张学友 - 李香兰 (Jacky Cheung - Li Xiang Lan)
wui4 tau4 ci5 si6 mung6 mou4 faat3 daan6 dung6 mai4 zyu6 jing4 mong6 nei5 teoi3 sik1 ziu3 pin3 zung1
Looking back, it seems like a dream, unable to touch, gazing at you in the faded photo
啊 像花虽未红 如冰虽不冻 却像有无数说话 可惜我听不懂
aa1 zoeng6 faa1 seoi1 mei6 hung4 jyu4 bing1 seoi1 bat1 dung3 koek3 zoeng6 jau5 mou4 sou3 syut3 waa6 ho2 sik1 ngo5 ting3 bat1 dung2
Ah, like a flower not yet red, like ice not yet frozen, it seems to speak countless words, but unfortunately, I don't understand
aa1 si6 bui1 zau2 zim6 nung4 waak6 ngo5 sam1 zan1 hung1 ho4 ji5 gam2 zan3 dung6
Ah, the wine gradually thickens, or perhaps my heart is truly empty, why do I feel shaken?
wui4 tau4 jaa5 si6 mung6 jing4 ci5 bei6 dung6 tou4 bei6 jing4 mong6 nei5 koek3 sam1 jan3 nou5 zung1
Looking back, it's still a dream, still passive, avoiding your gaze, yet deeply imprinted in my mind
啊 像花虽未红 如冰虽不冻 却像有无数说话 可惜我听不懂
aa1 zoeng6 faa1 seoi1 mei6 hung4 jyu4 bing1 seoi1 bat1 dung3 koek3 zoeng6 jau5 mou4 sou3 syut3 waa6 ho2 sik1 ngo5 ting3 bat1 dung2
Ah, like a flower not yet red, like ice not yet frozen, it seems to speak countless words, but unfortunately, I don't understand
aa1 si6 bui1 zau2 zim6 nung4 waak6 ngo5 sam1 zan1 hung1 ho4 ji5 gam2 zan3 dung6
Ah, the wine gradually thickens, or perhaps my heart is truly empty, why do I feel shaken?
啊 像花虽未红 如冰虽不冻 却像有无数说话 可惜我听不懂
aa1 zoeng6 faa1 seoi1 mei6 hung4 jyu4 bing1 seoi1 bat1 dung3 koek3 zoeng6 jau5 mou4 sou3 syut3 waa6 ho2 sik1 ngo5 ting3 bat1 dung2
Ah, like a flower not yet red, like ice not yet frozen, it seems to speak countless words, but unfortunately, I don't understand
aa1 si6 bui1 zau2 zim6 nung4 waak6 ngo5 sam1 zan1 hung1 ho4 ji5 gam2 zan3 dung6
Ah, the wine gradually thickens, or perhaps my heart is truly empty, why do I feel shaken?
Song Interpretation
Short Summary
The lyrics of "李香兰" (Li Xiang Lan) by 张学友 (Jacky Cheung) reflect a wistful and introspective narrative about fleeting memories, unspoken emotions, and the poignant longing for connection.
Detailed Insights
The song's poetic imagery, such as the "cold night rain" piercing through a photograph, evokes a sense of nostalgia and an inability to let go of past moments. The lyrics juxtapose physical elements like the "faded photo" with emotional themes of yearning and loss, portraying a deep struggle to reconcile with time and absence.
Symbolism plays a significant role, with metaphors like a "flower not yet red" and "ice not yet frozen" expressing incomplete understanding and unresolved feelings. The recurring mention of wine further symbolizes the protagonist's attempt to find solace, while the cracks in time represent a futile hope to revisit or mend the past.
Ultimately, the lyrics encapsulate an enduring emotional resonance, as the protagonist is caught in the tension between cherishing memories and facing the inevitability of change, embodying universal themes of love and longing.