[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?