Sunday, November 12, 2006

The Meaning of Travel 陈绮贞 《旅行的意义》

I always like Cheers Chen's songs. Being a philosophy degree holder, her lyrics are simple yet to the point. Of course my literal translation below didn't do any justice to her beautiful lyrics but the Mandarin lyrics coupled with her voice is so soothing and healing as a matter of fact. So, have you ever ponder, what is ur 旅行的意义?
你看过了许多美景
you saw before a lot of beautiful sceneries
你看过了许多美女
you saw before many pretty gals
你是在地图上每一道短暂的光影
you are the short-lived light beams on the map
你拼成了夜的芭比
you matched the Barbie of the night
你踏过下雪的北京
you stepped on the snowing Beijing
你收集书本里每一句你最爱的真理
you collected every quote you love in every book you read
却说不出你爱我的原因
but you just couldn't tell the reason you loved me
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire
却说不出在什么场合曾让你动心
but you just couldn't tell me what occasion made you fall on me
说不出离开的原因
can't tell the reason you left me
你累积了许多飞行
you amassed a lot of flying experiences
你用心挑选纪念品
you picked travel memorabilias
你搜集了地图上每一次的风和日丽
you been through sun and rain on the map
你拥抱热情的岛屿
you embraced the passionate islands
你埋葬记忆的土尔其
Turkey, where you buried your memories
你留恋电影里美丽的不真实的场景
you remembered the beautiful yet surreal scenes in the movies
却说不出你爱我的原因
but you just couldn't tell the reason you loved me
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire
你却说不出在什么场合曾让你分心
but you just couldn't tell me what occasion distracted you
说不出旅行的意义
couldn't say the meaning of travelling
你勉强说出你爱我的原因
you forced yourself to say the reason you loved me
却说不出你欣赏我哪一种表情
but you just couldn't tell me which expression of me that you admire
你却说不出在什么场合我曾让你动心
but you just couldn't tell me what occasion made you fall on me
说不出旅行的意义
couldn't say the meaning of travelling
勉强说出你为我寄出的每一封的信
you half-heartedly say that every single letter that you sent to me
都是你离开的原因
are the reason you left me
你离开我就是旅行的意义
but leaving me is the meaning of travelling

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just noticed this song as i browsed thru all my songs collection for the past years. It is the 1st song that i fell in love in 2007. Tragic yet so true.. A great new year resolution too, to find my meaning of travelling.

Anonymous said...

Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIxeYGCsPc4&feature=PlayList&p=81A97A000319F12E&index=2

Thank you for sharing that.