"一场痛能多久/How Long Can Pain Last" by Kenji Wu is a poignant song about enduring emotional pain, reflecting on love, regret, and the passage of time. The lyrics explore the intensity of lingering feelings and the inevitable realization that some pains may last a lifetime.
Detailed Insights
The song opens with the narrator returning home, reflecting on how the memories of a past love are too vivid, seen through the lens of the streetlights that shine too clearly. The sense of emptiness is further highlighted as the narrator feels alone in a desolate scene, questioning where their former lover is now and what their life is like. This longing for the other person, while also haunted by the past, sets the emotional tone of the song.
The chorus questions how long emotional pain can last, suggesting that a lifetime may not be enough to heal it. This reflects the deep, ongoing torment that the narrator feels. The narrator's attempt to "steal" the memories and lock them away is an attempt to hold on to the past, even though the painful realization that they cannot truly take or keep these memories forever emerges. The metaphor of a thief who cries first symbolizes the one who feels the pain most acutely.
The lyrics also explore the idea that love itself can bring lifelong torment, and the narrator expresses regret over unspoken words and unresolved issues. Time is portrayed as a thief, stealing not only the moments but also the soul, suggesting that the passage of time forces the narrator to confront their regrets and unfulfilled desires. Ultimately, the song portrays the enduring nature of emotional pain, the struggle with time, and the complex relationship between love, loss, and healing.