橄榄树 by 孙燕姿

[tooironic]

Who else loves this song?

I've been listening to it for years, and particularly like the version sung by Sun Yanzi (Stefanie Sun). I remember one day in my high school Chinese class I was humming the song whilst doing my work, and my Chinese teacher immediately recognised it and started singing along with me! LMAO.

Here's the lyrics:

(they're quite easy to understand, and repetitive too which is good)...

不要问我从哪里来

Don't ask me where I'm from

我的故乡在远方

My native land's in a far away place

为什么流浪

What's the point in wandering about?

流浪远方流浪

And drift so far away

为了天空飞翔的小鸟

For the sake of the birds in the sky

为了山间清流的小溪

For the sake of the creaks in the Qingliu mountains

为了宽阔的草原

For the sake of the wide open grasslands

流浪远方流浪

Just drift so far away

还有还有

Still, still

为了梦中的橄榄树橄榄树

For the sake of the olive trees in my dreams

不要问我从哪里来

Don't ask me where I'm from

我的故乡在远方

My native land's in a far away place

为什么流浪

Why do we wander?

为什么流浪远方

Why do we wander to such far away places?

为了梦中的橄榄树

For the sake of the olive trees in my dreams

--

...yeah I know my half-arsed English translation makes it sound stupid, but I absolutely adore the Chinese poetry of this song

Oh and here's the video clip for the Sun Yanzi version:

Listen.

And the Timi Zhuo version:

Listen.

And the Chyi version (live):

Enjoy!

[muyongshi]

I like it know

[imron]

Haha, there was a period of time shortly after I first came to China that whenever someone asked me some variation of where are you from/what country are you from, I would reply...不要问我从哪里来，我的故乡在远方……

[tooironic]

Haha that's awesome Imron. I truly do love this song I hope anyone who hasn't heard of it checks it out!

[Xiao Kui]

I like this song and love all the instrumental accompaniment in it, too! Really beautiful.

[skylee]

While we are at it, perhaps all of you who like the song would also be interested in knowing why the songwriter wrote about 流浪? You could read Sanmao's books ->

撒哈拉的故事

哭泣的駱駝

[imron]

Wow, I didn't realise this was written by 三毛. That just makes it even better.

[musiclover123]

This song was originally sung by 齐豫 who is famous Taiwan singer. I highly recommend you to check out 齐豫's version. It is beautiful and sad.

[musiclover123]

为了山间清流的小溪

For the sake of the creaks in the Qingliu mountains

I think this line means that for the sake of the lovely stream creaking through the mountain.

:)

[skylee]

为了山间清流的小溪

For the sake of the creaks in the Qingliu mountains

I think this line means that for the sake of the lovely stream creaking through the mountain.

I've always thought that it is 輕流' date=' not 清流 (I've known this song since I was a kid). Actually it is 輕流 that appears in Sun Yanzi's MV (and also in Qi Yu's version).

[monto]

This song is by Hu huizhong (胡慧中) at first in a film when 孙燕姿 was a baby or maybe not born.

[skylee]

This song is by Hu huizhong (胡慧中) at first in a film

I seriously doubt it. What you see on screen is 胡慧中, but the singer is 齊豫. Take a look at the film 歡顔 here -> http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=gc2sWP3HkvU

In case anyone cannot access youtube, the film is also viewable on youku -> http://v.youku.com/v_playlist/cc00f712557o9p0.html

and tudou -> http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/oDJAHWaE5Pw/

At about 02:54 it is written clearly : 主唱：齊豫.

[monto]

I think what skylee said is right. Becoz I only saw Hu Huizhong "singing" there with a quitar in the film but the fact may be different.