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English to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase:to take to
what do you natives think about the following occurrences? is there any One Correct Interpretation or do you feel it might be open to debate? thanks a lot in advance for your help
Wild Child (Enya)
Ever close your eyes.
Ever stop and listen.
Ever feel alive.
And you've nothing missing.
You don't need a reason
Let the day go on and on.
Let the rain fall down.
Everywhere around you
Give into it now.
Let the day surround you
You don't need a reason
Let the rain go on and on
What a day, what a day to *take to*
What a way, what a way to make it through.
What a day, what a day to *take to a wild child*
Only take the time.
From the helter skelter.
Every day you find.
Everything's in kilter.
You don't need a reason.
Let the day go on and on
Every summer sun,
Every winter evening.
Every spring to come
Every autumn leaving.
You don't need a reason
Let it all go on and on.
Explanation: I think this is the meaning of "take to" that really fits in the first occurrence.
For the 2nd occurrence I did consider the sense of "begin to fall into the habit of", which would work if the lyrics said, "what a day to take to being a wild child". However, as there is no verb, I think the first meaning of "start to like" is the best fit here also.
Was it written for the movie or released on the album first and then used for the movie? I suspect the latter, but I don't know.
Here is what Enya wrote about the song in the album liner notes:
"The day is a wild child. It is unpredictable, it is reckless, it offers you no security, it promises nothing. It is what you make it. So make it good."
So "wild child" refers to the day itself. When you add to this the fact that the (apparently) official version of the lyrics divides the last line of the chorus:
"What a day, what a day to take to
A wild child",
I think it is clear that "to take to" means the same both times: "a wild child" is the day itself, a day to take to.
I think in the first occurrence she's saying, "What a day to take to!" expressing surprise. Imagine it's raining or things aren't going very well (things are "in kilter") and so it's not exactly the kind of day most people would enjoy/welcome. However, she does "take to" it, to her surprise.
@ Jenni, I know what you mean, but I have to translate the song for an academic dissertation (!), and so I have to find one...
@ ClaraVal, to my ears both occurrences meant something like "take off" (take off to such a day in the 1st occurrence, start to live it; take off to being a wild child in the 2nd, start to become, i.e. your 'habit')... I'm happy I've asked... thanks to both for your contributions
As is often the case in popular music, It don't think that "take to" has any particular (logical) meaning here.
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Answers
10 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +6
develop a liking for
Explanation: I think this is the meaning of "take to" that really fits in the first occurrence.
For the 2nd occurrence I did consider the sense of "begin to fall into the habit of", which would work if the lyrics said, "what a day to take to being a wild child". However, as there is no verb, I think the first meaning of "start to like" is the best fit here also.
ClaraVal Spain Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +6