Here’s A Red Song Primer, complete with videos and lyrics, of the classic Chinese communist songs that everyone is supposed to be singing for the 90th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
And if it all those thousands upon thousands of people singing those crazy red lyrics is a little too Cultural Revolution for you, you can read this about why it’s not as scary as it appears: Red Songs, Red Banners, Red Olympics…But where is the heart?
| Chinese songs | Culture fun | Family | Foreign baby in China | Karaoke | Learning Mandarin | This one’s for my sister, who just took her first baby home from the hospital today!
According to the internet, 张悬 Zhāng Xuán is an indie artist from Taiwan. Our Chinese teacher introduced us to this cute little pop lullaby so we could learn it for our daughter. 宝贝 means “baby”, but in the sense of “darling” or “little treasure.” The song also uses the term 小鬼，which literally means “little devil/demon/ghost” or “imp”, but it’s a cutesy term of endearment for a baby or small child. I’ve translated it “little rascal” in the lyrics.
One thing about this song is that it provides a contrast between sung and spoken Chinese. You don’t sing the tones in Chinese, but in this song she speaks the word for “baby” 宝贝 instead of singing it, so the tones come through.
If you want more info on Zhang Xuan and her music you can search for 张悬，Zhang Xuan, Deserts Zhang, Deserts Chang, or Deserts Xuan.
You can play the mp3 and follow along below, and download the guitar chords with lyrics in Chinese, English, and pīnyīn:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Baobei.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pīnyīn/English cheatsheet).
Lyrics / 歌词:
[Intro:]
耶～ 哒啦哒啦哒 / yē… dā lā dā lā dā
yeah… da da da da da
[Verse 1:]
我的宝贝宝贝，给你一点甜甜 / wǒde bǎobèi bǎobèi, gěi nǐ yīdiǎn tiántian
My baby, baby, here’s a little something sweet
让你今夜都好眠 / ràng nǐ jīnyè dōu hǎo miàn
to make you sleep tight tonight
我的小鬼小鬼，逗逗你的眉眼 / wǒde xiǎoguǐ xiǎoguǐ, dòudòu nǐde méiyǎn
My little rascal, little rascal, making you make funny faces
让你喜欢这世界 / ràng nǐ xǐhuān zhè shìjiè
to make you like this world
[Chorus 1:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
倦的时候有个人陪 / juàn de shíhòu yǒu gerén péi
When you’re tired someone will be with you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi yā ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
[Verse 2:]
我的宝贝宝贝，给你一点甜甜 / wǒde bǎobèi bǎobèi, gěi nǐ yīdiǎn tiántian
My baby, baby, here’s a little something sweet
让你今夜很好眠 / ràng nǐ jīnyè hěn hǎo miàn
to make you have a good sleep tonight
我的小鬼小鬼，捏捏你的小脸 / wǒde xiǎoguǐ xiǎoguǐ, niēniē nǐde xiǎo liǎn
My little rascal, little rascal, pinching your little cheeks
让你喜欢整个明天 / ràng nǐ xǐhuān zhěnggè míngtiān
to make you like all of tomorrow
[Repeat Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
孤单时有人把你想念 / gūdān shí yǒurén bǎ nǐ xiǎngniàn
When you’re lonely someone’s missing you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi ya ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
[End Chorus:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦啦耶~ 喔
wa la la la la la la yeah… whoa
耶~ 耶 喔~ 喔
Yeah… yeah whoa… whoa
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
倦的时候有个人陪 / juàn de shíhòu yǒu gerén péi
When you’re tired someone will be with you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi yā ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
If know of any good Chinese kids’ music, please let us know!
P.S. – You can watch the music video on YouTube (with subtitles), Youku or Tudou.
More for your karaoke repertoire:
| Chinese songs | Culture fun | Family | Foreign baby in China | Karaoke | Learning Mandarin | This one’s for my sister, who just took her first baby home from the hospital today!
According to the internet, 张悬 Zhāng Xuán is an indie artist from Taiwan. Our Chinese teacher introduced us to this cute little pop lullaby so we could learn it for our daughter. 宝贝 means “baby”, but in the sense of “darling” or “little treasure.” The song also uses the term 小鬼，which literally means “little devil/demon/ghost” or “imp”, but it’s a cutesy term of endearment for a baby or small child. I’ve translated it “little rascal” in the lyrics.
One thing about this song is that it provides a contrast between sung and spoken Chinese. You don’t sing the tones in Chinese, but in this song she speaks the word for “baby” 宝贝 instead of singing it, so the tones come through.
If you want more info on Zhang Xuan and her music you can search for 张悬，Zhang Xuan, Deserts Zhang, Deserts Chang, or Deserts Xuan.
You can play the mp3 and follow along below, and download the guitar chords with lyrics in Chinese, English, and pīnyīn:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Baobei.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pīnyīn/English cheatsheet).
Lyrics / 歌词:
[Intro:]
耶～ 哒啦哒啦哒 / yē… dā lā dā lā dā
yeah… da da da da da
[Verse 1:]
我的宝贝宝贝，给你一点甜甜 / wǒde bǎobèi bǎobèi, gěi nǐ yīdiǎn tiántian
My baby, baby, here’s a little something sweet
让你今夜都好眠 / ràng nǐ jīnyè dōu hǎo miàn
to make you sleep tight tonight
我的小鬼小鬼，逗逗你的眉眼 / wǒde xiǎoguǐ xiǎoguǐ, dòudòu nǐde méiyǎn
My little rascal, little rascal, making you make funny faces
让你喜欢这世界 / ràng nǐ xǐhuān zhè shìjiè
to make you like this world
[Chorus 1:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
倦的时候有个人陪 / juàn de shíhòu yǒu gerén péi
When you’re tired someone will be with you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi yā ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
[Verse 2:]
我的宝贝宝贝，给你一点甜甜 / wǒde bǎobèi bǎobèi, gěi nǐ yīdiǎn tiántian
My baby, baby, here’s a little something sweet
让你今夜很好眠 / ràng nǐ jīnyè hěn hǎo miàn
to make you have a good sleep tonight
我的小鬼小鬼，捏捏你的小脸 / wǒde xiǎoguǐ xiǎoguǐ, niēniē nǐde xiǎo liǎn
My little rascal, little rascal, pinching your little cheeks
让你喜欢整个明天 / ràng nǐ xǐhuān zhěnggè míngtiān
to make you like all of tomorrow
[Repeat Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
孤单时有人把你想念 / gūdān shí yǒurén bǎ nǐ xiǎngniàn
When you’re lonely someone’s missing you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi ya ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
[End Chorus:]
哇啦啦啦啦啦啦耶~ 喔
wa la la la la la la yeah… whoa
耶~ 耶 喔~ 喔
Yeah… yeah whoa… whoa
哇啦啦啦啦啦我的宝贝 / wa lā lā lā lā wǒde bǎobèi
wa la la la la la my baby
倦的时候有个人陪 / juàn de shíhòu yǒu gerén péi
When you’re tired someone will be with you
哎呀呀呀呀呀我的宝贝 / āi yā ya ya ya ya wǒde bǎibèi
ai ya ya ya ya ya my baby
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
要你知道你最美 / yào nǐ zhīdào nǐ zuì měi
I hope you know that you’re the most beautiful
If know of any good Chinese kids’ music, please let us know!
P.S. – You can watch the music video on YouTube (with subtitles), Youku or Tudou.
More for your karaoke repertoire:
Pronounced: dīng dīng dāng
Means: “jingle bells”
For example (download mp3):
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
A nostalgic song by 老狼 (“old wolf”) about growing apart after college.
(If, in an enlightened paroxysm of hegemonic benevolence, They are still blocking YouTube, you should be able to see the video here (youku) or here (tudou), or just listen to the mp3 below.)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The university years are like a window of relative freedom for the Mainlanders who get there. Before university millions sacrifice their childhoods in preparation for the national college entrance exam. After university they have to build a career that can eventually support their parents, grandparents, and child’s education. But in college all they have to do is go to class and do homework (work-study is much less common), so it’s a time to relax and have fun. This song is abut how the pressures of post-college life can strain even the closest relationships from the college days.
Download: ShuiZaiWoShangPuDeXiongDi.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pinyin/English cheatsheet).
歌词 / gēcí / Lyrics
[Verse 1:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
无声无息的你 / wúshēng wú xī de nǐ
You’re silent and uncommunicative
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
分给我烟抽的兄弟 / fēn gěi wǒ yān chōu de xiōngdì
Brother who shared my cigarettes
分给我快乐的往昔 / fēn gěi wǒ kuàilè de wǎngxī
In the past sharing my happiness
你总是猜不对我手里的硬币 / nǐ zǒngshì cāi búduì wǒ shǒu lǐ de yìngbì
You always guessed wrong the coin in my hand
摇摇头说这太神秘 / yáoyáotóu shuō zhè tài shénmì
Shaking your head saying this is too mysterious
[Chorus:]
你来的信写的越来越客气 / nǐ lái de xìn xiě de yuèláiyuè kèqì
Your letters that come are written more and more politely
关于爱情你只字不提 / guānyú àiqíng nǐ zhǐ zì bù tí
You don’t write about love
你说你现在有很多的朋友 / nǐ shuō nǐ xiànzài yǒu hěnduō de péngyou
You say you have a lot of friends now
却再也不为那些事忧愁 / què zàiyěbù wèi nàxiē shì yōuchóu
but you don’t bother about those matters anymore
[Verse 2:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
睡在我寂寞的回忆 / shuì zài wǒ jìmò de huíyì
Sleeping in my lonely memories
那日子里你总说起的女孩 / nà rìzi lǐ nǐ zǒng shuō qǐ de nǚhái
In those days the girl you always talked about
是否送了你她的发带 / shìfǒu sòng le nǐ tāde fàdài
Whether or not she gave you her hairband
你说你每当回头看夕阳 红 / nǐ shuō nǐ měidāng huí tóu kàn xīyáng hóng
You said whenever you turn to look at the red sunset
每当你又听到晚钟 / měidāng nǐ yòu tīng dào wǎn zhōng
Whenever you hear the evening temple bell
从前的点点滴滴会涌起 / cóngqián de diǎn diǎn dī dī huì yǒng qǐ
Every detail from before will well up…
在你来不及难过的心里 / zài nǐ láibùjí nánguò de xīnli
…in your not-enough-time-to-feel-sad heart
[instrumental break]
[Chorus:]
你来的信写的越来越客气 / nǐ lái de xìn xiě de yuèláiyuè kèqì
Your letters that come are written more and more politely
关于爱情你只字不提 / guānyú àiqíng nǐ zhǐ zì bù tí
You don’t write about love
你说你现在有很多的朋友 / nǐ shuō nǐ xiànzài yǒu hěnduō de péngyou
You say you have a lot of friends now
却再也不为那些事忧愁 / què zàiyěbù wèi nàxiē shì yōuchóu
and don’t bother about those matters anymore
你问我几时能一起回去 / nǐ wèn wǒ jǐshí néng yīqǐ huíqu
You ask me when can we go back together
看看我们的宿舍我们的过去 / kànkàn wǒmende sùshè wǒmende guòqu
To have a look at our dorm and our past
你刻在墙上的字依然清析 / nǐ kè zài qiáng shàng de zì yīrán qīng xī
The words you carved on the wall are still distinct
从那时侯起就没有人能擦去 / cóng nàshí hóu qǐ jiù méiyǒu rén néng cā qù
From that time on no one’s been able to erase it
[End:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
睡在我寂寞的回忆 / shuì zài wǒ jìmò de huíyì
Sleeping in my lonely memories
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
分给我烟抽的兄弟 / fēn gěi wǒ yān chōu de xiōngdì
Brother who shared my cigarettes
分给我快乐的往昔 / fēn gěi wǒ kuàilè de wǎngxī
In the past sharing my happiness
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
I haven’t picked the next song yet. Any requests?
More for your karaoke repertoire:
A nostalgic song by 老狼 (“old wolf”) about growing apart after college.
(If, in an enlightened paroxysm of hegemonic benevolence, They are still blocking YouTube, you should be able to see the video here (youku) or here (tudou), or just listen to the mp3 below.)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The university years are like a window of relative freedom for the Mainlanders who get there. Before university millions sacrifice their childhoods in preparation for the national college entrance exam. After university they have to build a career that can eventually support their parents, grandparents, and child’s education. But in college all they have to do is go to class and do homework (work-study is much less common), so it’s a time to relax and have fun. This song is abut how the pressures of post-college life can strain even the closest relationships from the college days.
Download: ShuiZaiWoShangPuDeXiongDi.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pinyin/English cheatsheet).
歌词 / gēcí / Lyrics
[Verse 1:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
无声无息的你 / wúshēng wú xī de nǐ
You’re silent and uncommunicative
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
分给我烟抽的兄弟 / fēn gěi wǒ yān chōu de xiōngdì
Brother who shared my cigarettes
分给我快乐的往昔 / fēn gěi wǒ kuàilè de wǎngxī
In the past sharing my happiness
你总是猜不对我手里的硬币 / nǐ zǒngshì cāi búduì wǒ shǒu lǐ de yìngbì
You always guessed wrong the coin in my hand
摇摇头说这太神秘 / yáoyáotóu shuō zhè tài shénmì
Shaking your head saying this is too mysterious
[Chorus:]
你来的信写的越来越客气 / nǐ lái de xìn xiě de yuèláiyuè kèqì
Your letters that come are written more and more politely
关于爱情你只字不提 / guānyú àiqíng nǐ zhǐ zì bù tí
You don’t write about love
你说你现在有很多的朋友 / nǐ shuō nǐ xiànzài yǒu hěnduō de péngyou
You say you have a lot of friends now
却再也不为那些事忧愁 / què zàiyěbù wèi nàxiē shì yōuchóu
but you don’t bother about those matters anymore
[Verse 2:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
睡在我寂寞的回忆 / shuì zài wǒ jìmò de huíyì
Sleeping in my lonely memories
那日子里你总说起的女孩 / nà rìzi lǐ nǐ zǒng shuō qǐ de nǚhái
In those days the girl you always talked about
是否送了你她的发带 / shìfǒu sòng le nǐ tāde fàdài
Whether or not she gave you her hairband
你说你每当回头看夕阳 红 / nǐ shuō nǐ měidāng huí tóu kàn xīyáng hóng
You said whenever you turn to look at the red sunset
每当你又听到晚钟 / měidāng nǐ yòu tīng dào wǎn zhōng
Whenever you hear the evening temple bell
从前的点点滴滴会涌起 / cóngqián de diǎn diǎn dī dī huì yǒng qǐ
Every detail from before will well up…
在你来不及难过的心里 / zài nǐ láibùjí nánguò de xīnli
…in your not-enough-time-to-feel-sad heart
[instrumental break]
[Chorus:]
你来的信写的越来越客气 / nǐ lái de xìn xiě de yuèláiyuè kèqì
Your letters that come are written more and more politely
关于爱情你只字不提 / guānyú àiqíng nǐ zhǐ zì bù tí
You don’t write about love
你说你现在有很多的朋友 / nǐ shuō nǐ xiànzài yǒu hěnduō de péngyou
You say you have a lot of friends now
却再也不为那些事忧愁 / què zàiyěbù wèi nàxiē shì yōuchóu
and don’t bother about those matters anymore
你问我几时能一起回去 / nǐ wèn wǒ jǐshí néng yīqǐ huíqu
You ask me when can we go back together
看看我们的宿舍我们的过去 / kànkàn wǒmende sùshè wǒmende guòqu
To have a look at our dorm and our past
你刻在墙上的字依然清析 / nǐ kè zài qiáng shàng de zì yīrán qīng xī
The words you carved on the wall are still distinct
从那时侯起就没有人能擦去 / cóng nàshí hóu qǐ jiù méiyǒu rén néng cā qù
From that time on no one’s been able to erase it
[End:]
睡在我上铺的兄弟 / shuì zài wǒ shàng pù de xiōngdì
Brother who sleeps in my top bunk
睡在我寂寞的回忆 / shuì zài wǒ jìmò de huíyì
Sleeping in my lonely memories
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
分给我烟抽的兄弟 / fēn gěi wǒ yān chōu de xiōngdì
Brother who shared my cigarettes
分给我快乐的往昔 / fēn gěi wǒ kuàilè de wǎngxī
In the past sharing my happiness
你曾经问我的那些问题 / nǐ céngjīng wèn wǒde nàxiē wèntí
Those questions you used to ask me
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
如今再没人问起 / rújīn zài méirén wèn qǐ
Now no one asks
I haven’t picked the next song yet. Any requests?
More for your karaoke repertoire:
| Chinese songs | Learning Mandarin | Nothing To My Name | Reform & Opening | Tiananmen | “Nothing to My Name” has been called the biggest hit song in Mainland Chinese history. If you’re only gonna learn one Chinese karaoke tune, this is the song. And if you’re looking for a poignant time to learn it, this is the month.
If you’re in Great Firewalled Youtube-blocking Mainland China you can see the video here (thanks, Ryan!). Listen to the mp3 here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
一无所有 channeled the disillusionment, anxieties, hopes, frustrations, complaints, and rebellion of urban Mainlanders coming of age during the ideological thaw of 80′s China. They adopted it as their generation’s anthem. Even many 90′s kids (in their mid to late 20s now) still connect strongly to this song.
Cuī Jiàn (崔健) is often called “the father of Chinese rock.” He first performed “Nothing to My Name” on a TV talent show in 1985 and then at a major concert in 1986. China’s urban young people ate it up. This month marks the 20th anniversary of a third significant performance, but I’ll let you follow the links at the end of this post to discover the more dramatic and sensitive details about the significance of Cuī Jiàn and “Nothing to My Name.”
Lyrics & Guitar Chords
From the beginning people interpreted the ambiguous lyrics in different ways (politics, sex, love & economics). But it was no secret that the lyrics were intended to contain both national and critical meanings. Cuī Jiàn’s concerts, in which he’d perform with a red blindfold over his eyes and play other songs with more pointed lyrics, left little doubt as to the targets of the critique. Those ‘targets’ responded by banning Cuī Jiàn from playing any large, significant performances for over 15 years.
The vagueness of the lyrics leaves this song open to a wide variety of English renderings. The English translation below is based on the translation found at cuijian.com (see other English renderings here and here). The title literally could mean “having nothing” or “not having anything.”
The guitar chords in the download aren’t perfect, but close. If you catch any mistakes on that or the translation, let me know! Download: YiWuSuoYou.pdf
You can play the video or mp3 above and follow along here:
我曾经问个不休 / wǒ céngjīng wèn gè bùxiū
I’ve asked (you) endlessly
你何时跟我走 / nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
When will you go with me?
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
我要给你我的追求 / wǒ yào gěi nǐ wǒde zhuīqiú
I want to give you my dreams
还有我的自由 / háiyǒu wǒde zìyóu
(and I) also have my freedom (to give you)
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground beneath my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
为何你总是笑个没够 / wèihé nǐ zǒngshì xiào gè méi gòu
Why is your laughter never enough?
为何我总要追求 / wèihé wǒ zǒng yào zhuīqiú
Why will I always search?
难道在你面前我永远 / nándào zài nǐ miànqián wǒ yǒngyuǎn
Could it be that before you I’ll forever…
是一无所有 / shì yīwúsuǒyǒu
…have nothing to my name?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
[instrumental break]
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
告诉你我等了很久 / gàosu nǐ wǒ děng le hěn jiǔ
(I’m) telling you I’ve waited a long time
告诉你我最后的要求 / gàosu nǐ wǒ zuìhòu de yāoqiú
(So I’m) telling you my final request
我要抓起你的双手 / wǒ yào zhuā qǐ nǐde shuāngshǒu
I want to grab you by the hands
你这就跟我走 / nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
And then you’ll go with me
这时你的手在颤抖 / zhè shí nǐde shǒu zài chàndǒu
This time your hands are trembling
这时你的泪在流 / zhè shí nǐde lèi zài liú
This time your tears are flowing
莫非你是正在告诉我 / mòfēi nǐ shì zhèngzài gàosu wǒ
Can it be that you are telling me
你爱我一无所有 / nǐ ài wǒ yīwúsuǒyǒu
You love me with nothing to my name?
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
[guitaaarrrr soooloooo!!!]
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
When a Chinese friend in Tianjin downloaded a bunch of songs for me to learn, he made a point to highlight this one. Our Chinese textbooks have a whole lesson devoted to it, and when our teachers taught it they said it represents their generation. But I have a couple teenage Mainlanders in my ESL classes here in Vancouver, and none of them have even heard of this song or Cuī Jiàn. Of course, that’s not the only significant 20-year-old piece of Chinese history that they didn’t know about, so I assigned them some homework involving Google. Still waiting to see how they respond.
More about Cui Jian and Nothing to My Name:
More songs for your KTV repertoire! (with lyrics and guitar chords):
| Chinese songs | Learning Mandarin | Nothing To My Name | Reform & Opening | Tiananmen | “Nothing to My Name” has been called the biggest hit song in Mainland Chinese history. If you’re only gonna learn one Chinese karaoke tune, this is the song. And if you’re looking for a poignant time to learn it, this is the month.
If you’re in Great Firewalled Youtube-blocking Mainland China you can see the video here (thanks, Ryan!). Listen to the mp3 here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
一无所有 channeled the disillusionment, anxieties, hopes, frustrations, complaints, and rebellion of urban Mainlanders coming of age during the ideological thaw of 80′s China. They adopted it as their generation’s anthem. Even many 90′s kids (in their mid to late 20s now) still connect strongly to this song.
Cuī Jiàn (崔健) is often called “the father of Chinese rock.” He first performed “Nothing to My Name” on a TV talent show in 1985 and then at a major concert in 1986. China’s urban young people ate it up. This month marks the 20th anniversary of a third significant performance, but I’ll let you follow the links at the end of this post to discover the more dramatic and sensitive details about the significance of Cuī Jiàn and “Nothing to My Name.”
Lyrics & Guitar Chords
From the beginning people interpreted the ambiguous lyrics in different ways (politics, sex, love & economics). But it was no secret that the lyrics were intended to contain both national and critical meanings. Cuī Jiàn’s concerts, in which he’d perform with a red blindfold over his eyes and play other songs with more pointed lyrics, left little doubt as to the targets of the critique. Those ‘targets’ responded by banning Cuī Jiàn from playing any large, significant performances for over 15 years.
The vagueness of the lyrics leaves this song open to a wide variety of English renderings. The English translation below is based on the translation found at cuijian.com (see other English renderings here and here). The title literally could mean “having nothing” or “not having anything.”
The guitar chords in the download aren’t perfect, but close. If you catch any mistakes on that or the translation, let me know! Download: YiWuSuoYou.pdf
You can play the video or mp3 above and follow along here:
我曾经问个不休 / wǒ céngjīng wèn gè bùxiū
I’ve asked (you) endlessly
你何时跟我走 / nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
When will you go with me?
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
我要给你我的追求 / wǒ yào gěi nǐ wǒde zhuīqiú
I want to give you my dreams
还有我的自由 / háiyǒu wǒde zìyóu
(and I) also have my freedom (to give you)
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground beneath my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
可你却总是笑我 / kě nǐ què zǒngshì xiào wǒ
But you always just laugh at me
一无所有 / yīwúsuǒyǒu
(with) nothing to my name
为何你总是笑个没够 / wèihé nǐ zǒngshì xiào gè méi gòu
Why is your laughter never enough?
为何我总要追求 / wèihé wǒ zǒng yào zhuīqiú
Why will I always search?
难道在你面前我永远 / nándào zài nǐ miànqián wǒ yǒngyuǎn
Could it be that before you I’ll forever…
是一无所有 / shì yīwúsuǒyǒu
…have nothing to my name?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
噢 你何时跟我走 / ō nǐ hé shí gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! When will you go with me?
[instrumental break]
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
告诉你我等了很久 / gàosu nǐ wǒ děng le hěn jiǔ
(I’m) telling you I’ve waited a long time
告诉你我最后的要求 / gàosu nǐ wǒ zuìhòu de yāoqiú
(So I’m) telling you my final request
我要抓起你的双手 / wǒ yào zhuā qǐ nǐde shuāngshǒu
I want to grab you by the hands
你这就跟我走 / nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
And then you’ll go with me
这时你的手在颤抖 / zhè shí nǐde shǒu zài chàndǒu
This time your hands are trembling
这时你的泪在流 / zhè shí nǐde lèi zài liú
This time your tears are flowing
莫非你是正在告诉我 / mòfēi nǐ shì zhèngzài gàosu wǒ
Can it be that you are telling me
你爱我一无所有 / nǐ ài wǒ yīwúsuǒyǒu
You love me with nothing to my name?
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
[guitaaarrrr soooloooo!!!]
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
脚下这地在走 / jiǎo xià zhè dì zài zǒu
The ground under my feet is moving
身边那水在流 / shēnbiān nà shuǐ zài liú
The water beside me is flowing
噢 你这就跟我走 / ō nǐ zhè jiù gēn wǒ zǒu
Oh! Now you’ll go with me
When a Chinese friend in Tianjin downloaded a bunch of songs for me to learn, he made a point to highlight this one. Our Chinese textbooks have a whole lesson devoted to it, and when our teachers taught it they said it represents their generation. But I have a couple teenage Mainlanders in my ESL classes here in Vancouver, and none of them have even heard of this song or Cuī Jiàn. Of course, that’s not the only significant 20-year-old piece of Chinese history that they didn’t know about, so I assigned them some homework involving Google. Still waiting to see how they respond.
More about Cui Jian and Nothing to My Name:
More songs for your KTV repertoire! (with lyrics and guitar chords):
Because laowais can never learn enough karaoke hits! (More songs here.)
The title and lyrics of this song allude to two classic tragic romances: Romeo and Juliet and the “butterfly lovers” Liáng Shānbó and Zhù Yīngtái, often considered Romeo and Juliet’s ancient Chinese equivalent.
Like the Shakespeare play, Liáng Shānbó (the guy) and Zhù Yīngtái (the girl) want to get married but the families won’t cooperate so they end up dying. But unlike Romeo and Juliet, the butterfly lovers become butterflies and fly away together after Zhù Yīngtái jumps into Liáng Shānbó’s tomb while on the way to her arranged marriage. Obviously, such a story was destined for the Chinese pop charts.
Here’s the KTV version, lyrics and guitar chords below:
Here’s the mp3:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: LiangShanboYuZhuliye.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pinyin/English cheatsheet).
歌词 / gēcí / Lyrics (the English is a little overly literal):
我的心唱首歌给你听 / wǒde xīn chàng shǒugē gěi nǐ tīng
My heart sings a song for you to hear
歌词是如此的甜蜜 / gēcí shì rúcǐ de tiánmì
The lyrics are so honey-sweet
可是我害羞我没有勇气 / kěshì wǒ hàixiū wǒ méiyǒu yǒngqì
But I blush, I don’t have the courage
对你说一句我爱你 / duì nǐ shuō yījù wǒ ài nǐ
To say to you the words ‘I love you’
为什么你还是不言不语 / wèishénme nǐ háishì bù yán bù yǔ
Why do you still not speak?
难道你不懂我的心 / nándào (shì) nǐ bùdǒng wǒde xīn
Could it be you don’t understand my heart?
不管你用什么方式表明 / bùguǎn nǐ yòng shénme fāngshì biǎomíng
No matter whatever style you use to make it clear
我会对你说我愿意 / wǒ huì duì nǐ shuō wǒ yuànyì
I will say to you I’m willing
千言万语里 / qiān yán wàn yǔ lǐ
A thousand words in ten-thousand languages
只有一句话能 / zhǐyǒu yījùhuà néng
Only these few words are able
表白我的心 / biǎobái wǒde xīn
To vindicate my heart
千言万语里 / qiān yán wàn yǔ lǐ
A thousand words in ten-thousand languages
只有一句话就 / zhǐyǒu yījùhuà jiù
Only these few words
能够让我们相偎相依 / nénggòu rang wǒ men xiāng wēi xiāng yī
Are enough to let us cuddle each other close
Chorus:
我爱你 你是我的茱丽叶 / wǒ ài nǐ nǐ shì wǒde zhūlìyè
I love you, you’re my Juliet
我愿意变成你的粱山伯 / wǒ yuànyì biànchéng nǐ de liáng shānbó
I’m willing to become your Liáng Shānbó
幸福的每一天 / xìngfú de měiyī tiān
Happiness every single day
浪漫的每一夜 / làngmàn de měiyī yè
Romantic every single night
把爱 / bǎ ài
Hold love…
永远 / yǒngyuǎn
…forever
不放开 / bù fàngkāi
Don’t let go
I love you
我爱你 你是我的罗密欧 / wǒ ài nǐ nǐ shì wǒde luōmìōu
I love you, you’re my Romeo
我愿意变成你的祝英台 / wǒ yuànyì biànchéng nǐde zhù yīngtái
I’m willing to become your Zhù Yīngtái
幸福的每一天 / xìngfú de měiyī tiān
Happiness every single day
浪漫的每一夜 / làngmàn de měiyī yè
Romantic every single night
美丽的爱情 / měilì de àiqíng
Beautiful romance
祝福着未来 / zhùfú zhe wèilái
Blessing the future
Related Posts:
Because laowais can never learn enough karaoke hits! (More songs here.)
The title and lyrics of this song allude to two classic tragic romances: Romeo and Juliet and the “butterfly lovers” Liáng Shānbó and Zhù Yīngtái, often considered Romeo and Juliet’s ancient Chinese equivalent.
Like the Shakespeare play, Liáng Shānbó (the guy) and Zhù Yīngtái (the girl) want to get married but the families won’t cooperate so they end up dying. But unlike Romeo and Juliet, the butterfly lovers become butterflies and fly away together after Zhù Yīngtái jumps into Liáng Shānbó’s tomb while on the way to her arranged marriage. Obviously, such a story was destined for the Chinese pop charts.
Here’s the KTV version, lyrics and guitar chords below:
Here’s the mp3:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: LiangShanboYuZhuliye.pdf (lyrics & guitar chords with pinyin/English cheatsheet).
歌词 / gēcí / Lyrics (the English is a little overly literal):
我的心唱首歌给你听 / wǒde xīn chàng shǒugē gěi nǐ tīng
My heart sings a song for you to hear
歌词是如此的甜蜜 / gēcí shì rúcǐ de tiánmì
The lyrics are so honey-sweet
可是我害羞我没有勇气 / kěshì wǒ hàixiū wǒ méiyǒu yǒngqì
But I blush, I don’t have the courage
对你说一句我爱你 / duì nǐ shuō yījù wǒ ài nǐ
To say to you the words ‘I love you’
为什么你还是不言不语 / wèishénme nǐ háishì bù yán bù yǔ
Why do you still not speak?
难道你不懂我的心 / nándào (shì) nǐ bùdǒng wǒde xīn
Could it be you don’t understand my heart?
不管你用什么方式表明 / bùguǎn nǐ yòng shénme fāngshì biǎomíng
No matter whatever style you use to make it clear
我会对你说我愿意 / wǒ huì duì nǐ shuō wǒ yuànyì
I will say to you I’m willing
千言万语里 / qiān yán wàn yǔ lǐ
A thousand words in ten-thousand languages
只有一句话能 / zhǐyǒu yījùhuà néng
Only these few words are able
表白我的心 / biǎobái wǒde xīn
To vindicate my heart
千言万语里 / qiān yán wàn yǔ lǐ
A thousand words in ten-thousand languages
只有一句话就 / zhǐyǒu yījùhuà jiù
Only these few words
能够让我们相偎相依 / nénggòu rang wǒ men xiāng wēi xiāng yī
Are enough to let us cuddle each other close
Chorus:
我爱你 你是我的茱丽叶 / wǒ ài nǐ nǐ shì wǒde zhūlìyè
I love you, you’re my Juliet
我愿意变成你的粱山伯 / wǒ yuànyì biànchéng nǐ de liáng shānbó
I’m willing to become your Liáng Shānbó
幸福的每一天 / xìngfú de měiyī tiān
Happiness every single day
浪漫的每一夜 / làngmàn de měiyī yè
Romantic every single night
把爱 / bǎ ài
Hold love…
永远 / yǒngyuǎn
…forever
不放开 / bù fàngkāi
Don’t let go
I love you
我爱你 你是我的罗密欧 / wǒ ài nǐ nǐ shì wǒde luōmìōu
I love you, you’re my Romeo
我愿意变成你的祝英台 / wǒ yuànyì biànchéng nǐde zhù yīngtái
I’m willing to become your Zhù Yīngtái
幸福的每一天 / xìngfú de měiyī tiān
Happiness every single day
浪漫的每一夜 / làngmàn de měiyī yè
Romantic every single night
美丽的爱情 / měilì de àiqíng
Beautiful romance
祝福着未来 / zhùfú zhe wèilái
Blessing the future
Related Posts:
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Chinese songs
We both write, but Jessica only writes when I bribe her. See all of her posts here.
Pronounced: guāzǐ liǎn
Means: Melon-seed Face. One of the ideal Chinese face shapes.
Albert at Laowai Chinese introduces two ideal and two undesirable Chinese face shapes: The Four Faces of Chinese People (women, really)
- 2012/03/22
Eating Bitterness: an intro to the unprecedented Chinese migrant worker phenomenon
If you're unfamiliar with the urban migrant phenomenon in China -- as in, the people who make the stuff you buy and their lives -- then China’s Urban Immigrants: A Diet of Bitterness is a fine overview with lots of links for further reading.
"Chinese metropolises are now home to an estimated 200 million rural-to-urban migrants . . . who occupy a precarious place in the urban hierarchy: while urbanites appreciate their labor, they are less enthusiastic about the migrants’ presence in their cities."
For more on this topic you can browse our Migrant Workers category, or if you like documentaries, see these reviews of two good documentaries on migrant workers:
- 2012/05/10
Chairman Mao enshrined -- literally
When one of my young, very privileged Party-family students passionately told me, "Chairman Mao is like a god to us!" I understood he meant it as a simile. And the god metaphor is common when discussing Mao and his Cultural Revolution personality cult. But as it turns out, in some incredible irony, some other Chinese mean it literally. I heard about this before, but this is the first time I've found pictures -- Mao actually enshrined in a local temple: Mao Temple in China – Chairman Mao Becomes Local God.
For more about Mao and the Mao Era, you can browse these topics:
- 2012/05/08
A deeper look into the dynamics of living with Chinese propaganda
Two insightful posts from Seeing Red in China, which is probably my current favourite China blog, about living in an aggressively and explicitly propagandized environment, and how Chinese try to deal with it. The propaganda still works, but in ways different than us foreigners probably tend to assume. Without further ado:
I tell [my daughter] that she must not be afraid to take a clear moral stand. “If you see someone is being bullied,” I said, “speak up for that person.” “Be the keeper of the good.” [But] Chinese parents would have to think twice, three times, or even lose sleep, if they are to instill these values in their children, because these qualities won’t serve them very well in the Chinese society.
We've written lots on propaganda, mostly the Chinese kind, including translations of the propaganda we've encounter in China. You can find it all in our Propaganda category.
- 2012/05/06
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