The lyrics of 鄉愁四韻 xiāngchóu sì yùn (Nostalgia Four Rhyme) song comes from 白玉苦瓜 Báiyù kǔguā (White Jade Bitter Melon) poetry of 余光中 Yú Guāng Zhōng (09/09/1928 － present).
给我一瓢长江水啊长江水 那酒一样的长江水
gei3 wo3 yi4 piao2 chang2 jiang1 shui3 a5 chang2 jiang1 shui3, na4 jiu3 yi2 yang4 de5 chang2 jiang1 shui3
Ah, give me one ladle of Yangtze River water, Yangtze River water, that wine-like Yangtze River water
那醉酒的滋味是乡愁的滋味
na4 zui4 jiu3 de5 zi1 wei4 shi4 xiang1 chou2 de5 zi1 wei4
That taste of getting drunken is the taste of homesickness
给我一瓢长江水长江水
gei3 wo3 yi4 piao2 chang2 jiang1 shui3, chang2 jiang1 shui3
Give me one ladle of Yangtze River water, Yangtze River water
给我一张海棠红啊海棠红 那血一样的海棠红
gei3 wo3 yi4 zhang1 hai3 tang2 hong2, a5 hai3 tang2 hong2, na4 xue3 yi2 yang4 de5 hai3 tang2 hong2
Ah, give me a blood-stained begonia, blood-stained begonia, that blood-like blood-stained begonia
那沸血的烧痛是乡愁的烧痛
na4 fei4 xue3 de5 shao1 tong4, shi4 xiang1 chou2 de5 shao1 tong4
That burning pain of boiling blood is the burning pain of homesickness
给我一张海棠红啊海棠红
gei3 wo3 yi4 zhang1 hai3 tang2 hong2, a5 hai3 tang2 hong2
Give me a blood-stained begonia, blood-stained begonia
给我一片雪花白啊雪花白 那信一样的雪花白
gei3 wo3 yi2 pian4 xue3 hua2 bai2, a5 xue3 hua2 bai2, na4 xin4 yi2 yang4 de5 xue3 hua1 bai2
Ah, give me one piece of snowflake white, snowflake white, that letter-like snowflake white
那家信的等待是乡愁的等待
na4 jia1 xin4 de5 deng3 dai4, shi4 xiang1 chou2 de5 deng3 dai4
That waiting for letter from home is the waiting of homesickness
给我一片雪花白啊雪花白
gei3 wo3 yi2 pian4 xue3 hua1 bai2 a5 xue3 hua1 bai2
Give me one piece of snowflake white, snowflake white
给我一朵腊梅香啊腊梅香 那母亲一样的腊梅香
gei3 wo3 yi4 duo3 la4 mei2 xiang1, a5 la4 mei2 xiang1, na4 mu3 qin1 yi2 yang4 de5 la4 mei2 xiang1
Give me the fragrance of a mume flower, mume flower, that mother-like fragrance of mume flower
那母亲的芬芳是乡土的芬芳
na4 mu3 qin1 de5 fen1 fang1, shi4 xiang1 tu3 de5 fen1 fang1
The fragrance of mother is the fragrance of hometown land
给我一朵腊梅香啊腊梅香
gei3 wo3 yi4 duo3 la4 mei2 xiang1 a5 la4 mei2 xiang1
Give me the fragrance of a mume flower, mume flower
Translated by Shu
Quotes of, about Nostalgia:
We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it. ~George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, 1860
Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, but the past perfect! ~Owens Lee Pomeroy
If you’re yearning for the good old days, just turn off the air conditioning. ~Griff Niblack
People seem to get nostalgic about a lot of things they weren’t so crazy about the first time around. ~Author Unknown
It’s never safe to be nostalgic about something until you’re absolutely certain there’s no chance of its coming back. ~Bill Vaughn
The world is full of people whose notion of a satisfactory future is, in fact, a return to the idealized past. ~Robertson Davies, A Voice from the Attic
[I]t becomes increasingly easy, as you get older, to drown in nostalgia. ~Ted Koppel
Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days. ~Doug Larson
Things ain’t what they used to be and probably never was. ~Will Rogers
Nostalgia is a seductive liar. ~George Wildman Ball
It’s curious the way we get nostalgic for some hoped-for thing that never happened, as if something that never happened were in the past. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com
Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. ~Franklin Pierce Adams
True nostalgia is an ephemeral composition of disjointed memories. ~Florence King
I don’t like nostalgia unless it’s mine. ~Lou Reed
If you are down, listen to this upbeat and constructive song and cheer up!
没有什么不同
Mei you shen me bu tong
No difference
曲婉婷
Qu Wan Ting
Wanting Qu
又是你的面孔 带给我是笑容
yòu shì nǐ de miànkǒng, dài gěi Wǒ shì xiàoróng
Once again it was your face that brought me smiles
在我哭泣的时候
zài Wǒ kūqì de shíhou
When I was crying
又是你的问候 带给我是感动
yòu shì nǐ de wènhòu dài gěi Wǒ shì gǎndòng
Once again, it was your greeting that touched me (emotionally)
在我孤寂的时候
zài Wǒ gū jì de shíhou
When I was desolate
虽然没有天生一样的
suīrán méiyǒu tiānshēng yīyàng de
Although there is no innate sameness
但在地球上我们是一样的
dàn zài dìqiúshàng wǒmen shì yīyàng de
However, on Earth we are the same
尽管痛的苦的没说的
jǐnguǎn tòng de kǔ de méishuōde
In spite of pains, bitterness and those we did not mention
但哪有一路走来都是顺风的
dàn nǎyǒu yīlùzǒulái dōu shì shùnfēng de
However, can there be Bon voyages all the times along the way?
因为我们没有什么不同
yīnwèi wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
For we have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
谁说我们一定要走别人的路
shéi shuō wǒmen yīdìng yào zǒu biérén de lù
Who says that we must walk on the same road as others?
谁说辉煌背后没有痛苦
shéi shuō huīhuáng bèihòu méiyǒu tòngkǔ
Who says there are no pains behind splendor?
只要为了梦想不服输
zhǐyào wéile mèngxiǎng bùfú shū
As long as it is for the dream, then we won’t admit defeat (give up)
再苦也不停止脚步
zài kǔ yě bùtíng zhǐ jiǎobù
No matter how hard it will be, we won’t stop our footsteps
又是你的面孔 带给我是笑容
yòu shì nǐ de miànkǒng, dài gěi Wǒ shì xiàoróng
Once again it was your face that brought me smiles
在我哭泣的时候
zài Wǒ kūqì de shíhou
When I was crying
又是你的问候 带给我是感动
yòu shì nǐ de wènhòu dài gěi Wǒ shì gǎndòng
Once again, it was your greeting that touched me (emotionally)
在我孤寂的时候
zài Wǒ gū jì de shíhou
When I was desolate
虽然没有天生一样的
suīrán méiyǒu tiānshēng yīyàng de
Although there is no innate sameness
但在地球上我们是一样的
dàn zài dìqiúshàng wǒmen shì yīyàng de
However, on Earth we are the same
尽管痛的苦的没说的
jǐnguǎn tòng de kǔ de méishuōde
In spite of pains, bitterness and those we did not mention
但哪有一路走来都是顺风的
dàn nǎyǒu yīlùzǒulái dōu shì shùnfēng de
However, can there be Bon voyages all the times along the way?
因为我们没有什么不同
yīnwèi wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
For we have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
谁说我们一定要走别人的路
shéi shuō wǒmen yīdìng yào zǒu biérén de lù
Who says that we must walk on the same road as others?
谁说辉煌背后没有痛苦
shéi shuō huīhuáng bèihòu méiyǒu tòngkǔ
Who says there are no pains behind splendor?
只要为了梦想不服输
zhǐyào wéile mèngxiǎng bùfú shū
As long as it is for the dream, then we won’t admit defeat (give up)
再苦也不停止脚步
zài kǔ yě bùtíng zhǐ jiǎobù
No matter how hard it will be, we won’t stop our footsteps
每一天 每一年 都可以是新的起跑线
měi yī tiān měiyī nián dōu kěyǐ shì xīn de qǐpǎoxiàn
Every day, every year, can all be a new starting line
也可以是终点 看你怎么选
yě kěyǐ shì zhōngdiǎn kàn nǐ zěnme xuǎn
It also can be a finish line, depend on how you will choose
望着无边无际遥远的地平线
wàngzhe wúbiān wú jì yáoyuǎn de dìpíngxiàn
Gazing at the immense boundaryless distant horizon
哪里会是你的极限
nǎlǐ huì shì nǐ de jíxiàn
Where is your limit?
我们没有什么不同
wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
We have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
我们没有什么不同
wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
We have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
谁说我们一定要走别人的路
shéi shuō wǒmen yīdìng yào zǒu biérén de lù
Who says that we must walk on the same road as others?
谁说辉煌背后没有痛苦
shéi shuō huīhuáng bèihòu méiyǒu tòngkǔ
Who says there is no pains behind splendor?
只要为了梦想不服输
zhǐyào wéile mèngxiǎng bùfú shū
As long as it is for the dream, then we won’t admit defeat (give up)
再苦也不停止脚步
zài kǔ yě bùtíng zhǐ jiǎobù
No matter how hard it will be, we won’t stop our footsteps
我们没有什么不同
wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
We have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
谁说我们一定要走别人的路
shéi shuō wǒmen yīdìng yào zǒu biérén de lù
Who says that we must walk on the same road as others?
谁说辉煌背后没有痛苦
shéi shuō huīhuáng bèihòu méiyǒu tòngkǔ
Who says there are no pains behind splendor?
只要为了梦想不服输
zhǐyào wéile mèngxiǎng bùfú shū
As long as it is for the dream, then we won’t admit defeat (give up)
再苦也不停止脚步
zài kǔ yě bùtíng zhǐ jiǎobù
No matter how hard it will be, we won’t stop our footsteps
我们没有什么不同
wǒmen méiyǒu shénme bùtóng
We have no difference
天黑时我们仰望同一片星空
tiān hēi shí wǒmen yǎngwàngtóngyī piàn xīngkōng
When sky is dark, we look up to the same starry sky
没有追求和付出哪来的成功
méiyǒu zhuīqiú hé fùchū nǎ lái de chénggōng
Will there be success without pursuing and investing?
谁说我们一定要走别人的路
shéi shuō wǒmen yīdìng yào zǒu biérén de lù
Who says that we must walk on the same road as others?
谁说辉煌背后没有痛苦
shéi shuō huīhuáng bèihòu méiyǒu tòngkǔ
Who says there are no pains behind splendor?
Translated by Shu
Shel Silverstein’s poems “No Difference” and “Colors” convey a message of interracial harmony.
No difference / Shel Silverstein
Small as a peanut
Big as a giant,
We’re all the same size
When we turn off the light.
Red black or orange,
Yellow or white
We all look the same
When we turn off the light.
So maybe the way
To make everything right
Is for God to just reach out
And turn off the light!
Colors / Shel Silverstein
My skin is kind of sort of brownish
Pinkish yellowish white.
My eyes are grayish blueish green,
But I’m told they look orange in the night.
My hair is reddish blondish brown,
But it’s silver when it’s wet.
And all the colors I am inside
Have not been invented yet.
Quotes about Helping and Making a Difference
I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love. ~Mother Teresa
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy
The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. ~Leo Rosten
Live simply that others might simply live. ~Elizabeth Ann Seton
We can do no great things, only small things with great love. ~Mother Teresa
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. ~Dr. Seuss
It seems to me that any full grown, mature adult would have a desire to be responsible, to help where he can in a world that needs so very much, that threatens us so very much. ~Norman Lear
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. ~Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojarhiu)
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale
Wanting(曲婉婷)《Everything In The World》
曲Composer：曲婉婷
詞Lyricist：曲婉婷
How many times you asked yourself before
What’s the point
wasting time
But how many times you stand up for yourself
Make a point
you have a reason
You know
it’s not fair
Your life
belongs to nobody else
So don’t tell me there is nobody you want to hold
You know you messed up but nobody can live alone
So don’t tell me there is nothing left in this world
Just open your eyes
you got everything in the world
How many times you want to give up yourself
Once again
there’s no point
But how many times you kept on moving on
Once again
you have a reason
You know
it’s not fair
Your life
belongs to nobody else
So don’t tell me there is nobody you want to hold
You know you messed up but nobody can live alone
So don’t tell me there is nothing left in this world
Just open your eyes
you got everything in the world
Does it make you wonder?
Is it karma or is it fate
Is it you
or is it me
Oh does it really make you falter
Does it make you want to believe?
It is true
you’re like nobody else
So don’t tell me there is nobody you want to hold
You know you messed up but nobody can live alone
So don’t tell me there is nothing left in this world
Just open your eyes
you got everything in the world
Just open your eyes
you got everything in the world
I open my eyes and have you in my world.
Isn’t Qu Wanting a great talented singer, lyricist and composer too?
