"Laléña" is an original song by Donovan, that was released as single a-side. It went to #33 in the Billboard charts. Has been covered by Deep Purple on their 1969 album "Deep Purple". The song is inspired by the Austrian-American actress and singer Lotte Lenja/Lenya and her role of the "Pirate Jenny" in the film "The Threepenny Opera"/"Die 3-Groschenoper" written in 1931
(part of "Mack The Knife"/"Mackie Messer")! ... +++ (with German & English lyrics) +++...☸ڿڰۣ—
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Here some background information to "Laléña" for a better
understanding:
Donovan never revealed the origins of the title "Laléña" until 2004, in an interview with Jim Bessman for the Entertainment News Wire. Donovan declared:
"It's not very well-known, but "Laléña" is a composite title made up from the name of the Austrian-American actress and singer Lotte Lenya. I was fascinated with "The Threepenny Opera" as a socially conscious musical, so when I saw the movie version with Lotte Lenya, I thought: "OK, she's a streetwalker, but in the History of the world, in all nations, women have taken on various roles from priestess to whore to mother to maiden to wife." This guise of sexual power is very prominent, and therein I saw the plight of the character. Women have roles thrust upon them and make the best they can out of them, so I'm describing the character Lotte Lenya is playing, and a few other women I've seen during my life, but it's a composite character of women who are outcasts on the edge of society: Bohemia."
That would explain the verse "That's your lot in life, Laléña ~ I can't blame ya, Laléña". The "Threepenny Opera" was an "opera for beggars" written in 1931 by Kurt Weill (Lotte Lenya's husband) and Bertolt Brecht, which starred Lotte Lenya in the role of the prostitute Jenny Diver.
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DEUTSCHE ÜBERSETZUNG:
Wenn die Sonne untergeht,
ist das die Zeit, in der Du Deinen Kopf hebst.
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, Laléña.
Kann Dein Herz noch trauriger werden?
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, Laléña.
Fährst mit Deiner Hand durch Dein Haar,
bemalst Dein Gesicht mit Hoffnungslosigkeit.
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, oh Laléña.
Fährst mit Deiner Hand durch Dein Haar,
bemalst Dein Gesicht, bemalst Dein Gesicht
mit Hoffnungslosigkeit.
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, oh Laléña.
Hey
(instrumental)
Wenn die Sonne untergeht,
ist das die Zeit in der Du Deinen Kopf hebst.
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, oh Laléña.
Kann Dein Part noch trauriger werden?
Noch trauriger?
Das ist Dein Schicksal, Laléña,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, oh Laléña.
Oh Laléña ~ nein, nein, nein Laléña.
Ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen,
ich kann Dir keine Vorwürfe machen, Laléña.
Oh Laléña.
So la de da ~ Laléña.
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LALENA ~ VERSION BY DEEP PURPLE
(English lyrics, original by Donovan)
When the sun goes to bed
that's the time you raise your head.
That's your lot in life Laléña.
Can't blame ya ~ Laléña.
Arty tart la de da ~
can your heart get much sadder?
That's your lot in life Laléña.
Can't blame ya ~ oh Laléña.
Run you hand thru your hair.
Paint your face with despair.
That's your lot in life Laléña.
Can't blame ya ~ oh Laléña.
Run you hand thru your hair.
Paint your face, paint your face
up with despair.
That's your lot in life Laléña.
Can't blame ya ~ oh Laléña.
Hey
(instrumental)
When the sun goes to bed
that's the time you raise your head.
That's your lot in life Laléña.
I Can't blame ya ~ Laléña.
Arty tart ~ oh so la de da.
Can your part ever get, ever get much sadder?
That's your lot in life Laléña.
I can't blame ya ~ oh Laléña.
Oh, Laléña ~ no, no, no Laléña.
I can't blame ya, I can't blame ya ~ Laléña.
Oh, Laléña.
So la de da ~ Laléña.
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