[English translation] 白石溪 - White Stone Creek

作曲//Composer : 纯白 (Chun Bai / Pure white)

作词//Lyrics : 果汁凉菜 (Guo Zhi Liang Cai)

演唱//Vocal: 玄觴 (Xuan Shang)

Other versions:

Vocaloid (Luo Tianyi and Yuezheng Ling) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2B0MAjloGk 

凑诗 (Cou Shi) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9x8-fCmi0Q

微露点滴 沾衿落袖

丽日绰约 轻解莲舟

蒹葭荣茂 燕雀啁啾

白石溪畔 斜阳逐流

Beads of dew dripped down on our robes

The day’s bright with a charming sun as we released our boat

Thick reeds flourished, while finches chirped

By White Stone Creek, the setting sun chased its flow

可嫌金风玉露 兼程久

灵犀心念 便相谋

前路崎岖躞蹀攀援 亦同守

Would a lengthy stay of autumn winds ever be resented?

Since our hearts are bound, so we shall act as one

Despite our difficult road ahead, treading light or climbing high, we’ll stay by each other’s side 

共你百年暮昏 到白昼

依山临水 景看旧

而你美胜山水万筹 尽入一人眸

I’ll be with you, dusk till dawn for a hundred years

By the mountains and waters, we’ll watch the sceneries till we tire

While your beauty outmatch the landscape by ten thousand folds, only for one you show

琴瑟愿与 共沐春秋

滢溪潺潺 炊烟悠悠

敢请东风 玉成双偶

遥递佳信 知否知否

Like zithers in harmony, we relished the seasons together

The clear stream ambled on, the chimney smoke lazily wafted

I appealed to the eastern wind, grant us our union

As I send out my letter from afar, do you know, do you know?

为理云鬓 为簪银钩

明月可鉴 情深亦寿

此生相依 人间白首

千金不易 清茶淡粥

I fixed my hair, and fastened it with a silver hairpin

The bright moon shall witness, this love’s as deep as it’s old 

In this life we’ll count on each other, till our hair whitens

Not for a thousand gold I’ll trade a simple life with you

前缘既断 便再无求

云泥之异 难越鸿沟

相思不扫 久积弥厚

他年君归 我葬南丘

Since the severance of our ties, there’s nothing more I’ve come to yearn

The gap between the clouds and earth proved too wide to close

My longings I neglected to sweep away, while it piled thicker by the day

And when you finally return, I’ve laid buried under the southern hill

逢春枯木忽生 花飞柳

纷纷绵绵 结作愁

随风四散却又轻易 染眉头

Spring arrived with soft willow flowers sprouted upon barren boughs

Sprinkled in the air to weave our sorrows

Then scattered by the wind and feathered one’s brows

当时一双鸳鸯 入深藕

荷香绕水 乐同游

月下花前本来无酒 对看竟忘忧

Back when a pair of mandarin ducks swam into the tangles of lotus roots

Encircled by the fragrance of water lilies, ecstatic in their excursion

By the moon and flowers, though devoid of wine, our cares were left behind when we looked into each other’s eyes

何年何夕 两相执手

蚀骨相思 风侵寒透

仙人近侧 怕倚小楼

金缕为笼 歌乐成囚

When again was it, when we both held our hands

This longing gnaws my bones, the wind chills my core

In close company of deities, I fear to lean forlornly against the towers

I’m in a cage made of golden threads, a prison made of joyous songs

凉夜凄长 应怨更漏

数得千枚 零落红豆

遗君一心 一心怎收

杳渺音绝 余我孤奏

This cold night stretches long and sorrowful, echoing hints of sad laments

I’ve counted a thousand scattered red beans

All I have now is but a sole heart for you, a sole heart I know not to temper

Without a trace of your goings, you left me playing our songs alone

何年何夕 共沐春秋

银汉邈邈 炊烟悠悠

敢请东风 小住暂留

托书天地 安否安否

When was it again, when we relished the seasons

The Milky Way yawned in the distance, the chimney smoke lazily wafted

I appealed to the eastern wind, please accommodate a short stay

So to carry my letter for you out into the world, is that alright, is that alright?

尘心如练 长悬银钩

鱼雁不闻 斯人难候

九霄一曲 人间白首

隔世相问 忆否忆否

My mortal heart is worn and weary, forever hooked to the crescent moon

The fishes and geese have not known, how testing is this wait for you

Reverberating through nine tiers of heaven, a song of lasting love till old

Separated by worlds, we ask one another, do you remember, do you remember? 

***

Translator's note:

For context, this story is about the forbidden love between a fairy descended from the heavens with a mortal, likely inspired by the folklore of the romance between a cowherd (mortal) and a weaver girl (immortal). The song lyrics are very moving. Enjoy!

[English translation] 中华铄金娘 - China Molten Metal Girl

作曲 / 编曲 // Music & arrangement：纯白P (Chun Bai P / Pure White P)

作词 // Lyrics：薇采之依 (Wei Cai Zhi Yi)

调教 // Vocal arrangement：DIGGER

混音 // Mix：Gold Rum

母带 // Master tape：Irecorder

打击乐 // Percussion：司鼓君 (Si Gu Jun)

二胡 // Erhu：柠檬CC露 (Ning Meng CC Lu / Lemon CC Lu)

古筝 // Guzheng (Chinese zither)：陶特 (Tao Te)

琵琶 / 三味线 // Pipa (Chinese lute) / Shamisen：远坂麦芽 (Yuan Ban Mai Ya)

笛子 // Flute：O天气晴朗O (Tian Qi Qing Lang / Sunny Weather)

曲绘 // Art：盐 Yoisy 铃茉 (Yan Yoisy Ling Mo)

PV：冰镇甜豆浆 (Bing Zhen Tian Dou Jiang / Iced Sweet Soymilk)

踟蹰而过路边街头

学着别人一样饮酒

谁的掌心中

半寸箭刃渴望咽喉

Lingering by the streets with hesitant steps

Taking drafts of wine like others do

Held in whose palm

Was an arrow lusting for its victim’s throat

隐入不知名的层楼

恍然如老练的猎手

阴影中 在等候

Disappearing into a nameless tower

Just like a seasoned hunter

Waiting in the shadows

午时燕子划过杨柳

金鸾引车光华左右

升平歌舞中

究竟深埋多少阴谋

At noon swallows soared past the willow tree

A carriage made of golden birds shimmered in its glory

In this prosperous celebration of songs and dances

How many conspiracies within were buried deep

尾羽抹去一丝颤抖

黑暗之中獠牙通透

无情 也无仇

I brushed the quivering fletching

And bared my fangs in the dark

Without love or vengeance both


机会转瞬之间弦擎出手

箭过后 万事已休
孰是孰非就让他人评说
终不过 成王败寇

In the chance of a heartbeat I sprang the trigger
Once the arrow’s loosed, it shall all be done
Let people judge right and wrong as they will
After all, history’s told only by the winners


只身一人行 漂过 海角天涯
携剑百步走 点过 房檐砾瓦
谁在抚琵琶 只为 一场肃杀
转过身 流矢飒踏

Wandering alone to the ends of the world
Carrying a sword, tiptoeing over eaves and rooftops
Who plucked the lute only for a merciless slaughter
I turned around and stepped past a flurry of arrows


对错真与假 霓裳 掩盖狡黠
离别生与死 不过 只在一霎
半寸鱼肠剑 抵过 千军万马
倾覆了谁的天下

Right and wrong, truth and lies, my cunning veiled by garments fine
The line between life and death crossed in a split second
Half an inch of Fish Gut Dagger, reigned over an army of thousands
Whose realm had I toppled over?


靡音萦绕舞榭歌楼
薄丝轻纱漫过衣袖
谁的发髻中
半寸短剑不停颤抖

Dreamy melodies echoed through pavilions of the music hall
Soft muslin fabric drifted past my sleeves
Tucked in whose bun of hair
Was a dagger relentlessly shivering


笙歌曼舞摆动轻裘
一颦一笑如怨如忧
试问君 入瓮否

My fur coat swayed gently with the songs and dances
Each smile and frown captivating you in its elusiveness
Are you falling into my trap yet?


抬手弄弦待君垂眸
几多娇嗔无心而就
纸醉金迷中
纷乱翻腾多少阴谋

I raised my hand to pluck the strings, awaiting your lowered gaze
Serving flirtatious banter that came effortlessly to me
In this decadent indulgence
Brews and boils how many foul plots


款款相偎斟满烈酒
氤氲之间酒色通透
愿者 便上钩

I lovingly leaned in and poured you a full cup of strong liquor
Caught in this thick air, wine and women colored your cheeks
Alas, those who desire shall take the bait


是时擎起匕首贯透咽喉
来不及半声呼救
孰是孰非就让他人评说
终不过 成王败寇

In a flash my dagger pierced through your throat
So swiftly, you make naught a sound
Let people judge right and wrong as they will
After all, history’s told only by the winners


只身一人行 漂过 海角天涯
携剑百步走 点过 房檐砾瓦
谁在抚琵琶 只为 一场肃杀
转过身 流矢飒踏

Wandering alone to the ends of the world
Carrying a sword, tiptoeing over eaves and rooftops
Who plucked the lute only for a merciless slaughter
I turned around and stepped past a flurry of arrows


对错真与假 霓裳 掩盖狡黠
离别生与死 不过 只在一霎
半寸鱼肠剑 抵过 千军万马
倾覆了谁的天下

Right and wrong, truth and lies, my cunning veiled by garments fine
The line between life and death crossed in a split second
Half an inch of Fish Gut Dagger, reigned over an army of thousands
Whose realm had I toppled over?

只身一人行 漂过 海角天涯
五更钟声起 晨曦 掂量枝桠
多少不眠夜 躲在 星辰月下
杀人者亦会被杀

Wandering alone to the ends of the world
The clock bell chimed five hours past midnight
How many sleepless nights I hid under the stars and moon
After all, even killers can be killed


对错真与假 霓裳 掩盖狡黠
离别生与死 不过 只在一霎
尔虞我诈中 敢相信 谁的话
江湖中何处 是 家

Right and wrong, truth and lies, my cunning veiled by garments fine
The line between life and death crossed in a split second
Amidst a game of lies and manipulations, whose words dare I trust
Where in this world can I call home?




*****

Translator's comment:

I like how the lyrics in this song describe the adventures of an assassin. It evokes much imagination for the reader, reminiscent of the historical fiction I loved, so I thought it'd be fun to do a translation on it.

The Fish Gut Dagger (鱼肠剑) has an interesting story behind it. During the Spring and Autumn period of China, there was a certain Prince Guang in the kingdom of Wu who wanted to get rid of his baseborn uncle, King Liao of Wu (who was born of a concubine instead of the queen) and claim his right to the throne. Minister Wu Zixu recommended Zhuan Zhu to the prince, having known the butcher's outstanding courage and strength. Prince Guang treated Zhuan Zhu with the utmost respect and generosity to win this man over. Zhuan Zhu took to master the king's favorite dish, grilled fish. On the day of the assassination, Zhuan Zhu hid the dagger by sliding it into the mouth of the fish to slip it past the royal guards. Nobody suspected a thing when he served the dish to the king. Alas, when he approached the king's table, he pulled out the dagger and stabbed the king through three layers of armor. King Liao died on the spot, but the assassin was killed by the guards shortly after. Prince Guang ascended the throne as planned and became King Helü of Wu. That was how the name "Fish Gut Dagger" came about.

The term "成王败寇" literally means "The winner is king, the loser made the villain/bandit". Therefore, I phrased it as "history is told by the winners", which is the essence of this saying.

There's also a line that I didn't do a full translation because I was a little confused, which is "晨曦 掂量枝桠". "掂量" means measuring or pondering or weighing, "枝桠" means branches. So... pondering branches? I mean, I get that the narrator is hiding within branches, but I couldn't find a way to incorporate it gracefully into the translated text, so I left it out.

Anyway, that's it for this song. From the lyrics, what kinds of stories can you dream up?