张惠妹 - 哭砂 (A-Mei - Sands of Tears)
You are my most bitter wait, making me happy yet fearful of the future
nǐ zuì ài shuō nǐ shì yī kē chén āi ǒu ěr huì è zuò jù de piāo jìn wǒ yǎn lǐ
You love to say you're a speck of dust, occasionally playing tricks by floating into my eyes
níng yuàn wǒ kū qì bù ràng wǒ ài nǐ nǐ jiù zhēn de xiàng chén āi xiāo shī zài fēng lǐ
Rather, I cry, don't let me love you, and you truly vanish like dust in the wind
nán dé lái kàn wǒ què yòu lí kāi wǒ ràng nà shǒu zhōng xiè luò de shā xiàng lèi shuǐ liú
Rarely coming to see me, yet leaving again, letting the sand in hand fall like tears
hǎi duì nǐ shì nà me nán fēn nán shě nǐ zǒng shì dài huí mǎn kǒu dài de shā gěi wǒ
The sea is so hard for you to part with, you always bring back pockets full of sand for me
nán dé lái kàn wǒ què yòu lí kāi wǒ ràng nà shǒu zhōng xiè luò de shā xiàng lèi shuǐ liú
Rarely coming to see me, yet leaving again, letting the sand in hand fall like tears
fēng chuī lái de shā luò zài bēi shāng de yǎn lǐ shuí dōu kàn chū wǒ zài děng nǐ
The wind-blown sand falls into the sad eyes, and everyone can see I'm waiting for you
The wind-blown sand accumulates in the heart, a trace that no one can erase
fēng chuī lái de shā chuān guò suǒ yǒu de jì yì shuí dōu zhī dào wǒ zài xiǎng nǐ
The wind-blown sand passes through all memories, and everyone knows I'm thinking of you
fēng chuī lái de shā míng míng zài kū qì nán dào zǎo jiù yù yán le fēn lí
The wind-blown sand is silently weeping, as if predicting the separation long ago
You are my most bitter wait, making me happy yet fearful of the future
nǐ zuì ài shuō nǐ shì yī kē chén āi ǒu ěr huì è zuò jù de piāo jìn wǒ yǎn lǐ
You love to say you're a speck of dust, occasionally playing tricks by floating into my eyes
níng yuàn wǒ kū qì bù ràng wǒ ài nǐ nǐ jiù zhēn de xiàng chén āi xiāo shī zài fēng lǐ
Rather, I cry, don't let me love you, and you truly vanish like dust in the wind
fēng chuī lái de shā luò zài bēi shāng de yǎn lǐ shuí dōu kàn chū wǒ zài děng nǐ
The wind-blown sand falls into the sad eyes, and everyone can see I'm waiting for you
The wind-blown sand accumulates in the heart, a trace that no one can erase
fēng chuī lái de shā chuān guò suǒ yǒu de jì yì shuí dōu zhī dào wǒ zài xiǎng nǐ
The wind-blown sand passes through all memories, and everyone knows I'm thinking of you
fēng chuī lái de shā míng míng zài kū qì nán dào zǎo jiù yù yán le fēn lí
The wind-blown sand is silently weeping, as if predicting the separation long ago
Song Interpretation
Short Summary
"哭砂" (Sands of Tears) by A-Mei explores the pain of a love that is fleeting and uncertain, symbolized by the imagery of sand. The song captures the emotional struggle between holding on to love and the inevitable pain of separation.
Detailed Insights
The metaphor of sand is central to the song, representing the passage of time, the impermanence of love, and the difficulty of holding onto something that slips away. The repeated line "風吹來的砂" (The wind-blown sand) symbolizes the inevitable drift of a relationship, just as sand is carried by the wind. The protagonist is left with the bitter remnants of unrequited love, a "trace that no one can erase," signifying the lasting impact of the relationship.
Throughout the song, A-Mei expresses the contradiction of love: it brings happiness but also fear of the future. The lyric "寧願我哭泣 不讓我愛你" (Rather, I cry, don't let me love you) highlights the emotional turmoil of knowing that love is both a source of joy and sorrow. The song's refrain emphasizes how the heart is left with traces of a past love that no amount of time or effort can remove, echoing the sense of helplessness in the face of love's fleeting nature.