Talk:The Internationale/Archives/2006

Like -> Life

While I'm still unconvinced that this page needs so many renditions of the lyrics, I noticed the recent revert of Robth's correction of the word "like" to "life" in the Billy Bragg version of the song. I have taken the liberty of changing the lyric back to "life" after consulting the liner notes, and confirming by listening to the audio. Both sources clearly say "life," and not "like." ~CS 22:03, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

I suppose I should repeat what I said over at CS42 user talkpage: Please see this from the official Billy Bragg website. It says "like". May I know what liner notes you are talking about? Feel free to change it back if it convinces you... I'll be away the rest of today. -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 23:30, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

Uh... I was so intrigued by the "life" thingy that I just listened to it again on my iPod. Definitely a "like". -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 23:56, 19 February 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. I suspect there is a typo on the webpage -- the liner notes I am using are from the album itself. The "f" in the recording on the CD is very unambiguous. I don't suppose you are listening to a different version of the song than that on The Internationale (album)?

Interesting. I suspect there is a typo on the liner notes -- the webpage is on the official Billy Bragg site. :D Yes, I am listening to the original version of the song dated 1990, which can be found online in mp3 format for commie music thieves to download at this location (in case it doesn't work, from this site, just search for Billy Bragg). :p This is weird because the /k/ in "like" is really really prominent... You should barely be able to hear a /f/ in "life", but the /k/ can be clearly heard. Hmm... Let's ask our (mine at least) favourite commie, shall we? -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 00:39, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

I hate to say it but -- that's the same recording as the CD, and it still sounds like "life" to me... ~CS 16:17, 20 February 2006 (UTC)

Posted something on the BB forums (had to register on that socialist website and potentially endangering myself to being branded "Unamerican") and asked about the lyrics. Should probably have an answer some time tomorrow! -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 04:27, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

No "official" answer yet, but people on the forum gave a link to a site that says "life". -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 03:25, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for going the extra length to clear that up! ~CS 04:18, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

No problem. It still sounds like "like" to me, though. Oh well. Ironically, I couldn't spend the same amount of time to email college admission offices. +5 Wikiholic points! -- Миборовский ^{U|T|C|M|E|Chugoku Banzai!} 06:33, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like "life" to me. You can clearly hear the "f" sound. -- infinity0 17:59, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

why "soviet" in american version?

does anyone know why the word "soviet" is used in the american version. it's not in the french or the brit ver

'tis the US "Communist" version. The IWW version says "the international union will be the human race". The song was sung long before 1917, and I think the word soviet replaced the word union in the "Communist" version to express the newly emerged political line, i.e. a belief in soviets as a higher form of workers' organization than unions. Note that I have no documentation to back this up, so it doesn't belong (yet) in the article. --BostonMA 13:27, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Since the word "soviet" sounds leaning toward communism, the article has substituting phrases. There are limited communists in the US, but I have no documentation to back BostonMA's claim, either.--Jusjih 09:04, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

Chinese Translation

The job for the chinese translation of the Internationale into English is pretty good. However, it is not too literal. Since the header says "Literal English translation", I would be making the translation more literal :p Fierywindz 13:03, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

Sweden

The article says that 'In Sweden the fifth stanza was censored during the Second World War. The words "They will soon know our bullets / Are for our own generals" were not well liked when they needed people to focus on the war effort.' This seems somewhat nonsensical given that Sweden was a neutral country. Why would people need to focus on the war effort if there wasn't one? --86.136.27.212

I cannot verify this whole paragraph, so I have hidden it from the readers: 'In many European countries, the song was illegal around the beginning of the 20th century because of its communist image and government-undermining lyrics. In Sweden the fifth stanza was censored during the Second World War. The words "They will soon know our bullets / Are for our own generals" were not well liked when they needed people to focus on the war effort."' If anyone can prove this paragraph true with verifiable sources, it can be added back.--Jusjih 09:14, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Well, I don't know about the Internationale in specific, but in Sweden, kind of everything was censored during ww2. We were very frightened of getting into the war ourselves, so everything that could be seen as provocative was censored. And yeah, that neutrality is kind of nonsensical, even Swedes can admit 60 years later...