Saskia [English translation]

Saskia has a name with a ring to it1

She works at a beer hall2

Pours beer for the boys3

The boys think she's good

The boys think

She's good4

Then there's nothing more to it

Saskia, she is crosseyed, you see

Although her eyes are5 clear and bright

It attracts ridicule from everyone6

It attracts ridicule

From everyone

She is quiet and unnoticed

Her uniform is starched

But she was beautiful, and when she smiled7

In a way that made you gasp

In a way that

Made you gasp

I let my eyes8 go exploring her

And it was actually worth the effort

The more they saw, the more they found

She was indeed incredibly good-looking9

She was indeed

Incredibly good-looking

After I had strengthened myself with a beer

I said "Miss, have you noticed?

Has it not yet struck you

That I have been observing10 you?

That I have been

Observing you"

She said "Sir, that's true

The reason is unknown to me"

Then I mustered up my courage and said

"When will you get off work, Saskia?

When will you get off work,

Saskia?"

We watched a movie about romance

Then we had coffee at a café

I walked her to her home11

In our hearts a light12 was burning

In our hearts

A light was burning

Saskia had her bed in an alcove13

And she was beautiful when she slept

And we were more than just awake14

When her alarm clock sounded

When her alarm

Clock sounded

Saskia is a name that has a ring to it

She works at a beer hall

Her eyes are crossed, wherever she looks

But she is beautiful when she smiles

Yes, she's beautiful

When she smiles

1. I had a hard time coming up with a good translation. There might be room for improvement. By the way, "Saskia" is a female name of Germanic origin; for example it was the name of Rembrandt's wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh.2. Or possibly just a pub; either way, a place that serves mainly beer.3. That is, the men (young or otherwise). Examples of similar usage is "The Boys are Back in Town", "The Boys on the Docks", and so on.4. The last two lines of each stanza are part of the same sentence and are just split to reflect the way he's singing it.5. Or "her gaze is".6. It doesn't say explicitly that they're actually ridiculing her though. Lit. "It awakens/stirs up ridicule in everyone".7. The "och"("and") really makes no sense here, but that's what he's singing.8. Or, again, "gaze".9. Or maybe "gorgeous".10. Or "studying".11. Lit. "I accompanied her to her house/building".12. Or possibly "candle", but since it's metaphorical, it might sound strange.13. Or could you say just "bed alcove"?14. Lit. "And we were awake more than enough".

• Artist:Cornelis Vreeswijk