Chinese & Art Classroom

Shirley Sung Chinese Art Song 0031: Songhua Jiang Shang -- On the Songhua River--Sep. 18, 2007

LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG --  SEP. 18, 2007

I was in my business trip this weekend. So, I had no time to record a song that I have learned in my music lesson. But a message on my mobile phone reminds me that this Thursday, Dec 13 is the 70 anniversary that the Nanjing Massacre in 1937. That also reminded that I had learned to sing a song ? Songhua River on the National Humiliation Day of China on September 18 , to remember it -- on the same day in 1931, the Japanese troop covered all of the three provinces of northeast of China, and started the war to China in the Far East in the Second World War.

This song expresses how the young people had to get away from their hometown and to be wandering inside Shanghaiguan. How they missed their family and hometown and looked forward to come back their hometown and to re-meet their parents.

I knew this song when I was very young and I have been wishing that I could sing it in person someday -- I had felt it was too high to me to sing. So, after learning to sing for years, I tried to sing it first time on the day of September 18, 2007. I sung this song with tears. I do wish our motherland is getting stronger along with time with the effort of all of the Chinese people. I do wish the historical tragedy will not recur with the effort with all of the people who love peace in the world.

I do not satisfy with my singing yet. But, I have no time and energy to re-sing it and re-record it this weekend. I have also no time to sing it into English. So, what I wish is that it will be a little bit help to you to learn Chinese culture and to improve your Chinese aural comprehension.   Also, I will sing it in English and record it in both of Chinese and English once more. : - )

Main Meaning Of the Song
LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG

My home is on the Songhua River in the Northeast,
which a bounds with forests and coal mines,
wherein all fields and hills are covered
with sorghum and soya bean.
My home is on the Songhua River in the Northeast,
there live my fellow country men,
among them are my old fragile parents.

9.18, 9.18,
since that tragic bitter day,
9.18, 9.18,
since that tragic biter gay,
I've been away from my home,
leaving behind the inexhaustible treasures,
roaming about, roaming about,
when in the world, can I go back to my lovely hometown?
When the world can I repossess the inexhaustible treasures?
Mom and Dad! Mom and Dad!
When can we have a happy reunion?   

CHINESE CHRACTERS AND PINYIN:
LISTEN TO SHIRLEY TO SING THE SONG

松花江上 -- Songhua Jiang shang

我的家在东北松花江上 ? Wo de jia zai Songhua Jiang shang,
那里有森林煤矿 ? nail you senlin meikuang,
还有那满山遍野的大豆高粱 ? haiyou na manshangbianye de dadou gaoliang。
我的家在东北松花江上 -- ? Wo de jia zai Songhua Jiang shang,
那里有我的同胞 ? nail you wo de tongbao,
还有那衰 老 的 爹娘 ? haiyou na shuailao de dieniang。

“九.一八”,“九.一八” ? Jiu yi ba! Jiu yi ba!
从那个悲 惨 的 时候 ? cong nage beican de shihou,
“九.一八”,“九.一八” ? Jiu yi ba, Jiu yi ba,
从那个悲 惨 的 时候 ? cong nage beican de shihou,

脱离了我的家乡 ? Tuoli le wo de jiaxiang,
抛弃那无尽的宝藏 ? paoqi na wujin de baozang,
流浪!流浪 ? liulang! Liulang!
整日价在关内 ? zhengri zai guannei,
流浪 -- liulang!

哪年哪月 ? Na nian na yue,
才能够 回 到 我 那 可 爱的故乡 ? cai nenggou huidao won a geai de guxiang ?
哪年哪月 ? Na nian na yue,
才能够收回我那无尽的宝藏 ? cai nenggou shouhui won a wujin de baozang?
爹娘啊,爹娘啊 ? die niang a, die niang a!
什么时候才能欢聚在一堂 ? shenmo shihou cai nenggou huanju zai yitang?

LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG 

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to info@ebridge.cn , or shirley@ebridge.cn, You are welcomed.   

--Shirley Yiping Zhang

Written, Translated and Recorded on Sun, Dec 16, 2007


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