作詞 : 溫莨 (Wen Liang)
*There are a few covers of this song, and the original video I planned to embed had been taken down from Youtube when I was working on the translation, for reasons unknown. Anyway, here's the same video from Bilibili, the original uploading site, if I'm not mistaken.
三无 (San Wu's Cover): https://www.bilibili.com/video/av8807514/
冷鸢 (Leng Yuan's Cover): https://www.bilibili.com/video/av8673782/
Alternate Youtube video (without the music video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U38W1a_XCtE
EDIT: San Wu uploaded her cover with the music video on her official channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRmgw-apIug
*****
小城裡 有一位 姑娘
撐起傘 過雨巷
裙角惹丁香
In this little town, there was a young maiden
She held an umbrella while passing through the rainy alleys
Corners of her dress stole the scent of cloves
一步走 一步向回望
泛皺的 眼波裡 掩映著溫柔鄉
With every step forth she glimpsed back
Ripples in her eyes hid a gentle realm
也許是 風兒輕輕撞
這雨水 悄搖晃 晃進了時光
Perhaps it’s the wind gently knocking
rain quietly swaying, that ushered me back in time
還在想 吟誦詩兩行
那身影 早已經 轉身繞過花牆
那身影 早已經 轉身繞過花牆
I was only about to recite a line of poem or two
when that figure disappeared round the corner of a flowered wall
門樓旁 倚著老街坊
半支小調哼著唱
唱伊人何方
半支小調哼著唱
唱伊人何方
Leaning on the shops by the ancient streets
humming half a little tune
“where should you be” I sung
一雙眼 已泛起濁黃
你卻仍 似過往
那般婉兮清揚
那般婉兮清揚
Eyes already tinged with a murky yellow
Yet you remained, as always
That graceful and lovely
雨傘下 是故人模樣
世間事無常
還是一夢黃粱
還是一夢黃粱
Under the umbrella was your likeness of old
Unforeseeable and fleeting, as this world goes
or is it but a dream of mine
出弄巷 聞見了杜康
歲月長 又何妨
半醒好相忘
歲月長 又何妨
半醒好相忘
Out of the alley, I smelled the gift of the god of wine
Why be bothered by the tedium of years ahead?
Being half-awake’s conducive for forgetfulness
###
一雙眼 已泛起濁黃
你卻仍 似過往
那般婉兮清揚
那般婉兮清揚
Eyes already tinged with a murky yellow
Yet you remained, as always
That graceful and lovely
雨傘下 是故人模樣
世間事無常
還是一夢黃粱
還是一夢黃粱
Under the umbrella was your likeness of old
Unforeseeable and fleeting, as this world goes
or is it but a dream of mine
###
小城裡 有一位 姑娘
撐起傘 過雨巷
裙角惹丁香
In this little town, there was a young maiden
She held an umbrella while passing through the rainy alleys
Corners of her dress stole the scent of cloves
一步走 一步向回望
泛皺的 眼波裡 掩映著溫柔鄉
With every step forth she glimpsed back
Ripples in her eyes hid a gentle realm
也許是 風兒輕輕撞
這雨水 悄搖晃 晃進了時光
Perhaps it’s the wind gently knocking
Rain quietly swaying, that ushered me back in time
還在想 吟誦詩兩行
那身影早已轉身繞過了花牆
那身影早已轉身繞過了花牆
I was only about to recite a line of poem or two
When that figure disappeared round the corner of a flowered wall
天微亮 漸白的東方
三寸光 透過窗
送你出舊巷
三寸光 透過窗
送你出舊巷
Dawn broke, with the brightening eastern horizon
Inches of light seeped through the window
To send you out of the old alleyway
一步走 一步向回望
泛皺的眼波裡 似有萬語深藏
With every step forth you glimpsed back
Ripples in your eyes hid much that was unspoken
也許是路遠巷狹長
這目光 露鋒芒 卻猝不及防
似誓要 揭穿所有謊
這目光 露鋒芒 卻猝不及防
似誓要 揭穿所有謊
卻輕易 在心上 劃下了一道癢
Perhaps it was a road too far, an alley too harrowing
Sharp glimmers in those eyes struck me unprepared
Sharp glimmers in those eyes struck me unprepared
As if vowing to uncover all my lies
But instead carved an itch upon my heart effortlessly
又聞見 婆婆的佳釀
一縷纏綿繞鼻香
驚醒了孟浪
驚醒了孟浪
Again I smelled grandma’s fine brew
A sweet, lingering trail of scent
That startled me from my careless preoccupations
猶記得 貪杯把酒嘗
三杯二壺一壇
再無力伴斜陽
I still remember being driven to the wine
Three cups, two flagons, then one jug
No longer able to accompany the setting sun
出酒坊 醉在柳樹旁
應是日有所想 太虛境游一場
應是日有所想 太虛境游一場
Stumbling out of the winehouse, I collapsed by the willow tree
Suppose one’s obsession by day manifested itself in the realm of dreams
卻無恙 回到這間房
桌案上 靜靜放 一碗紅豆湯
Yet I find myself comfortably back in this room
And on my table quietly sits a bowl of red bean soup
撐起傘 過雨巷
裙角惹丁香
In this little town, there was a young maiden
She held an umbrella while passing through the rainy alleys
Corners of her dress stole the scent of cloves
一步走 一步向回望
泛皺的 眼波裡 掩映著溫柔鄉
With every step forth she glimpsed back
Ripples in her eyes hid a gentle realm
也許是 風兒輕輕撞
這雨水 悄搖晃 晃進了時光
Perhaps it’s the wind gently knocking
Rain quietly swaying, that ushered me back in time
還在想 吟誦詩兩行
那身影早已轉身繞過了花牆
那身影早已轉身繞過了花牆
I was only about to recite a line of poem or two
When that figure disappeared round the corner of a flowered wall
******
Story
*Written by a fan in the comments, not sure if it's canon but here goes:
如今的上海動盪不安，當看到報紙上的新聞時，我不禁又回憶起了那個女孩。
隨著回憶的深陷，恍惚之間，好似又回到與她初遇的那天……
隨著回憶的深陷，恍惚之間，好似又回到與她初遇的那天……
淅淅瀝瀝的小雨打濕了上海的弄巷，也打濕了我的心。
那天，我教書結束準備回家，在學校門口的小巷中，她持傘而過。
那曼妙的身姿，動人心弦的眼睛，我被其深深的吸引了。
等我從她回望時的溫柔眼神中清醒過來時，她已消失在了花牆的轉角。
那是我和她的初遇，無論何時想起都還記憶尤新。
後來，我終於再度在學校的門口遇見了她。
我邀請她進學校談話，發現她是個愛國情懷豐富的女子。
這樣的她，更加令我癡迷。
我倆相談甚歡，也稱得上志同道合。
那天，我教書結束準備回家，在學校門口的小巷中，她持傘而過。
那曼妙的身姿，動人心弦的眼睛，我被其深深的吸引了。
等我從她回望時的溫柔眼神中清醒過來時，她已消失在了花牆的轉角。
那是我和她的初遇，無論何時想起都還記憶尤新。
後來，我終於再度在學校的門口遇見了她。
我邀請她進學校談話，發現她是個愛國情懷豐富的女子。
這樣的她，更加令我癡迷。
我倆相談甚歡，也稱得上志同道合。
然而，那時的上海頗為動亂，叛國投日的漢奸終於注意到了我們。
不得已，我們只能分開逃離。
離別之際，不，如今想來，那並不能稱為離別。
她為了讓我能順利離開，主動暴露了身份，偽軍把她抓了起了。
我逃離了偽軍的抓捕，帶著她留給我的書信和一根白色的羽毛。
她被抓的那天，是我哭的最傷心的一天。
心裡翻騰著說不出的滋味。
我才是那個應該被抓捕的人，她是無辜的。
不得已，我們只能分開逃離。
離別之際，不，如今想來，那並不能稱為離別。
她為了讓我能順利離開，主動暴露了身份，偽軍把她抓了起了。
我逃離了偽軍的抓捕，帶著她留給我的書信和一根白色的羽毛。
她被抓的那天，是我哭的最傷心的一天。
心裡翻騰著說不出的滋味。
我才是那個應該被抓捕的人，她是無辜的。
她在最危機的時刻代替我被捕，而我……
婆婆釀造的酒香把我從回憶中拉了回來，常言道，日有所思夜有所夢。
屋內桌子上的那碗紅豆湯，卻仍是毫無徵兆的刺痛了我。
側眼報紙，報導的是如今的上海，雖然已經不像幾年前那番動亂，但也不是記憶中的上海。
物是人非，什麼都變了。
當我放下報紙，走上如今上海空曠的街道時，卻是說不上來的空虛。
漫無目的的行走著，行走著……
婆婆釀造的酒香把我從回憶中拉了回來，常言道，日有所思夜有所夢。
屋內桌子上的那碗紅豆湯，卻仍是毫無徵兆的刺痛了我。
側眼報紙，報導的是如今的上海，雖然已經不像幾年前那番動亂，但也不是記憶中的上海。
物是人非，什麼都變了。
當我放下報紙，走上如今上海空曠的街道時，卻是說不上來的空虛。
漫無目的的行走著，行走著……
直到那抹熟悉的陌生的身影映入眼簾，我的眼睛再也****酸澀，眼淚止不住的流了下來。
歌舞廳的門口，一身華麗小姐服飾的正在招攬著客人。
當初清純的她已經被偽軍處死在了我的回憶中。
丁香花終究還是落入凡塵，即便是她，也依舊沒有逃離如今上海的黑暗。
望著她的身影，淚流不止的我卻無法張口喊出她的名字。
那個我永遠也不會忘記的名字，如今，卻變得格外的沉重。
終於，忙於招攬客人的她注意到了我，也終於認出了我是誰。
目光交合時，她已淚流滿面。
我和她，四目相對，淚流不止，卻久久沒有言語……
歌舞廳的門口，一身華麗小姐服飾的正在招攬著客人。
當初清純的她已經被偽軍處死在了我的回憶中。
丁香花終究還是落入凡塵，即便是她，也依舊沒有逃離如今上海的黑暗。
望著她的身影，淚流不止的我卻無法張口喊出她的名字。
那個我永遠也不會忘記的名字，如今，卻變得格外的沉重。
終於，忙於招攬客人的她注意到了我，也終於認出了我是誰。
目光交合時，她已淚流滿面。
我和她，四目相對，淚流不止，卻久久沒有言語……
These are perilous times in the city of Shanghai. Peering down at the latest reports in the papers, I couldn’t help but to recall memories of that girl.
I found myself back on the very first day we met. Soft drizzle pattered down on the narrow alleys of Shanghai. Not only did it strike the wet pavements, my heart too, had not been spared.
I had just concluded teaching sessions for the day. In the alleyway outside our school gate, she walked passed with an umbrella over her head. That graceful poise, mesmerizing eyes, I couldn’t help but to fall for her. Just when I snapped out of her enchanted gaze, she disappeared around the corner of a flowered wall.
That was our first encounter. No matter when these memories come back to me, it stays perennially fresh in my mind.
I met her again at the school gate some time later. I invited her into the school for a friendly conversation and uncovered a strong patriotic spirit in her. That only left me even more infatuated. We got along splendidly, our ideals a close match.
Unfortunately, those were tumultuous times in Shanghai. We attracted the attention of traitors working for the Japanese. We had to part ways and run.
That was our farewell. No, in retrospect, you couldn’t quite call it a farewell.
She revealed herself to the enemies to ensure my safe escape. They had her captured, while I escaped with the letter and a single white feather she left me. I wept bitterly that day. Words cannot articulate the feeling that wretched and twisted in my heart. I was supposed to be the one. She was innocent. At the most critical moment, she took my place, but I…...
The smell of grandma’s brewed wine pulled me out of my reminiscences. As the saying goes, an obsession by day manifest in dreams by night. That bowl of red bean soup sitting on the table at home now a subtle thorn in me.
I gave the papers a sidelong glance. It wrote about the Shanghai today. Not as dangerous as it had been, but neither was it the Shanghai I remembered.
Objects, inanimate things, may remain. Not people though -- those had changed.
I put down the newspapers and strolled the empty streets of Shanghai. Without any particular destination in mind, I walked, and walked. Till that familiar figure entered my sight.
My eyes soured, and the tears couldn’t stop from there on.
At the nightclub’s entrance, a girl in an extravagant dress attended to her guests. I then realized, that innocent girl I knew had long been executed. The clove flower had fallen unto dusty earth in the end. Even she couldn’t escape the darkness that shrouded this city.
I couldn’t bring myself to call out her name. That name I’ll never forget has now become far too heavy.
Alas, she noticed me, and she recognized me.
When our eyes met, tears ran down her cheeks. It stayed that way for a long time, none of us uttering a single word.
***
This time I wanted to try something different from the usual styles. I liked the lyrics the first time I looked it up because of its evocative imagery. Plus, the electronic music mixed with historical themes here's pretty awesome.
*I own nothing but the translations.