[English translation] 我的一个道姑朋友 - A Taoist Nun Friend of Mine

歌手/Vocal (Cover)：以冬 (Yi Dong)

作曲/Music : 《一番星》

作詞/Lyrics : 陸菱紗 (Lu Ling Sha)

原唱/Vocal ：LON

那年长街春意正浓，

策马同游，烟雨如梦。

檐下躲雨，

望进一双，深邃眼瞳，

宛如华山夹着细雪的微风。

The streets were thick with the essence of spring that year

We drove our horses together in the dream-like mist of rain

Sheltered under the eaves

I gazed into a pair of deep set eyes

It was like the mountain breeze laced with fine feathery snow.

雨丝微凉，

风吹过暗香朦胧。

一时心头悸动，似你温柔剑锋，

过处翩若惊鸿。

Threads of rain fell cool upon the skin

Shrouded by the subtle sweet scent in the wind

A sudden shudder struck my heart, like the gentle dance of your blade

Whirling past with the graceful flair of geese taking flight.

[Chorus]

是否情字写来都空洞，一笔一划斟酌着奉送，

甘愿卑微换个笑容，

或沦为平庸。

Is it true that words of love ultimately ring hollow, weighing miserly offerings with its every stroke

Humbling oneself just for another's smile

Or be doomed in obscurity

而你撑伞拥我入怀中，

一字一句誓言多慎重。

你眼中有柔情千种，

如脉脉春风，冰雪也消融。

You took me in your embrace, under the umbrella you held

How solemn was every single word in your promise

Myriad forms of doting kindness resided in your eyes

Akin to the murmuring spring’s breeze, melting away frost and snow.

后来谁家喜宴重逢，

佳人在侧，烛影摇红。

灯火缱绻，

映照一双，如画颜容，

宛如豆蔻枝头温柔的旧梦。

Later came our reunion at a banquet

A fair lady by your side, while red candles cast wavering shadows

Their soft, lingering lights

Reflected handsome visages out of an artist’s fantasy

Like the pleasant old dream perched upon the branches of my youth

对面不识，

恍然间思绪翻涌。

望你白衣如旧，神色几分冰冻，

谁知我心惶恐？

You graced me with no signs of recognition

A sudden turmoil stirred in me

Your robe, white as ever, but you, shades colder with indifference

Who could fathom my terror within?

[Chorus]

也许我应该趁醉装疯，

借你怀抱留一抹唇红。

再将旧事轻歌慢诵，

任旁人惊动。

Perhaps I should have feigned drunken insanity

Lended your embrace, left upon it a red mark with my lips

Then sing, in slow beats, our story, our history

And let onlookers startle and gasp as they will.

可我只能假笑扮从容，

侧耳听那些情深意重。

不去看你熟悉脸孔，

只默默饮酒，多无动于衷。

But all I managed were false smiles and forced graces

While listening to those loving exchanges within earshot

I avoided your familiarity

and sipped wine in silence; you see how unmoved I am?

山门外，雪拂过白衣，又在指尖消融；

负长剑，试问江湖偌大，该何去何从？

今生至此，像个笑话一样，自己都嘲讽，

一厢情愿，有始无终。

Beyond the door, atop the mountain, snowflakes swept past my white robe, then dissolved on my fingertips

Armed with a long sword, I asked, amidst this big, wide world, where ought I go?

To have turned into a joke that even I myself jeer at

It had always been my wishful longings, cursed with a beginning without an end.

若你早与他人两心同，

何苦惹我错付了情衷。

难道看我失魂落魄，你竟然心动？

If your heart had been long bound with another

Why entice me to misplace mine 

Had it been my helplessness in your presence that drew you in?

所幸经年漂浮红尘中，

这颗心已是千疮百孔。

怎惧你以薄情为刃，添一道裂缝？

又不会痛。

I count myself fortunate for the years wandering this mortal world

For this heart has borne wounds in hundreds and thousands

Do I fear that heartless blade you wield, adding only one to the many?

Not that it hurts at all.

不如将往事埋在风中，

以长剑为碑，以霜雪为冢。

此生若是错在相逢，

求一个善终。

Why not bury the past in the wind

Let my sword be my headstone, and snow build my burial mound

If it was a wrong for us to have met one another

I can only pray for a kindly end.

孤身打马南屏旧桥边过，

恰逢山雨来时雾蒙蒙。

想起那年伞下轻拥，

就像躺在桥索之上，做了一场梦。

梦醒后跌落，粉身碎骨，无影亦无踪。

Alone, I rode past the old bridge of that southern town

Right when mountain rains raised its cloudy mist

I recalled that gentle embrace beneath the umbrella

Like a dream conjured as I lie atop the bridge

To which I’ve awoken from before falling off, shatter to dust, and vanish without a trace

 *** 

Translator's note and update:

Compared to my previous translations, I've taken greater artistic liberties for this one, and likely for any upcoming ones (if any... life and many commitments get in the way). In other words, if I feel that rigid translations with the exact meaning preserved come across awkwardly, I'll tweak them in favor of a more poetic bend, and do my best to preserve the tone of the lyrics. I take this as a sort of practice tinkering with words and language.

I will also be taking a more casual approach to this blog, and upload mostly on a whim. Unfortunately, I'm not able to do footnotes and pinyin as before, as I have very little time to spare. Anyhow, I'll be glad if anyone find this useful or enjoyable.  Thank you.

EDIT (28/5/18): I've decided to update and improve this translation, since this is one song I love and keep returning to. I hope it's clearer and flows better!

*As usual, I claim no credit for everything other than the translations

焚城篇 - 棠花谢 (Fén Chéng Piān – Táng Huā Xiè) / Chapter of the Burning City – The Kerria Flower Falls

Original posted on：http://yc.5sing.com/2281920.html

 From the album by 晃儿 – 三千世界 (Three Thousand Worlds)

作/编曲//Music：又又 (You you)
填词/Lyrics：Vagary
演唱/Vocals：慕寒 (Mu Han)，晃儿 (Huang’er)
混缩/Mix and compress：Allen

一十六载不曾闲，篱外棠花沁骨甜。

——对影问花开何愿？

“愿岁岁盛放，照翩翩少年。”

——题记

For sixteen years never have I been idling, the sweetness of Kerria flowers^[1] beyond the garden seeps even into the bones.

——Facing the shadows, I asked, for what the flowers blossom?

“The flowers wish to bloom year by year, to shine at the handsome youth.”

——Preface

【歌词】 Lyrics:-

慕寒：

要如何闲坐对听旧年华  夕烟折落枝头花

Yào rú hé xián zuò duì tīng jiù nián huá / xī yān zhé luò zhī tóu huā

要如何忘却朝暮黄泉下  抬眼时韶光已虚化

Yào rú hé wàng què zhāo mù huáng quán xià / tái yǎn shí shào guāng yǐ xū huà

How should I sit idly reminiscing old years; as the mist of evening broke the flowering branch

How should I forget [the one] residing in the netherworld^[2] beneath, for dawn and dusk; as I lift my eyes golden times have faded into a mere mirage^[3]

晃儿：

要如何忘情水截杀  要如何奈何桥斜跨

Yào rú hé wàng qíng shuǐ jié shā / yào rú hé nài hé qiáo xié kuà

要如何放得下  西风不吹陇头沙

Yào rú hé fàng dé xià / xī fēng bù chuī lóng tóu shā

白骨为笛诉一腔喑哑

Bái gǔ wéi dí sù yì qiāng yīn yǎ

How do I intercept this with a potion to forget past affections? How do I stride past the bridge leading to the underworld^[4]?

How do I put this down? The wind blowing from the west fails to blow the sands of the north^[5]

Using bones as a flute, a song of dumb silence was put forth.

慕寒：

红尘有雪  剑气纠结  梦幻百年  空花罹灭

Hóng chén yóu xuě / jiàn qì jiū jié / mèng huàn bǎi nián / kōng huā lí miè

是你以诀别书写  风华绝代的不屑

Shì ní yǐ jué bié shū xiě / fēng huá jué dài de bú xiè

前尘的夜  今世的血  闪现交叠

Qián chén de yè / jīn shì de xiě / shǎn xiàn jiāo dié

Snow in the mortal world, the wind of swords intertwining; a dream-like hundred years, the empty illusion of flowers obliterated

You were the one who wrote with your farewell, an unparalleled disdain

The night of the past life, the blood of the present, flashed and overlapped each other

晃儿：

归去不歇  天凝残月  过眼足痕  次第皎洁

Guī qù bú xiè / tiān níng cán yuè / guò yǎn zú hén / cì dì jiǎo jié

你一步踏进惨烈  笑容却依旧无邪

Nǐ yí bù tà jìn cǎn lié / xiào róng què yī jiù wú xié

旧时山野  月下蝴蝶  含笑一瞥

Jiù shí shān yě / yuè xià hú dié / hán xiào yì piě

A restless journey returning home, the broken moon condensed in the sky, the footprints that passed my eyes, was illuminated by the extravagantly white moonlight.

You took a step into great tragedy, yet your smile remained innocent

In the past, at the countryside, with the butterfly under the moon, [I remember that you] peered at me with a smile in your eyes

慕寒：是你说争与不争都无解  不如就拱手让却

Shì nǐ shuō zhēng yǔ bù zhēng dōu wú jiě / bù rú jiù góng shǒu ràng què

晃儿：而你说男儿生当歌万阕  死当筑千秋业

Ér nǐ shuō nán er shēng dāng gē wàn què / sǐ dāng zhù jiān qiū yè

You were the one who said there is no resolve whether to contend with others or not, so might as well just politely give in^[6]

But you said men should sing millions of songs while you live, and build a legacy lasting for a thousand autumns before death.

慕寒：何处觅知音为注解

Hé chù mì zhī yīn wèi zhù jiě

晃儿：才使得荒凉都退怯

Cái shǐ dé huāng liáng dōu tuì qiè

合：怕离别却离别  说忘却怎敢忘却

Pà lí bié què lí bié / shuō wàng què zén gǎn wàng què

一生有谁交心不言谢

Yì shēng yǒu shéi jiāo xīn bù yán xiè

Where can I seek soulmates for guidance

Only then the desolate emptiness within can retreat

We fear partings, yet partings take place; saying that we should forget yet how dare we forget

All of life, who can we share our hearts with unapologetically

慕寒：

红尘有雪  剑气纠结  梦幻百年  空花罹灭

Hóng chén yóu xuě / jiàn qì jiū jié / mèng huàn bǎi nián / kōng huā lí miè

是你以诀别书写  风华绝代的不屑

Shì ní yǐ jué bié shū xiě / fēng huá jué dài de bú xiè

前尘的夜  今世的血  闪现交叠

Qián chén de yè / jīn shì de xiě / shǎn xiàn jiāo dié

Snow in the mortal world, the wind of swords intertwining; a dream-like hundred years, the empty illusion of flowers obliterated

You were the one who wrote with your farewell, an unparalleled disdain

The night of the past life, the blood of the present, flashed and overlapped each other

晃儿：

归去不歇  天凝残月  过眼足痕  次第皎洁

Guī qù bú xiè / tiān níng cán yuè / guò yǎn zú hén / cì dì jiǎo jié

你一步踏进惨烈  笑容却依旧无邪

Nǐ yí bù tà jìn cǎn lié / xiào róng què yī jiù wú xié

旧时山野  月下蝴蝶  含笑一瞥

Jiù shí shān yě / yuè xià hú dié / hán xiào yì piě

A restless journey returning home, the broken moon condensed in the sky, the footprints that passed my eyes, was illuminated by the extravagantly white moonlight.

You took a step into great tragedy, yet your smile remained innocent

In the past, at the countryside, with the butterfly under the moon, [I remember that you] peered at me with a smile in your eyes

慕寒：最真的心

Zuì zhēn de xīn

晃儿：最热的血

Zuì rè de xiě

慕寒：太暖的人

Tài nuǎn de rén

晃儿：太狠的劫

Tài hěn de jié

The truest of hearts,

The hottest of blood,

A person too warm,

Yet a calamity too harsh.

慕寒：就这样行到终结

Jiù zhè yàng xiáng dào zhōng jié

晃儿：就这样冷如霜雪

Jiù zhè yàng lěng rú shuāng xuě

合：争与不争从来无解

Zhēng yǔ bù zhēng cóng lái wú jiě

合：花开为谢

Huā kāi wèi xiè

Just like that, [you] walked to the end

Just like that, [I] turned cold as snow^[7]

To contend or not to contend, there never was a resolve

Flowers bloom for the sake of their fall.

Footnotes:

1.       If you are interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerria_japonica

2.       “黄泉” literally means “Sulphur fountain”, which is equivalent to the English term “netherworld” where people believe the deceased reside.

3.       “虚化” can be translated to “becoming hollow/empty/unreal”.

4.       The bridge to the underworld is termed “奈何桥”or “Naihe Bridge”, and it has origins from Taoism beliefs. I’m not too sure what the lyrics states there exactly, as it says “crossing the bridge obliquely”, but the idea of it, in my opinion, seems to be to avoid death.

5.       “陇头”(Long tou) is apparently another word for “塞外”, referring to the land beyond the Great Wall in the far north.

6.       “拱手” is a polite gesture to pay obeisance, like so: http://baike.baidu.com/view/744494.htm

7.       This song is related to a story for the album, and there are 2 main characters in this chapter. I still can’t confirm which character’s parts are Mu Han and Huang’er singing, so I added the pronouns based on my own guesses. The “I” & “you” may be the other way round. I’ll see if I can find time to translate the rest of the stories and the other related songs in this album.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the pinyin annotations and translations.

Introduction

Hi there, it's Speck here. I decided to write the introduction after publishing 3 entries because I think if I spent all that time with an intro without any actual content on my blog yet that’ll be pretty, well, underwhelming. As the name of the blog implies, this is a blog dedicated to translate classical style modern Chinese songs. These songs are not main stream, even in the international Chinese-speaking communities at present, especially outside mainland China. But my hopes are that my effort is able to bring light to people who don't understand the language but happens to be interested in this part of Chinese popular culture.

I am in no way a linguistic expert, but a mere enthusiast. My command of both English and Chinese is, I hope, enough to make decent translations. (At least then people can understand what the songs are about.) To note, Google and Baidu are my best friends on this matter. 

Many classical themed Chinese songs have rather elaborate and eloquent lyrics, hence increasing the difficulty of translation. Many concepts in Chinese culture and language cannot be translated into English wholesomely. 

My main goal is to bring out the original meaning of the lyrics as much as possible, whilst trying to make it flow smoothly in English (with rhymes and all). The loss of meaning in translation however, to an extent, is inevitable. But I will do my best within my abilities to minimize that. 

Discussions are welcomed, as I am only an amateur, and I may misunderstand the lyrics, use unsuitable phrases, make grammatical errors etc. If there are any mistakes, do point them out. I won't bite ;)

As for updates... You see, this idea of mine is sort of a one-fine-day-suddenly-feel-like-doing-fun-stuff thing. The big problem is that my semester is starting soon, and I can expect a really, REALLY tight schedule. I don't know if I am able to squeeze much time out. At the moment I am aiming to publish at least one song per month. [It's quite a bit of work; don't even know if that’s achievable...] *cross fingers* 

I MAY take requests, but it is VERY tentative, due to aforementioned reasons.

Also, a disclaimer: I don’t claim to own anything regarding to the songs I post on this blog except the pinyin annotations and translations. If there happens to be any violation on copyright or anything of that sort, do let me know.

Once again, thank you for visiting my blog. Even if the translations are useful for just one person, I'd be very happy about that. Hope you enjoy the content put forth!

大家好，我是尘埃。[请放过我的中文，太久没写有些生疏了，求见谅。] 我就简单地介绍这部落格好了。我是古风音乐爱好者，常常苦于身边找不到同好，因为这实在太冷门了（至少在我这里）。偶尔在 Youtube 看见一些不谙中文的网民也留言表示喜欢，于是萌生翻译歌词的念头，好让这些有兴趣的网友能较深入理解。我特别喜欢有故事性的古风歌曲，故事与歌曲的搭配好带感，于是想分享分享。

                                            

文化人、翻译家什么的我都不是，纯粹是古风歌曲爱好者，语文造诣也不是特别高，可能翻错会戳伤各位眼睛（尤其语文能力高的），就请多多包涵。如果我真写错，欢迎多加指点。

谢谢各位抽空光临这个部落格。顺便在此声明：此部落格的歌与歌词都不属于我，我只是打了翻译与拼音。如真有任何版权问题敬请相告。

牽絲戲 (Qiān Sī Xì) – Puppet show

Original uploading site: http://5sing.kugou.com/yc/2732572.html 

作曲/Music：銀臨 (Yin Lin)
編/混//Arrange/Mix：灰原窮 (Hui Yuan Qiong)
作詞/Lyrics：Vagary
演唱/Vocal：銀臨 (Yin Lin)、Aki阿杰 (A Jie)

【背景故事】

余少能視鬼，嘗於雪夜野寺逢一提傀儡翁，鶴髮襤褸，唯持一木偶制作極精，宛如嬌女，繪珠淚盈睫，惹人見憐。

時雲彤雪狂，二人比肩向火，翁自述曰：少時好觀牽絲戲，耽於盤鈴傀儡之技，既年長，其志愈堅，遂以此為業，以物像人自得其樂。奈何漂泊終生，居無所行無侶，所伴唯一傀儡木偶。

翁且言且泣，余溫言釋之，懇其奏盤鈴樂，作牽絲傀儡戲，演劇於三尺紅綿之上，度曲咿嚶­，木偶顧盼神飛，雖妝繪悲容而婉媚絕倫。

曲終，翁抱持木偶，稍作歡容，俄頃恨怒，曰：平生落魄，皆傀儡誤之，天寒，冬衣難置，一貧至此，不如焚，遂忿然投偶入火。吾止而未及，跌足嘆惋。忽見火中木偶婉轉而起，肅拜揖別，姿若生人，繪面淚痕宛然，一笑迸散，沒於篝焰。

火至天明方熄。

翁頓悟，掩面嚎啕，曰：暖矣，孤矣。

【Background】

I have been able to see ghosts since I was young. There was once I met an old puppeteer in a secluded temple on a snowing night. He had hair white as crane, dressed in tattered clothes, and was holding a delicate wooden puppet that looked like a charming girl with beads of teardrops painted as if brimming from its eyes, garnering the people’s sympathy.

That time the thick clouds were in abundance and the blizzard wild, we sat side by side facing the fire. The puppeteer told me his story: “Since a tender age I have enjoyed watching puppet shows, and obsessed over puppetry. I grew more determined as I aged, and therefore made puppeteering my career, entertaining myself with human-like puppets. However, I ended up wandering around all my life, with neither a place to settle nor a partner to travel with. My only company is this lone puppet.”

He cried as he talked, so I pacified him with warm words, asking him to play his musical instrument (pan ling) and perform a puppet show for me. He made a show out of red cotton strings, one meter tall, attached to the puppet. The song played had hints of sadness within, and the puppet appeared bright and life-like. Even though it is painted a melancholic face, it still displayed unsurpassed grace and charm. 

The performance ended, and the puppeteer held the puppet in his embrace, and he seemed to have lightened up slightly. Out of the blue, he turned hateful and angry, exclaiming: “All my life I have been this pathetic and rundown because of this puppet. On such a cold day I am so poor I can hardly afford winter clothes. I might as well have it burnt!” Furious, he tossed the puppet into the fire. Unable to stop him in time, I fell to the ground and sighed with regret. Unexpectedly, I saw the puppet rose gracefully in the fire, gesturing^[1] a farewell, as though a living person, with the traces of tears on her painted face clearly visible. With a smile her form dispersed and disappeared in the caged flame^[2].

The fire burnt till dawn broke, and then died off.

The old man suddenly came to his senses, covering his face and bawled, uttering: “It’s so warm, it’s so lonely.”

【歌詞】Lyrics:

[銀臨]

嘲笑誰恃美揚威                          

cháo xiào shéi shì měi yáng wēi

沒了心如何相配

méi le xīn rú hé xiāng pèi

盤鈴聲清脆    帷幕間燈火幽微

pán líng shēng qīng cuì / wéi mù jiān dēng huǒ yōu wēi

我和你 最天生一對

wǒ hé nǐ zuì tiān shēng yí duì

Who are you teasing, for brazen displays fueled by beauty

How can I pair with you, for I lack a heart

The sound of the pan ling^[3] clear and melodious; the lights between the curtains shone dimly

We were meant for each other

沒了你才算原罪

méi le nǐ cái suàn yuán zuì

沒了心才好相配

méi le xīn cái hǎo xiāng pèi

你襤褸我彩繪   並肩行過山與水

nǐ làn lǚ wó cǎi huì / bìng jiān xíng guò shān yú shuǐ

你憔悴 我替你明媚

nǐ qiáo cuì wǒ tì nǐ míng mèi

It would be a sin if I lose you

It’s exactly because I lack a heart that I am a good match for you

You in tatters, while I in painted brilliance; side by side we walked through mountains and waters

Though you appear haggard, I will shine for you

是你吻開筆墨   染我眼角珠淚

shì nǐ wěn kāi bǐ mò / rán wǒ yán jiǎo zhū lèi

演離合相遇悲喜為誰

yǎn lí hé xiāng yù bēi xǐ wèi shéi

他們迂回誤會   我卻只由你支配

tā mén yū huí wù huì / wǒ què zhí yóu nǐ zhī pèi

問世間哪有更完美

wèn shì jiān ná yǒu gèng wán měi

You were the one who kissed your brush and pen, and dyed the teardrop at the tail of my eye

For whom do we put on dramas of partings and unions, sadness and happiness?

They will misunderstand, but I will only be in your hands

Is there anything more perfect in this world?

[Aki]

蘭花指捻紅塵似水

lán huā zhǐ niǎn hóng chén sì shuǐ

三尺紅台   萬事入歌吹

sān chǐ hóng tái / wàn shì rù gē chuī

唱別久悲不成悲   

chàng bié jiǔ bēi bù chéng bēi

十分紅處竟成灰

shí fēn hóng chù jìng chéng huī

願誰記得誰   最好的年歲

yuàn shéi jì dé shéi / zuì hǎo de nián suì

With the opera hand pose^[4], the water-like mortal world is pinched and twisted between fingers

On the red platform one meter tall^[5], having all stories told in songs

Singing farewell, it’s no longer called sadness when sadness prolongs^[6]; magnificent red reduced to ash grey

I wish we would all remember, the best years we had together.

[銀臨]

你一牽我舞如飛

nǐ yì qiān wó wǔ rú fēi

你一引我懂進退

nǐ yì yǐn wó dǒng jìn tuì

苦樂都跟隨   舉手投足不違背

kǔ lè dōu gēn suí / jú shǒu tóu zú bù wéi bèi

將謙卑   溫柔成絕對

jiāng qiān bēi / wēn róu chéng jué duì

As you tug the strings you send me dancing in the air

As you lead I know how to go forth and back

In thick and thin I shall follow; be it my arms or legs you move, I will not disobey

Perfecting humility and gentleness

你錯我不肯對   你懵懂我蒙昧

nǐ cuò wǒ bù kěn duì / nǐ méng dǒng wǒ méng mèi

心火怎甘心揚湯止沸

xīn huó zěn gān xīn yáng tāng zhǐ fèi

你枯我不曾萎   你倦我也不敢累

nǐ kū wǒ bù céng wěi / nǐ juàn wó yě bù gǎn lèi

用什麼暖你一千歲

yòng shén mè nuán nǐ yì qiān suì

If you are wrong I refuse to be right; if you are muddled, I am ignorant

How can the fire in my heart be happy to cease to boil

If you wilt I’ll never wither; if you are tired I dare not be fatigued

What can I use to warm you for a thousand years

[Aki]

風雪依稀秋白髮尾

fēng xuě yī xī qiū bái fà wěi

燈火葳蕤   揉皺你眼眉

dēng huǒ wēi ruí / róu zhòu ní yǎn méi

假如你舍一滴淚   

jiǎ rú ní shě yì dī lèi

假如老去我能陪

jiǎ rú lǎo qù wǒ néng péi

煙波裡成灰   也去得完美

yān bō lǐ chéng huī / yě qù dé wán měi

The blizzard vaguely resembles the whitened ends of your hair

The lights shone with lush brilliance, rubbing creases between your brows

If you are willing to give up one single teardrop

If I can be your company when you are old

Even if I am reduced to ash in a stream of smoke^[7], I’d be perfectly happy to go.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes:

1.       肃拜 is a gesture of respect performed by women, and is based on traditional rites. Image:

wapbaike.baidu.com/view/958846.htm?uid=4638384E449FF8FBF5F34DFD4D906853&bd_page_type=1&st=1&step=1&net=3&ldr=-1

2.      篝 is a bamboo basket/cage, in the story it is used to contain the fuel for fire to burn.

3.     盤鈴（盘玲）Pan ling is an instrument used for the music accompanying puppet show performances. Pictures: http://baike.baidu.com/view/221141.htmv

4.    蘭（兰）花指 or “orchid flower fingers” is a hand pose that is used to be a masculine gesture. The pose evolved overtime to become feminine, or displayed in opera show performances.

Pictures here: http://www.baike.com/wiki/%E5%85%B0%E8%8A%B1%E6%8C%87

5.       三尺 or 3 feet (Chinese unit) is modernly defined as 1/3 meter, so 3 feet = 1 meter.

6.   “萬事入歌吹”,“ 唱別久悲不成悲” I’m not sure if I grasped the meaning of these 2 phrases here correctly, just to note. The translations for these may be incorrect.

7.       I’m not too sure what 葳蕤 means in this context. In ancient writings this adjective is used to illustrate how plants hanging their branches down in clusters.

8.    煙（烟）波, according to Baidu, is used to describe the mist above the surface of the lake, but I’m guessing in this case it means the smoke from the fire. 

Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the pinyin annotations and translations.


EDIT (4/11/2018):- Changes made to translation based on audience input