Diutissime (Billy Joel's "For the Longest Time" in Latin)

How Do You Say “Piano Man” in Latin?

[Editor’s note: Many Latin students notice that the Latin for “for the longest time” has precisely the number of syllables as the English: diutissime. There are consequently several extant translations of this song into Latin. I tried it once myself, but the intricate rhythms and interesting words — which really do beg you to try to translate them closely — defeated me. It took the expertise of Horatian metrical expert Jason Pedicone to produce this ingenious version, which is superbly singable and excellent Latin to boot. For me the only real tricky part is the beginning of the “mihi non accedit” — the “mihi” has to begin right after the “musa” almost without break. And watch for the bridge!]

Diutissime (“FOR THE LONGEST TIME”)(Billy Joel) (tr. Pedicone) [1983]

 

Oh-oh-oh-oh diutissime oh-oh-oh

si mi debes valedicere

non cessabo versus scribere

ne sis delusa

mih’ eris semper musa

Mihi non accedit diutissime

 

oh-oh-oh-oh diutissime oh-oh-oh

 

perdit’ erat mi simplicitas

nunc aeterna sit felicitas

nam sum inventus

tuis bracchiis amplexus

Illico non fui diutissime

 

oh-oh-oh-oh diutissime oh-oh-oh

 

sum vox illa clamans in aula

sed quod vere stupet omnia

me te carere

et te me carere quoque

mihi non accedit diutissime

 

[PONS]

Quid si diu non durat amor

nunc me amas

forte fallor

Quid si nimis spero ego

nunc gaudeo

et es plus quam sperabam

 

Quorsum proficiscar nescio

Forte te absente dolebo

Fortunae dabor

Oblitus quam suavis amor

mihi non accedit diutissime

 

[PONS]

Dubitabam ex initio

et dixi mihi

Obdur’ animo

Nunc constat quae tu sis femina

Adhuc es hilara

Et es plus quam sperabam

 

futurum non flocci faciam

rei maiori dedi veniam

desidero te

et desidero te scire

me te amplecturum diutissime

Jason Pedicone is president of the Paideia Institute, and a translator of pop songs into Latin.