Little Sparrow & Little Cockerel - Two Children Songs

  
I was asked to translate these two chidren songs by Canton168 http://www.canton168.com/  I thank him for inspiring me after a long hiatus from my hobby.

Little Sparrow            Literal translation

麻雀仔,                                        little sparrow
叼樹枝,                                        twig held in beak
叼上風頭望阿姨.                        peck onto the head wind to look at mother’s younger sister.
阿姨梳隻崩沙1蝴蝶髻,              auntie’s combed a butterfly shape hairbun
摘朶紅花伴髻圍.                        she plucked a red flower to put near the bun.

Little sparrow
Twig in beak,
Flew up into the sky for a peek-a-boo,
Mother’s younger sister wore a butterfly hairbun1,
Plucking a red flower to place by it.


Notes

1. 崩沙 is the local dialect pronunciation for the English word “butterfly”. In Foshan (佛山) these cookies were shaped like butterflies. Because butter was used, locals used 崩沙 to mean butterfly.  Thus we know where this song originated from.

Little Cockerel

雞公仔尾婆娑,                                 little cockerel, tail dancing
三歲孩兒學唱歌.                             three year old learning to sing
唔使爹娘教導我自己精乖無奈何. no need for father & mother to teach me how to good

Little cockerel, tail twirling in the air.
Three year old learning to sing.
Needing not daddy nor mummy to make me behave.

Here's another variant but longer version

Little cockerel, tail so curly.
How can you be afraid of hardship?
Wake up early and go to school,
Pack up the books for the classroom.
A minute of study1
Is a minute of success2.
My my, if you are lazy...
How will you succeed?

Little cockerel, tail so curly.
Well now, you must have vigor to be a man.
Early to rise is a good habit.
Always get a move on things and study hard.
A minute of study
Is a minute of success.
My my, if you are lazy,
How will you succeed?

Little cockerel, tail twirling in the air,
Three year old learning to sing.
Oh big brother is obedient,
Mama is brimming with joy.
Oh if big brother does not listen,
Mama will be sad… ahhh….

Little cockerel, tail so curly
How can you be afraid of hardship?
Wake up early and go to school,
Pack up the books for the classroom.
A minute of study
Is a minute of success.
My my, if you are lazy…
How will you succeed?

Notes:

1.  Literally farm work.
2.  Literally harvest, bounty etc

雞公仔
尾彎彎
做人呢點可以怕艱難
清早起床返學去　
執齊0的書本啊上學堂

* 一分耕耘自有一分收穫　懶惰去做人呀　又點會有所成啊

雞公仔　
尾彎彎　
做人呢　
當然有精神　
清早起床好習慣

經常都溫快點了要學勤　
一分耕耘自有一分收穫
懶惰去做人呀　
又點會有所成啊

雞公仔　
尾婆娑　
三歲既孩童學唱歌　
阿哥佢聽教O羅

媽就開心曬咯　
阿哥佢唔聽話　
媽就唔安樂　啊 *

雞公仔　
尾彎彎　
做人呢點可以怕艱難
清早起床返學去　
執齊0的書本啊上學堂

一分耕耘自有一分收穫　
懶惰去做人呀　
又點會有所成啊

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4af3YfQa8g