'Threnody for My Dear Friend' - winkyshi [ENG TRANS]

Not official cover

Original title: 故人嘆
Lyricist: Fangfang Hu (胡芳芳)
Composer: Yinghong Wen (温应鸿)
Translator: ayszhang



The sandstorm spreads, disturbing the sunny skies. I surrender this true heart to the shining moon
Looking past the city, I see clashing metal --- another worldly disaster
Alone in the royal palace, you are not what you once were --- who's that I hear swallowing his sobs?
Your dear friend had always been right in front of you, no questions nor complaints

You originally wanted to live forever, to leave a legacy lasting thousands of generations
Your dear friend bid you farewell and left to the west. You'd said nothing --- what's there to explain?
It ruined your plans of unifying the land. Who's going to accompany you now?
War was never the solution, you have to get the people's hearts first

Your dear friend, with white, balding hair, scarred by this life, isn't asking for a second chance
He only wishes for you to lower your war flags, but you denied it even with the threat of his own life
In the end, the castle walls come crashing down --- I see an ocean of smoke and fire from high above
Not able to do anything, with the ground covered in corpses, your dear friend's heart has left

With a whisk of a sleeve you kneel down and grant the world freedom with a jade cup in hand
No one sings for your longevity now, only your dear friend is there, watching as tears stream down your face
You, sorrowful and alone, pull out your sword, as if your death will be the end of it all
But every person is born with certain responsibilities --- it's impossible to have a happy ending with anyone
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T/N: The gender of the protagonist is not clearly stated, though people have thought this song is based loosely on a real historical event, in which case the protagonist should be an emperor's official with whom he had a close relationship.