(My dear, it’s not much time.) (My dear, it’s not much time. Sixty years of life.) Ah, OK. My dear, it’s not much time? Sixty years of life. Here it comes. Hold on for the key. My dear, how much time? My dear, how much time? Let’s find it, find the key. My dear… Alright. Go ahead. Do you know? You know, right?
My dear, it’s not much time Sixty years of life. First twenty years Not much time for happiness. Next twenty years Sadness is vast. Last twenty years is not much. Oh, that’s how it is One’s life won’t last long. Oh, not very long That’s how short life is. Oh, we have not many Years of life to love one another. My dear, it’s not much time Sixty years of life. Once I’m away from you Who will I love. So, when in love, please love to life’s fullest end. My dear, we won’t live long Oh, that’s how it is One’s life won’t last long. Oh, not very long That’s how short life is. Oh, we have not many Years of life to love one another.
My dear, it’s not much time Sixty years of life. Once I’m away from you Who will I love. So, when in love, please love to life’s fullest end. My dear, we won’t live long Oh, that’s how it is One’s life won’t last long. Oh, not very long That’s how short life is. Oh, we have not many Years of life to love one another. My dear, it’s not much time Sixty years of life. Once I’m away from you Who will I love. So, when in love, please love to life’s fullest end. My dear, we won’t live long.
(“Saigon is Beautiful.”) What? (“Saigon is Beautiful.”) “Saigon is Beautiful,” right? How to sing? (Stopping by the pier when evening sunlight has yet to fade.) Oh, yeah. From afar, glimpses of fluttering dresses. A life of joy culminates in this place. O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! La la la la la (La la la la la.) (Sing along. Sit and listen to Master sing.) Stopping by the pier when evening sunlight has yet to fade. Stopping by the pier when evening sunlight has yet to fade. Stopping by the pier when evening sunlight has yet to fade. Stopping by the pier when evening sunlight has yet to fade. (Cha-cha-cha.) I’ve forgotten. It’s been too long. Where?
A life of joy culminates in this place. O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! La la la la la La la la la la Oh, life is so beautiful, so beautiful, overflowing with poetic inspirations. A deep affection is written into song lyrics. From afar, glimpses of fluttering dresses. A life of joy culminates in this place. O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! La la la la la La la la la la Oh, life is so beautiful, so beautiful, overflowing with poetic inspirations. Horses and cars are like water on the road, passing by quickly. From afar, glimpses of fluttering dresses. A life of joy culminates in this place. O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon, how lovely you are! O Saigon! O Saigon! La la la la la La la la la la
So Âu Lạc (Vietnam) has plenty of thrilling music, right? La la la la la Oh, life is so beautiful, overflowing with poetic inspirations. I’ve forgotten, forgot everything. (There’s music, Master is singing. The music…, Master.) The singing is so guiding! Stop. Guiding is exhausting. (Master is tired. Master is tired now.) No problem at all. Thrillng [music] spices up life. (“Urban Night,” Master. Master, “Urban Night.” Now accompany “Urban Night.”) How does “Urban Night” go? (How do we sing it?) (Night gradually falls Countless lights suddenly shine radiantly See, the streets and neighborhoods Countless rooftops sink into the night.) I’ve forgotten already. (La la la la la la, la la la la la la La la la la la la, la la la la la la Oh, life is so beautiful Poem…) Without music, it feels stiff.
OK, what’s next? Is that all? There’s more. Forgot already. (Sing another song.) Singing just the first line is meaningless. (Yes.) Well, there were a few songs, but I forgot. (A song from long ago. The soldier song from long ago.) (From all four corners of the world, we return here to rejoice together.) (Master, do You know the song “Get Up and Go”?) What? (“Get Up and Go.”) What? (From all four corners of the world, we return here to rejoice together.) From all four corners of the world, we return here… (What song is that? How do you sing it?) Quite nice. (Yes.) (Get up and go, oh fellow countrymen.) (“Singing Under the Moonlight.”) There are many songs.
Do you know the song “The mountains and forests outstretch their hands…” (Yes.) That song is wholesome. (The mountains and forests outstretch their hands to connect with the distant sea. We form a great circle to unite our country.) Wait for me to get the key. Goodness! Where are you running off to so fast? (“Go! Go! Go!”) (Gather momentum.) What? (Catch the momentum.) How do you mean? Forests and mountains… (In the moonlit night, Master.) (Sound of pestles reverberating in the moonlit night.) (Why did you change the version? It’s different from before?)
I really want to sing something. There are so many good songs. It’s because Âu Lạc (Vietnam) has so many great songs. (No, I don’t remember.) (Master, sing alone then.) Sing the song… Do you know that song? (What song, Master?) (Who goes far… What song is that?) Returning to Saigon, the road stretches far, far into the fading distance The horse runs steadily… (Have you memorized it? You know that song. Do you have it memorized or not?) The road in the sunset’s glow (I don’t know that one.) Thick clouds of hazy dust… (It’s amazing You remember it.) I remember it, but you women sang it all jumbled up, I forgot it all. See? You made me suddenly forget it. (Yes, right.) (Then, Master, You sing, and we’ll sing backup.) (We’ll just sing backup. Yes, Master, please go ahead and sing.) But ended up singing it wrong.
Âu Lạc (Vietnam) has a lot of good music, huh? (Yes.) (“A Melancholy Painting.”) How do we sing it? (This evening, mist and haze… hearing the evening bell…desolate.) That song’s not energetic. (Why isn’t that song suitable?) (It’s not energetic.) (Master, sing a more energetic song.) Are there any other twist songs you remember? “Let’s twist again.” (To the vast sea, you are a sailor.) To the vast sea… This was sung by some Aulacese (Vietnamese) officials to cheer on the young men going out to sea, leaving their lovers behind. They call it very romantic, going off to war and leaving your lover behind. Very romantic, right? To the vast sea, I am a sailor. Is that right? (Yes.)
To the vast sea, I am a sailor In your heart, I am a prince Remembering the tales of a thousand nights in Persia And the fairy tales passed down through generations Giving me many moments of rapture Let me weave a thousand blooming dreams May I forever love the life of the wanderer. The farther you travel, the deeper my longing for you grows Facing the boundless expanse of the deep blue sea Facing the boundless expanse of the deep blue sea See the merman reflected on the waves Countless princesses deep within the palace Oh my love, that illusion is so alluring But I’ve said I love you For a thousand lifetimes my heart remains unchanged.
To the vast sea, I am a sailor In your heart, I am a prince Sing along with the music properly. Remembering the tales of a thousand nights in Persia How come it’s taking so long? And the fairy tales passed down through generations Giving me many moments of rapture Let me weave a thousand blooming dreams May I forever love the life of the wanderer. The farther I travel, the deeper my longing for you grows Facing the boundless expanse of the deep blue sea See the merman reflected on the waves Countless princesses deep within the palace Oh my love, that illusion is so alluring But I’ve said I love you For a thousand lifetimes my heart remains unchanged. That’s a lie.
To the vast sea, I am a sailor In your heart, I am a prince Giving me many moments of rapture Let me weave a thousand blooming dreams The farther I travel, the deeper my longing for you grows Facing the boundless expanse of the deep blue sea See the merman reflected on the waves Countless princesses deep within the palace Oh my love, that illusion is so alluring But I’ve said I love you For a thousand lifetimes my heart remains unchanged. Awful singing. Lying. That’s not true at all. Which port would you go find that girl at? Always lying.
Back then, there were many wholesome songs from Âu Lạc (Vietnam). Human affection wanders endlessly along the road Wandering endlessly along the road… Along which road? (I haven’t sung in a long time, I’ve forgotten it now.) Forgotten? (It’s been so long.) Back then, I knew hundreds of songs, but now I’ve forgotten them all. (Yes.) (Da da da, da da da da da da.) What? “Da da” is too easy already. There’s a song… Verdant forests thrive in vitality (Just sit there.) Do you know that song? (Which song, Master?) Verdant forest thrive in vitality Myriad trees expectantly greet the rich fragrance Of the radiant crimson Sun Blazing across the eastern sky Plants and trees stretch and call out Along with countless birds singing in jubilant chorus Waking up after a long night’s slumber… Endless, ceaseless Plants and trees stretch and call out Forgot already. (Let me sing it, Master.) OK.
Whose stilt house is making smoke in the misty morning dew Bamboos’ sweet scent in the sparse forest A few pairs of young birds chirp, exchanging dreams of affection Have what? Whose stilt house is making smoke in the misty morning dew Bamboos’ sweet scent in the sparse forest A few pairs of young birds chirp, exchanging dreams of affection In the breeze drifting from afar, faintly wavering, yet brimming with love. The wind is whistling, whistling Distant brook softly murmuring… like a lullaby A dry leaf drifts aimlessly downstream – drifting on, where it is bound? Dawn weaves through mountain gorges Myriad trees expectantly greet the essence of a rosy Sun that brightens the eastern sky. Plants rise and call out Myriad trees expectantly greet the rich fragrance Of the radiant Sun blazing forth in the eastern sky. Singing nonsense all over the place. If these composers rose from the grave, they’d scold us to death.
Photo Caption: “Life Is Fragile Here, Real Life Above Is Not”
