王菲 - 约定 (Faye Wong - Promise)



作词 (Lyrics)：林夕
作曲 (Composer)：陈小霞
编曲 (Arrangement)：Adrian Chan

还记得当天旅馆的门牌 还留住笑着离开的神态
waan4 gei3 dak1 dong1 tin1 leoi5 gun2 dik1 mun4 paai4 waan4 lau4 zyu6 siu3 zoek6 lei4 hoi1 dik1 san4 taai3
Still remember the hotel sign from that day, still keeping the look of you leaving with a smile

当天整个城市 那样轻快 沿路一起走半哩长街
dong1 tin1 zing2 go3 sing4 si5 naa5 joeng6 hing1 faai3 jyun4 lou6 jat1 hei2 zau2 bun3 lei1 coeng4 gaai1
That day the whole city was so cheerful, walking half a mile together along the street

还记得街灯照出一脸黄 还燃亮那份微温的便当
waan4 gei3 dak1 gaai1 dang1 ziu3 ceot1 jat1 lim5 wong4 waan4 jin4 loeng6 naa5 fan6 mei4 wan1 dik1 bin6 dong1
Still remember the streetlights casting a yellow glow, lighting up the warm meal box

剪影的你轮廓 太好看 凝住眼泪才敢细看
zin2 jing2 dik1 nei5 leon4 gwok3 taai3 hou2 hon3 jing4 zyu6 ngaan5 leoi6 coi4 gam2 sai3 hon3
Your silhouette was so beautiful, holding back tears to dare to take a closer look

忘掉天地 仿佛也想不起自己 仍未忘相约看漫天黄叶远飞
mong4 diu6 tin1 dei6 fong2 fat1 jaa5 soeng2 bat1 hei2 zi6 gei2 jing4 mei6 mong4 soeng1 joek3 hon3 maan6 tin1 wong4 jip6 jyun5 fei1
Forgetting the world, as if unable to remember oneself, still not forgetting the promise to watch the yellow leaves flying far

就算会与你分离 凄绝的戏 要决心忘记 我便记不起
zau6 syun3 wui2 jyu5 nei5 fan1 lei4 cai1 zyut6 dik1 hei3 jiu3 kyut3 sam1 mong4 gei3 ngo5 bin6 gei3 bat1 hei2
Even if separated from you, the tragic play, determined to forget, I cannot recall

明日天地 只恐怕认不出自己 仍未忘跟你约定假如没有死
ming4 jat6 tin1 dei6 zi2 hung2 paa3 jing6 bat1 ceot1 zi6 gei2 jing4 mei6 mong4 gan1 nei5 joek3 ding6 gaa3 jyu4 mut6 jau5 sei2
Tomorrow's world, only afraid of not recognizing myself, still not forgetting the promise with you if not dead

就算你壮阔胸膛 不敌天气 两鬓斑白 都可认得你
zau6 syun3 nei5 zong3 fut3 hung1 tong4 bat1 dik6 tin1 hei3 loeng5 ban3 baan1 baak6 dou1 ho2 jing6 dak1 nei5
Even if your broad chest can't withstand the weather, with grey temples, I can still recognize you

还记得当天结他的和弦 还明白每段旋律的伏线
waan4 gei3 dak1 dong1 tin1 git3 taa1 dik1 wo4 jin4 waan4 ming4 baak6 mui5 dyun6 syun4 leot6 dik1 fuk6 sin3
Still remember the guitar chords from that day, still understanding the undertones of each melody

当天街角流过你声线 沿路旅程如歌褪变
dong1 tin1 gaai1 gok3 lau4 gwo3 nei5 seng1 sin3 jyun4 lou6 leoi5 cing4 jyu4 go1 tan3 bin3
That day at the street corner, your figure passed by, the journey along the road faded like a song

忘掉天地 仿佛也想不起自己 仍未忘相约看漫天黄叶远飞
mong4 diu6 tin1 dei6 fong2 fat1 jaa5 soeng2 bat1 hei2 zi6 gei2 jing4 mei6 mong4 soeng1 joek3 hon3 maan6 tin1 wong4 jip6 jyun5 fei1
Forgetting the world, as if unable to remember oneself, still not forgetting the promise to watch the yellow leaves flying far

就算会与你分离 凄绝的戏 要决心忘记 我便记不起
zau6 syun3 wui2 jyu5 nei5 fan1 lei4 cai1 zyut6 dik1 hei3 jiu3 kyut3 sam1 mong4 gei3 ngo5 bin6 gei3 bat1 hei2
Even if separated from you, the tragic play, determined to forget, I cannot recall

明日天地 只恐怕认不出自己 仍未忘跟你约定假如没有死
ming4 jat6 tin1 dei6 zi2 hung2 paa3 jing6 bat1 ceot1 zi6 gei2 jing4 mei6 mong4 gan1 nei5 joek3 ding6 gaa3 jyu4 mut6 jau5 sei2
Tomorrow's world, only afraid of not recognizing myself, still not forgetting the promise with you if not dead

就算你壮阔胸膛 不敌天气 两鬓斑白 都可认得你
zau6 syun3 nei5 zong3 fut3 hung1 tong4 bat1 dik6 tin1 hei3 loeng5 ban3 baan1 baak6 dou1 ho2 jing6 dak1 nei5
Even if your broad chest can't withstand the weather, with grey temples, I can still recognize you

就算你壮阔胸膛 不敌天气
zau6 syun3 nei5 zong3 fut3 hung1 tong4 bat1 dik6 tin1 hei3
Even if your broad chest can't withstand the weather

两鬓斑白 都可认得你
loeng5 ban3 baan1 baak6 dou1 ho2 jing6 dak1 nei5
With grey temples, I can still recognize you

Song Interpretation

Short Summary

"Promise" by Faye Wong is a nostalgic and poetic song about remembering a past love and holding onto promises made. The lyrics reflect on the passing of time and the emotional weight of a commitment that continues to endure, even in separation.

Detailed Insights

The song begins with vivid imagery of a shared memory, capturing the warmth and simplicity of a day spent together. The narrator remembers the hotel sign, the cheerful city, and the small, meaningful details like the yellow streetlights and a warm meal. These memories are deeply ingrained and evoke a bittersweet longing.

Throughout the song, the narrator expresses a struggle with letting go of the promise made to their lover. Despite the passage of time and inevitable changes, the promise remains unbroken in the narrator's heart, symbolizing enduring love and devotion. Even as time causes physical changes, the narrator is determined to remember and honor the commitment made.

The lyrics explore themes of nostalgia, unfulfilled love, and the resilience of promises, with the imagery of yellow leaves and fading journeys reinforcing the theme of loss and remembrance. "Promise" becomes not just a song about love, but a meditation on the power of memories and the weight of promises that last beyond time and distance.