Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

to take to

English answer:

develop a liking for

Added to glossary by ClaraVal
Jun 28, 2011 18:20
12 yrs ago
English term

to take to

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
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.
Change log

Aug 22, 2011 08:57: ClaraVal Created KOG entry

Discussion

Charles Davis Jun 28, 2011:
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.
benettfreeman Jun 28, 2011:
The song was written for a movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calmi_Couri_Appassionati

Given that the movie is about the beginnings of love, I would expect that the composer intended the meaning which ClaraVal has outlined.
ClaraVal Jun 28, 2011:
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.
luskie (asker) Jun 28, 2011:
@ 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
Jenni Lukac (X) Jun 28, 2011:
As is often the case in popular music, It don't think that "take to" has any particular (logical) meaning here.

Responses

+6
10 mins
Selected

develop a liking for

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.
Peer comment(s):

agree Tony M : Yes, 'become attached to', for example.
41 mins
Thanks, Tony.
agree Kim Metzger
42 mins
Thanks, Kim.
agree Sheila Wilson : I agree that the first occurrence is "develop a liking for" but I wonder whether the second isn't more literal as in the sense of taking the day to the child, as a present. Not entirely sure, though
1 hr
Thanks Sheila. That did cross my mind as well...
agree Charles Davis : I think so
2 hrs
Thanks, Charles.
agree Lara Barnett
1 day 3 hrs
Thank you!
agree Thuy-PTT (X)
14 days
Thanks
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you ClaraVal, Charles Davis, and everybody"
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search