Here are the two stanzas that I was inspired to re-write… It’s only my second attempt at writing a Chinese song so do pardon my amateurishness. Google Translator was my buddy during this song-writing exercise. I tried to think and write like 阿信 (Ashin, lead singer of 五月天) but I had to make do with being 阿舍 (Asher, erm, me) instead. This was what I came up with…

走遍整世界 尝全美食 天堂 在你身边

渴望的晚餐 你熬的菠菜汤

心碎了流泪 我抱着你 答应 我非不变

每一分每妙 分享捷与悲

~

争取了学位 烂歌俳句 为你 写多一些

当你的超人 内裤穿在头上

萎缩的结局 馒头白发 梦想 十个孩子

牵着你皱手 我生命目标

The rest of the song (click here for its translation), written by the brilliant 阿信, goes like this:

昨天谁让你 受过伤 今天想要让你 都遗忘

是你 爱你让我变的更强 为你战斗永不投降

让我照顾你 我要让雨停出太阳

我超越我自己的想像 风雨刀枪能为你挡

让我照顾你 让你未来放在我肩上

~

如果这一生 到尽头 换你的这句话 很足够

是你 爱你让我变的更强 为你战斗永不投降

让我照顾你 我要让雨停出太阳

我超越我自己的想像 风雨刀枪能为你挡

让我照顾你 让你失去生命也辉煌

The two stanzas were loosely based on a poem that I’ve written for her a couple of weeks ago (for the purpose of the proposal), which I would recite just before I asked her to marry me. For those whose Mandarin is equally as atrocious as mine, here’s a rough English translation of what I’ve written above:

I’ve travelled the world and tasted all kinds of cuisines

But my paradise is to be beside you

My favourite dinner and the dish I crave for the most

Is still the spinach broth that you cook

When your heart breaks or when your tears fall,

I’ll hold you in my arms and promise I will never change

I want to experience every minute and second with you,

And share every trophy and tragedy together

~

I’d earn another degree, compose another song and write another haiku,

All and only for you

I want to be your superman forever

Even if it means wearing my underwear as my helmet

My body will shrivel and your head will burst with white hair

As I daydream about our ten children

To be able to hold your wrinkled hand when we’re old and gray,

That is the goal of my life

On a side note, it’s amazing how the Chinese language is so much more efficient yet so much more elaborate than the English language. I used words that I didn’t even know the pinyin to (and so I had to learn how to pronounce it)!

Next chapter: the music that changed the mood.