Iran is a very bilingual country, with English taught in most schools and road signs and other information we saw throughout our travels being presented in Farsi and English (other than the graffiti, of course).
But some things are hard to translate, so it was a happy occasion when two young men approached Annette Bening and I in the central plaza, called the Naghsh-i Jahan Square of the ancient city of Isfahan and asked us to explain to them the meaning of some Eminem lyrics that had apparently been troubling them for quite some time.
"What does it mean 'my dogs are barking'?", one young man queried.
Annette fielded that one with a smile. "My feet are tired." The guy looked like you could blow him over with a feather, as he clearly had been trying to puzzle that out for some time.
"Thank you. And can I ask you one more question?"
"Of course."
"Okay, to 'roll like a renegade'? What does that mean?" he earnestly implored.
Annette and I stumbled through our mental thesaurus and came up with rebel, dissident, someone contrary to authority. He liked that. We did the best we could but we kind of fumbled around trying to explain what it meant "to roll", or even where that expression came from, as our own familiarity with gangster lingo, and our ability to translate it with meaning, was sadly limited. But in the end I think he got the general idea.
It was a surreal cultural moment in a transcendentally beautiful spot, as Isfahan is home to one of the most celebrated mosques in the world.
No words were really needed to translate the deeply spiritual design of the place.
But it was a huge site to explore, and sure enough, by the end of the day our "dogs were barking" and our group of renegades rolled out of there for the night to retire at our local caravanserai.
william
They truly wanted to understand what the lyrics meant. I love that when people are just captured with something can not stop asking/thinking about it until their curiosity has been resolved.
Have a great weekend Bill and I'll see you monday.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | March 20, 2009 at 02:12 AM
Beautiful photos!
Maybe to roll means revolution?
Or maybe it means Let's get a move
on it? Let's get the show on the road?
Maybe it came from Pirates & Ships
that rolled in the sea?
Maybe just maybe it came from a
Convoy of a fleet of Truckers?
Maybe it went as far back as the
Wagon Train Days?
Or it came from the first invention
of the wheel? LOL!
Now I am curious to know where,
"to roll", came from.
I was puzzled by 'my dogs are barking',
when I first heard it. I thought it was
so funny when I found out what it meant.
I think you both did very well, at letting
letting them know the meanings.
God Bless You and Yours!!!
Posted by: Flassie | March 20, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Great travel story... I'd say that you guys got off REALLY easy, considering most Eminem lyrics!
A "renegade" is an illegal rave (huge party), where taking ecstasy, or "rolling" is pretty common, maybe that's what he means, maybe not... Eminem is famous for double entendre. And no, little ol' Maiz does not roll like a renegade!
Posted by: Maiz | March 21, 2009 at 03:55 PM
means...travel in style
Posted by: Marguerite Horberg | March 22, 2009 at 05:31 AM
Billy, I love that last picture. I would love to visit that place one day!!!
Love!
Elsi :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | March 22, 2009 at 06:49 PM
Dear william
your web site is amazing.
If you`d like to know the meaning of the wall missed note,I can help you.
best wishes
Eftekhar
Posted by: Eftekhar | March 23, 2009 at 05:51 AM