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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Song Writing & Lyrics

Caper should be an intransitive verb...

Hi All,

I'm trying to translate the "What is a Youth" lyrics by Eugene Walter, from the "Romeo and Juliet" by Franco Zeffirelli.
I've faced a problem with vocabulary:

Since there're several discrepancies between the sound track and the wide spread "text", I am sticking to the former. For me, it sounds:



Caper the caper, sing me the song,
Death will come soon to hush us along.

As far as I've investigated, "caper" is an intransitive verb.

Is my above hearing incorrect, or is there a reasonable explanation instead?

Please suggest.
  

Top answer

Hi, Caper the caper, sing me the song, Death will come soon to hush us along. As far as I've investigated, "caper" is an intransitive verb. Yes, it is.

— Clive

  • Hi, Caper the caper, sing me the song, Death will come soon to hush us along.
  • As far as I've investigated, "caper" is an intransitive verb.
  • Yes, it is.
  • But song writers, and poets, often like to play with words.
  • Clive
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8 Answers
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Hi,

Caper the caper, sing me the song,
Death will come soon to hush us along.

As far as I've investigated, "caper" is an intransitive verb. Yes, it is. But song writers, and poets, often like to play with words.



Clive
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Dear clive,

Thank you for your help.

So, "the caper" should be translated as a cognate object?

And pardon my additional question. Here why definite articles are used,
as the caper/the song, instead of indefinite articles? I feel the latter
is normally to be used.

Looking forward to your kind input.

Questioner
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Hi,

So, "the caper" should be translated as a cognate object? Yes.

And pardon my additional question. Here why definite articles are used,
as the caper/the song, instead of indefinite articles? The use of the definite article here suggests to me that the speaker is not thinking that there are many capers, many songs. Rather, he is thinking that there is a single "caper of li
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Dear Clive,

Thank you very much for your suggestion.

So I wonder what the sort of "the song" would be, and who the lyrics aim with this imperative sentence at?
Cupid, or the maid (to be his love)?

I have investigated if there is "the song" in the original text, especially from
A Hall in CAPULET'S House to CAPULET'S Orchard scene, but failed to find.

Th
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Hi,

So I wonder what the sort of "the song" would be, Seems to me to be the song of love,. the song of life. I don't think a precise meaning is intended.

and who the lyrics aim with this imperative sentence at?
Cupid, or the maid (to be his love)? Probably her, if he's talking to her. Or it could just be a moe general kind of thing to say.



These ar
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Dear Clive,

I felt I must have not only grammatical analysis, but some artistic interpretation for
better understanding, so your comments are what I needed. Really appreciated.

Thanks a lot for your contribution.

Questioner

P.S. Could you do me a favor to confirm whether
>Love is a pastime that never will pall.
"that" is really sung in the sound
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Hi,

P.S. Could you do me a favor to confirm whether
>Love is a pastime that never will pall.
"that" is really sung in the sound track, if you could have a chance?

Yes. It seems pretty clear to my ear.



Clive
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Dear Clive,

Thank you for your confirmation.
Now I feel comfortable.

Have a good day.

Satisfied questioner :-)
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