how poetic?
It’s hard to fully understand chinese lyrics sometimes. Mostly due to the terrible enunciation of the singers. But if you really bothered to explore, some of these lyrics are really poetic. The chinese language has such beautiful way of description with just a few simple characters.
I decided to illustrate my point with a literal translation of that new song i’m hooked on. You’ll see how even after my utmost but vile attempt, the english bit still pales in comparison sounding very documented and factual. hahaha…
屋檐如悬崖 风铃如沧海 我等燕归来
The roof likens the cliff, the wind chimes the barren sea, i wait for the sparrow (her) to return
时间被安排 演一场意外 你悄然走开
Time being arranged, an act of revelation, you left without a word
故事在城外 浓雾散不开 看不清对白
A story beyond the city, an overcast persist, unable to vision our dialogue
你听不出来 风声不存在 是我在感慨
You won’t understand, when the breeze ceased, it’s me who griefs
梦醒来 是谁在窗台 把结局打开
Awoken from the dream, who’s at the window (ledge), opening an epilogue.
那薄如蝉翼的未来 经不起谁来拆
As fragile (bleak) as silk threads (future), the lack to withstand turbulence.
我送你离开 千里之外 你无声黑白
I sent you away, faraway, silent in noir you were
沉默年代 或许不该 太遥远的相爱
In the age of oppression, perhaps its better, not to court a distant love
我送你离开 天涯之外 你是否还在
I sent you away, to the edge of the world, are you still there
琴声何来 生死难猜 用一生 去等待
Melody unknown, a fate uncertain, we’ll wait for the rest of our lives.
一身琉璃白 透明着尘埃 你无瑕的爱
White as porcelain, the clarity of dust, against your perfect love
你从雨中来 诗化了悲哀 我淋湿现在
You came from the rain, metaphorised my pain, i cried (it watered) till this day
芙蓉水面采 船行影犹在 你却不回来
The peony from the pond, the ship lingers, you have yet to return
被岁月覆盖 你说的花开 过去成空白
Time overshadows, the flower bloom you pined, our past vanishes
Seriously…i think even if one tried to rewrite the entire story in English it will still not come through. Its Chinese as chinese does.
