[English translation] 故人叹 - An Old Friend's Sigh

作词//Lyrics：胡芳芳 (Hu Fang Fang)
作曲//Music：温应鸿 (Wen Ying Hong)
编曲//Arrangement：王朝 (Wang Chao)
原唱//Original vocal：吴琼 (Wu Qiong)
演唱//Cover：王胖子、排骨节操收割机、西瓜JUN (Wang Pang Zi, Pai Gu Jie Cao Shou Ge Ji, Xi Gua JUN)
后期//Post-production：排骨节操收割机 (Pai Go Jie Cao Shou Ge Ji)
修改版后期//Post-production for new version：西瓜JUN (Xi Gua JUN)


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风沙漫延 扰乱晴天
丹心照明月
遥望城外 兵器相见
浮生又一劫

Looming dust and sand muddled the clear sky
Only a loyal heart shone against the moon

Looking out the city walls where arms clashed

Yet another catastrophe for all lives

君独守皇宫已非昨日威严

谁在此哽咽

故人一直就站在君的面前

不问也不怨

You guard your palace alone, without the majesty of yesterdays

Who sobs here?

An old friend had always stood in your wake

With no questions nor complaints

*

君本意欲寿与天齐

留万代功名

故人西辞不问情意

有何难说明

You yearned for longevity rivalling the heavens

And leave a lasting legacy for generations to come

The old friend left with no regards for past affections

What’s so hard to explain about that

打乱了君一统天下的约定

谁可以同行

原来不需要用战争去平定

要先得人心

Our plans to unify the world under heaven together
Who can now journey with you?
You didn’t have to win it all with wars
But first win the hearts of people

故人发已衰白 风尘覆盖 

不奢求重来

只盼君能 收起战台 

断头换不来

The old friend’s hair has turned white, dusted by trials in time
We cannot hope to rewind

The only hope lies, where you could resign the fight

All’s not worth losing one’s life 

最后的城墙破开 登高望海

一片烟火海

无能为力 尸遍满地

故人心已远

With the final gates breached, looking out a high vantage point
Was a sea of smoke and flames

Helplessly watch bodies strewn across the lands

The old friend’s heart had long faded into the distance

[Repeat*]


手一挥 膝一跪

拿玉杯赐天下无罪

没有人 喊万岁

只有故人看君落泪

Arms flung, knees down

With a jade cup raised, you absolved all sins under heaven 

No one to hail “long live the emperor”
Only an old friend present to witness your falling tears

君萧萧 拨剑鞘

还以为就此一了百了

人在生 责在身 

与谁同归都不可能

A pitiful sight, you drew your sword 

Thinking it will be the end of all

Born and bound in duties

There is no others with whom to walk this path to the end

故人发已衰白 风尘覆盖 

不奢求重来

只盼君能 收起战台 

断头换不来

The old friend’s hair has turned white, dusted by trials in time
We cannot hope to rewind

The only hope lies, where you could resign the fight

All’s not worth losing one’s life 

最后的城墙破开 登高望海

一片烟火海

无能为力 尸遍满地

故人心已远

With the final gates breached, looking out a high vantage point
Was a sea of smoke and flames

Helplessly watch bodies strewn across the lands

The old friend’s heart had long faded into the distance


[Repeat chorus]


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At the height of summer, a new emperor ascended the throne. With it, came great hopes for the unification of the world under heaven. Renowned warrior and shrewd courtier from his early days, this handsome monarch would achieve all, and live forever in the glorious pages of history. That was what many believed.

His noble ambition naturally drew the support of many. Among them, there was one youth in particular, a shining gem among men. The emperor knew talent when he saw it. With warm wine and mild candlelight, they'd converse through many long nights, sketching the empire's future on a sprawling map. There was also the spark of mutual admiration in their eyes, and the genuine gratitude that each had for the other. The emperor had not hesitate to call the youth his true friend.

A genius with the emperor's full trust, what a fearsome force it was. Battles after battles won. Cities captured. Territory expanded. The emperor quickly distinguished himself a formidable power among his enemies.

As much as the emperor, son of heaven himself, had the mandate of the gods, he was not immune to follies of the common. To have risen to so high a place, the emperor became drunk on his success. His ambition grew, his patience waned. He found the words of his friend less agreeable by the day. Once an invigorating presence, now grated on his ears. The friend said things like 'This war is not necessary.' and 'First win the hearts of people, do not make haste!" And the worst of all, 'Forgive me sire, but this is only to satiate your own ego. You are being unwise!'

He thinks himself indispensable. The emperor was set to remind him of his place. He sought his friend's council less and less. Even when his advice was given, they were seldom heard. The other courtiers hadn't troubled themselves to reconcile the emperor with his former favorite.

Dejected and ignored, the friend requested to be released from service. Why? The emperor asked. I'm growing old and sickly, unable to be of much help to you. The friend gave an equally disingenuous reply. Nonsense. You're still strong enough to chastise me. The emperor chuckled and waved his hand. He then rose from his seat, walked to his friend, and clasped his shoulders. Have faith in me. Stay, will you?

So the friend stayed, and watched his predictions come true.

Rebellions broke out. Cities after cities fell. Loyal men slaughtered in battle. Almost as quickly as his empire was built, it crumbled. It came to the very last city, the capital. People fled, and the palace deserted.

The emperor refused to leave. He walked up to the balcony and looked over his capital. It was, after all, his duty to see it to the very end.

Behind him, his old friend stood alone in the silent hall, devoid of praise for the esteemed emperor, son of heaven.

A great roar erupted in the distance. The gates had been breached. Flames and smoke spread across the lands and obscured the evening sky. Everywhere he looked, there were pieces of his selfish dream of honor and glory, in ember and ashes. Fortune had a peculiar sense of humor. The emperor couldn't help but laugh. Bitter tears couldn't put out this fire.

He filled his jade cup with wine and went down on his knees. Lifting the cup, the symbol of his authority, the emperor granted pardon to all sins under heaven.

"There shall be no one to blame. No one to blame."

That was his last decree, before he unsheathed his sword and drew a bloody end to his reign.

The friend paid his full obeisance, stood, and left. As he walked out the palace gates, into the burning capital, he thought of the emperor's graying hair, and his own. How many decades have elapsed? They had been companions only in name. Ultimately, born and bound in duties of one's own, each have their lonely path to walk to the end.


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