Had a sudden whim to translate this song which I have been listening to this week. The thing about doing translation is that you are forced to look deeper into the meaning of the text, gaining a much better understanding of what the writer was trying to say.

Well, the meaning of this song just sunk in deeper as I translated. I will never look at it in the same light again.



海阔天空
By Beyond (released 1993)

词：黄家驹 (Lyrics: Wong Ka Kui)
曲：黄家驹 (Tune: Wong Ka Kui)


今天我寒夜里看雪飘过
I watched the snow flutter in the harsh winter night
怀著冷却了的心窝飘远方
Carrying a heart, cold and still, I travelled off to a place far away
风雨里追赶雾里分不清影踪
I braved the wind and rain as I chased, losing myself in the gloomy mist
天空海阔你与我可会变(谁没在变)
In spacious skies and vast oceans, will you and I remain the same (who does not change?)

多少次迎著冷眼与嘲笑
How many times have I faced contempt and mockery
从没有放弃过心中的理想
But I have never given up on my dreams
一刹那恍惚若有所失的感觉
A moment’s panic and I felt like something within me was lost
不知不觉已变淡心里爱(谁明白我)
I never knew that my passion had faded by then (who understands me)

原谅我这一生不羁放纵爱自由
Please forgive my life of untamed love for freedom
也会怕有一天会跌倒
I have also feared that I may fall one day
被弃了理想谁人都可以
Anyone can betray one’s dream
那会怕有一天只你共我
Why be afraid that you and I are the only ones left to pursue it?

仍然自由自我
Still free and true to myself
永远高唱我歌
Forever singing my song with gusto
走扁千里
To travel across thousands of miles

原谅我这一生不羁放纵爱自由
Please forgive my life of untamed love for freedom
也会怕有一天会跌倒
I have also feared that I may fall one day
被弃了理想谁人都可以
Anyone can betray one’s dream
那会怕有一天只你共我
Why be afraid that you and I are the only ones left to pursue it?

被弃了理想谁人都可以
Anyone can betray one’s dream
那会怕有一天只你共我
Why be afraid that you and I are the only ones left to pursue it?

原谅我这一生不羁放纵爱自由
Please forgive my life of untamed love for freedom
也会怕有一天会跌倒
I have also feared that I may fall one day
被弃了理想谁人都可以
Anyone can betray one's dream
那会怕有一天只你共我
Why be afraid that you and I are the only ones left to pursue it?


Translated by Pearl