许冠杰 - 浪子心声 (Sam Hui - Confessions of a Wanderer)
It's hard to tell truth from lies, people's faces are often deceitful
gei2 heoi2 jau5 gung6 hoeng2 wing4 waa4 sim4 bun6 seoi2 dik6 bat1 fan1 caa1
How much shared glory and wealth, raindrops on the eaves don't differentiate
hung1 dak1 ji3 muk6 gwong1 jyu4 maa4 seoi4 liu2 gam1 nguk1 bin3 baai6 ngaa5
Feeling proud, but vision is blurred, who would have thought the golden house turns to rubble
ming6 leoi5 jau5 si4 zung1 seoi1 jau5 ming6 leoi5 mou4 si4 mok6 koeng4 kau4
sam1 gung1 zing3 baak6 bik1 mou4 haa4 hang4 sin6 zik1 dak1 zeoi3 lok6 jaa5
A pure heart is like a white wall without blemish, doing good and accumulating virtue brings the greatest joy
ming6 leoi5 jau5 si4 zung1 seoi1 jau5 ming6 leoi5 mou4 si4 mok6 koeng4 kau4
People are like grains of sand in the sea, no need to worry excessively
You see the sunset filling the sky, fame and profit seem to vanish like mist
You see the sunset filling the sky, fame and profit seem to vanish like mist
Song Interpretation
Short Summary
"浪子心声" (Confessions of a Wanderer) by Sam Hui expresses a philosophical reflection on life, the transient nature of fame and fortune, and the importance of maintaining a virtuous heart amidst the challenges of the world.
Detailed Insights
The song reflects the internal struggles and realizations of a wanderer, someone who has experienced the highs and lows of life. The lyrics emphasize the transient nature of wealth and fame, represented by imagery like the sunset and mist. The line "命里有时终须有, 命里无时莫强求" (What's fated will happen eventually, what's not, don't force it) reveals the song's core message about accepting life as it comes and not striving too hard for things beyond one's control.
In contrast, the song also promotes the value of inner purity and goodness, with lines such as "心公正白壁无瑕" (A pure heart is like a white wall without blemish), suggesting that living a virtuous life is the ultimate source of happiness. The phrase "人比海里沙, 毋用多牵挂" (People are like grains of sand in the sea, no need to worry excessively) advises the listener to not overly stress about the insignificance of individual existence in the grand scheme of things. In essence, the song encourages letting go of material concerns and focusing on the purity of one's actions and heart.