九歌絕唱
[Intro]
(Mm mm mm)
[Verse 1]
汨羅江水滔滔流
忠臣淚洒楚山頭
舉世皆濁我獨清
眾人皆醉我獨醒
一腔熱血化碧濤
千秋萬代頌忠魂
[Chorus]
端午龍舟競渡忙
擊鼓催舟震四方
粽子飄香祭英靈
忠義永存天地長
屈子雖去志不滅
正義之光永輝煌
[Verse 2]
讒言誤國心何傷
放逐天涯路漫長
離騷九章訴衷腸
蘭佩荷衣志鏗鏘
不求功名留青史
只願人間有綱常
[Chorus]
端午龍舟競渡忙
擊鼓催舟震四方
粽子飄香祭英靈
忠義永存天地長
屈子雖去志不滅
正義之光永輝煌
[Bridge]
問天不語淚千行
丹心一片照大江
古今多少忠義士
皆因此日共傳揚
莫道正義無人見
千秋之後自有光
[Chorus]
端午龍舟競渡忙
擊鼓催舟震四方
粽子飄香祭英靈
忠義永存天地長
屈子雖去志不滅
正義之光永輝煌
[Post-Chorus]
永輝煌
永輝煌
[Outro]
正義之光永輝煌
(Mm mm mm)
-English translation
Title: The Unparalleled Song of the Nine Songs (九歌絕唱)
[Intro]
(Mm mm mm)
[Verse 1]
The Miluo River surges, flowing endlessly on,
The loyal minister’s tears fall where Chu’s mountains stand.
Though the whole world is murky, I alone remain pure,
Though the masses are drunk, I alone stay sober and sure.
A heart full of passion dissolves into the green waves,
For a thousand generations, they sing of his loyal soul.
[Chorus]
At Duanwu, dragon boats race in a fervent tide,
Beating drums spur the oars, shaking the world wide.
The scent of zongzi rises to honor the brave,
Loyalty and righteousness, between heaven and earth, shall forever save.
Though Qu Yuan has passed, his spirit does not die,
The light of righteousness shines brilliantly in the sky.
[Verse 2]
Slander misleads the state—how deeply it stings,
Exiled to the edge of the sky, on a long, weary road.
In “Li Sao” and “Nine Chapters,” his true feelings flow,
Adorned with orchids, clad in lotus, his resolve glows.
I seek no fame to be carved in history’s tome,
I only wish that morals and order find a home.
[Chorus]
At Duanwu, dragon boats race in a fervent tide,
Beating drums spur the oars, shaking the world wide.
The scent of zongzi rises to honor the brave,
Loyalty and righteousness, between heaven and earth, shall forever save.
Though Qu Yuan has passed, his spirit does not die,
The light of righteousness shines brilliantly in the sky.
[Bridge]
Asking Heaven, yet receiving no reply, a thousand tears stream down,
A single loyal heart lights up the great river’s crown.
Through the ages, how many loyal and righteous souls,
Are all celebrated and passed down because of these goals.
Do not say that righteousness is unseen by any eye,
After a thousand years, its own light will brighten the sky.
[Chorus]
At Duanwu, dragon boats race in a fervent tide,
Beating drums spur the oars, shaking the world wide.
The scent of zongzi rises to honor the brave,
Loyalty and righteousness, between heaven and earth, shall forever save.
Though Qu Yuan has passed, his spirit does not die,
The light of righteousness shines brilliantly in the sky.
[Post-Chorus]
Forever shines,
Forever shines.
[Outro]
The light of righteousness shines forever…
(Mm mm mm)
📝 Notes on the Translation
| Chinese Element | English Equivalent / Note |
|---|---|
| 汨羅江 | Miluo River – the river where Qu Yuan drowned himself. |
| 屈子 | Qu Yuan – respectful way to address him (Master Qu). |
| 離騷 | Li Sao – Qu Yuan’s most famous poem, meaning “Encountering Sorrow.” |
| 九章 | Nine Chapters – another collection of Qu Yuan’s poems. |
| 端午 | Duanwu / Dragon Boat Festival – the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. |
| 粽子 | Zongzi – sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. |
| 蘭佩荷衣 | Orchid adornments and lotus clothes – symbolic of a noble, incorruptible character. |