Thanks...
          Not planning on dancing to it. Just wanted to know - especially after hearing it about 5 times at BALKTOBERFEST :-) Would have asked one of the many groups that performed it, but we were too busy.

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