Thursday 16 September 2010

王菲 : 紅豆 (FAYE WONG: "Red Bean")

相思

紅豆生南國,
春來發幾枝。
勸君多採擷,
此物最相思。


Yearning

In southern lands the red bean tree grows.
It sprouts when the vernal breeze blows.
Pick the red beans with your hands filled.
Your yearning for love will be fulfilled.

(王維 - Wang Wei, 699-761 AD, China)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Red Beans = Love Beans?
Nice song by Faye, bring back memories! :)

Chasing-Thoth said...

The poem is actually some kind of word play. Red bean (紅豆 or “hong dou”) are also called “xiangsi zi”, literally “seeds of longing”, and therefore has a symbolic meaning. The term 相思 (“xiangsi”) denotes a special yearning for a loved one, from whom the lover is separated.

And yes...songs can bring memories alive indeed