dissonance

lyrics by Wild Children 野孩子 translation by R.W.

Wild Children was formed in Feb. 1995 in Hang Zhou, by Zhang Quan (张佺) & Xiao Suo (小索). In May, they returned to their birth place Lan Zhou and spent a year working among folk musicians in North West China. As they traveled along the Yellow River on foot from Yan An to Inner Mongolia, they wrote a number of songs.

1 Wild Children 野孩子

They told me about your dirty face Told me about your never ending tears They told me about your home in the woods Told me about your songs that no one hears

他们说你的脸上沾满灰 他们说你的泪在天上飞 他们说你的家在山野里 他们说你的歌有谁来听

Don't you ask me who I am, I'm from far away over the mountains Don't you ask me who I believe, I stand right here under the sun Don't you ask me who I hate, when I'm cold and hungry Don't you ask me who I love, once the flowers have bloomed and fallen again

不要问山高路远我是谁 不要管太阳下面我信谁 不要说冷了饿了我恨谁 不要等花开花落我爱谁

2 Don't You Know 你可知道

You like the rhododendrons on the mountain top, Red as flame – Don't you know how long they have grown? You ask the riders on the horsebacks along the road – How many rivers have they crossed?

你说那山上的杜鹃花儿红 你可知道，它长了多少年？ 你问那大路上骑马走过的人 趟过的河，它有多少？

You hear the chirps of the cuckoo birds; Don't you know how far away they live? Won't you think about those exiled ones – How long have they walked, step by step?

你听那飞过的杜鹃鸟儿叫 你可知道，它家在哪里？ 你猜那远方背井离乡的人 走过的路，它有多少？

3 Had They Known 早知道

Had they known the Yellow River would dry, Wouldn't have built the goddamn bridge Had they know those by the river would leave, Wouldn't have sung the goddamn song

早知道黄河的水呀干了 修他妈的那个铁桥了是做啥呢 早知道河沿上的人呀走了 唱他妈的那个歌儿了是做啥呢

Had they known the Yellow River would dry, Wouldn't have blown the suede raft Had I known my girl's heart would change, Wouldn't have told her I loved her so

早知道黄河的水呀干了 吹他妈的那个羊皮了是做啥呢 早知道尕妹妹的心呀变了 谈他妈的那个恋爱了是做啥呢

4 Ballad of The Yellow River

Where I lived flows a great river that runs through my city. I cannot forget about the river, nor about the many people who lived in the city and the many things that happened there. Today I want to sing a song; I want you to come with me, to that river, and to that city.

在我生活过的地方流淌着一条大河，那条大河穿过了一座城市。我不能忘记那条河，也不能忘记那个城市里很多的人还有很多发生过的事情。今天我想唱一首歌，我想让你们和我一起去，我所说的那条河，那个城市。

The Yellow River flows without a break It flows through my hometown, Lan Zhou Beloved ones who are far away, Listen to this Ballad of the Yellow River The Sun travels without a stop It passes Home, passes Lan Zhou The Moon is shining upon the bridge, And I'm singing by the Yellow River

黄河的水不停地流 流过了家流过了兰州 远方的亲人哪 听我唱支黄河谣 日头总是不歇地走 走过了家走过了兰州 月亮照在铁桥上 我就对着黄河唱

Every time I wake up in the morning, Thinking about Lan Zhou, thinking about Home Thinking about the scent of the pagoda trees Thinking about my sweet girl far away The Yellow River flows without a break It flows through my hometown, Lan Zhou The vagabond keeps singing the song, This song about the Yellow River

每一次醒来的时候 想起了家想起了兰州 想起路边槐花儿香 想起我的好姑娘 黄河的水不停地流 流过了家流过了兰州 流浪的人不停地唱 唱着我的黄河谣

5 Four Seasons 四季歌

Those who love Spring have the purest souls Just like the blooming violets, like my dearest friends

爱春天的人们 是心地纯洁的人 像那盛开的紫罗兰 像我的朋友一样

Those who love Summer have the strongest will Just like the roaring waves, like my dearest father

爱夏天的人们 是意志坚强的人 像那冲击岩石的波涛 像我的父亲一样

Those who love Autumn hold the deepest compassion Just like the Moon that lights up the night, like my dearest lover

爱秋天的人们 是一往情深的人 像那照亮黑夜的月亮 像我的爱人一样

Those who love Winter have the warmest hearts Just like the Land that melts the snow, like my dearest mother

爱冬天的人们 是胸怀宽广的人 像那融化冰雪的大地 像我的母亲一样