THROWBACK THURSDAYS
Every Thursday we’ll revisit a Taiwanese language classic from anytime between the 1930s - 2015ish... #TBT
| TAIWANESE | ENGLISH |
|---|---|
| Hué-tshia tsiām-tsiām leh khí-kiânn 火車漸漸咧起行 | My train is about to depart |
| Tsài-huē guá ê kòo-hiong kap tshin-tsiânn 再會我的故鄉佮親情 | I said goodbyes to my hometown and my family |
| Tshin-ài ê pe-bú tsài-huē—pa 親愛的父母再會吧 | Dear Mom, Dad, I’ll see you soon |
| Tàu-tīn ê pîng-iú kò-sî--lah 鬥陣的朋友告辭啦 | Goodbye, my close friends |
| Guá beh lâi-khì Tâi-pak phah-piànn 我欲來去台北拍拼 | But now I’m heading up to Taipei City to fight for my dreams |
| Thiann lâng kóng siánn-mi̍h hó-khang--ê lóng tī hia 聽人講啥物好空的攏佇遐 | They said all the best of the best is there waiting for me |
| Pîng-iú tshiò guá sī ài tsuè bîn-bāng ê gōng-kiánn 朋友笑我是愛做眠夢的戇囝 | Even though my friends say I must be a daydreaming fool |
| M̄-kuán lû-hô, lōo sī ka-tī kiânn 毋管如何 路是家己行 | No matter what, I know I have to pave my own way |
| Oh! Tsài-huē pa! OH! 再會吧! | Oh, see you soon! |
| Oh! Siánn-mi̍h lóng m̄ kiann OH! 啥物攏毋驚 | Oh, there’s no fear on my mind! |
| Oh! Tsài-huē pa! OH! 再會吧! | Oh, see you soon! |
| Oh! Hiòng-tsiân kiânn OH! 向前行 | Oh, I’m marching forward! |
| Tshia-tsām tsi̍t-tsām tsi̍t-tsām kuè--khì lah 車站一站一站過去啦 | I’m passing by one station after another |
| Hong-kíng tsi̍t-bōo tsi̍t-bōo tshin-tshiūnn tiān-iánn 風景一幕一幕親像電影 | The scenery outside flickers by like scenes in a film |
| Kā ka-tī tòng-tsuè sī lâm-tsú-kak lâi puann 把自己當作是男主角來搬 | I could take on the leading male role |
| Hûn-iû sù-hái khó-pí sī "Xiǎo fēi xiá"* 雲遊四海可比是 【小飛俠】 | Cruising through the clouds just like Peter Pan |
| M̄-kuán sī iù-tì ia̍h-sī lo̍k-kuan 毋管是幼稚抑是樂觀 | I may be naive but at least I’m embracing possibilities |
| Hiō-kó nā an-tsuánn, ka-tī tio̍h lâi tann 後果若按怎 自己就來擔 | Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility |
| Guân-liōng put-hàu ê kiánn-lî—pa 原諒不孝的囝兒吧 | Forgive me Mom and Dad, for leaving like this |
| Thàn guá iáu siàu-liân kuánn-kín lâi phah-piànn 趁我猶少年趕緊來拍拚 | But I have to make it while I’m still young and fighting |
| Oh! Tsài-huē pa! OH! 再會吧! | Oh, see you soon! |
| Oh! Siánn-mi̍h lóng m̄ kiann OH! 啥物攏毋驚 | Oh, there’s no fear on my mind |
| Oh! Tsài-huē pa! OH! 再會吧! | Oh, see you soon! |
| Oh! Hiòng-tsiân kiânn OH! 向前行 | Oh, I’m marching forward! |
| Tâi-pak Tâi-pak Tâi-pak-tshia-thâu kàu--ah--lah 台北台北台北車頭到矣啦 | Taipei, Taipei, here is Taipei Main Station! |
| Beh lo̍h-tshia ê lú-kheh tshiánn kuán-kín lo̍h-tshia 欲落車的旅客請趕緊落車 | Passengers wanting to get off, please get off quickly |
| Thâu-tsîng sī hiān-tāi ê Tâi-pak tshia-thâu 頭前是現代的台北車頭 | In front of us is the modern Taipei train terminal |
| Guá ê lí-sióng kap hi-bāng lóng tī tsia 我的理想佮希望攏佇遮 | All my hopes and dreams are here |
| Tsi̍t-tòng tsi̍t-tòng ê "gāo lóu dàshà"* 一棟一棟的 【高樓大廈】 | Building after building of skyscrapers |
| M̄-tsai ū tuà guā-tsē tshiūnn guá tsit-tsióng ê gōng-kiánn 毋知有蹛偌濟像我這款的戇囝 | I wonder how many young fools like me are out here |
| Khah-tsá thiann lâng tshiùnn "Táiběi bùshì wǒ de jiā"* 較早聽人唱 『台北不是我的家』 | I used to hear people sing “Taipei is not a place I call home” |
| Tān-sī guá tsi̍t-tiám-á lóng bô kám-kak 但是我一點仔攏無感覺 | But, I don’t have this feeling one bit |
*Mandarin lyrics use Hanyu Pinyin Romanization |
The Backstory
Released in the year 1990, “Marching Forward | Hiòng-tsiân Kiânn 向前走”, sung by the young and rebellious Lim Giong | Lîm Kiông 林強, ushered in a new wave of Taiwanese- Pop, known as the New Taiwanese Song Movement | Sin Tâi-uân-kua 新臺語歌. Martial law had only been lifted a few years earlier in 1987, and the new freedom allowed the younger generation to consider new ideas, prospects, and directions for their future. With some lyrics referencing pop music predecessor Lo Ta-yu | Lô Ta-Iū 羅大佑, an icon of the Taiwan Campus Folk Song Movement | Hāu-hn̂g Bîn-kua 校園民歌 of the late 70s and early 80s, “Marching Forward” also called for the youth to be different from previous generations, and ultimately became the anthem for a whole generation of young Taiwanese pursuing their dreams.
Within the music industry, Lim was considered a rebel. This trait remained with him throughout his music career as he reshaped Taiwanese-Pop by bringing in influences from rock and electronica. While Taiwanese-pop at the time was sad, sentimental, and slow in rhythm, Lim weaved in new sounds such as heavy punches, synths, and drumbeats. Today Lim continues to be influential in the experimental electronic music scene and has won numerous awards for composing for films, including those of famed film director, Hou Hsiao-hsien | Hâu Hàu-hiân 侯孝賢.