Translation required

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Bryan
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:48 pm
Location: York

Translation required

Post by Bryan »

Have been puzzling all day about a phrase painted on the cab door of an artic parked up in York today.
"Tae a the Airts" (I think this is correct)

Now obviously from North of the border but I am afraid Google translation service does not cope with this.
Can anyone give an answer?
v3man
LNER J39 0-6-0
Posts: 172
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Location: by the West Somerset Railway

Re: Translation required

Post by v3man »

This is from a famous poem by Robbie Burns called 'Of a' the airts' (in broad Scots of course):

Of a' the airts the wind can blaw
I dearly like the west,
For there the bonnie lassie lives,
The lassie I lo'e best.
There wild woods grow, and rivers row,
And monie a hill between,
But day and night my fancy's flight
Is ever wi' my Jean.
2.
I see her in the dewy flowers -
I see her sweet and fair.
I hear her in the tuneful birds -
I hear her charm the air.
There's not a bonnie flower that springs
By fountain, shaw, or green,
There's not a bonie bird that sings,
But minds me o' my Jean.


The English translation is:

Of all the directions the wind can blow
I dearly like the west,
For there the lovely girl lives,
The girl I love best.
There wild woods grow, and rivers roll,
And many a hill between,
But day and night my fancy's flight
Is ever with my Jean.

I see her in the dewy flowers -
I see her sweet and fair.
I hear her in the tuneful birds -
I hear her charm the air.
There is not a lovely flower that springs
By fountain, wood, or green,
There is not a lovely bird that sings,
But reminds me of my Jean.

So, literally, the phrase on the truck means 'To all directions'.
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manna
LNER A4 4-6-2 'Streak'
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Location: All over Australia

Re: Translation required

Post by manna »

G'day Gents

There seems to be some very educated people working for the railways today, bet he's not in management. :twisted:

manna
EDGWARE GN, Steam in the Suburbs.
52A
LNER V2 2-6-2 'Green Arrow'
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Re: Translation required

Post by 52A »

manna wrote:G'day Gents

There seems to be some very educated people working for the railways today, bet he's not in management. :twisted:

manna
Todays railways and "management" do not go together!
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Blink Bonny
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Re: Translation required

Post by Blink Bonny »

Does any management in any firm know what's what? Let's face it, the banks' don't... :roll:
If I ain't here, I'm in Bilston, scoffing decent chips at last!!!!
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