The Tiananmen Square Massacre and Chinese Rock

We are posting this podcast on June 4th, 2019, the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. We have decided to focus on a song (which is just a poem after all) that was performed for the protesters in the Square and that became the anthem for the movement that, thirty years ago, briefly lit a path for Chinese democracy, before being snuffed out so brutally.

Here is Lee’s Translation of Cui Jian’s “Having Nothing:”

• 我曾经问个不休 I endlessly asked you
• 你何时跟我走 When will you go with me?
• 可你却总是笑我 But you always laugh at me
• 一无所有 Having nothing
  
• 我要给你我的追求 I want to give you what I am seeking
• 还有我的自由 Give you my freedom, too
• 可你却总是笑我 But you always laugh at me
• 一无所有 Having nothing
  
• 噢！你何时跟我走？(2x) Oh! When will you go with me? (2x)
  
• 脚下的地在动 The earth beneath my feet is shaking
• 身边那水在流 The water beside me is flowing
• 可你却总是笑我 But you always laugh at me
• 一无所有 Having nothing
  
• 你为何总笑个没够？ Haven’t you laughed at me enough?
• 为何我总要追求？ Why do I always keep seeking it?
• 难道在你面前 Could it be that in front of you
• 我永远是一无所有 I will forever have nothing?
  
• 噢，你何时跟我走？(2x) Oh! When will you go with me? (2x)
  
• 告诉你我等了很久 I told you I waited a long time
• 告诉你我最后的要求 I told you my last demand
• 我要抓气你的双手 I want to take your hands
• 你这就跟我走 Then, you will go with me
• 这时你的手在顫抖 Then, your hands are trembling
• 这时你的泪在流 Then, your tears are flowing
• 莫非你真在告诉我 Could it be that you are really telling me that
• 你爱我一无所有？ you love me having nothing?
  
• 噢，你何时跟我走？(3x) Oh! When will you go with me? (3x)
  

Check out the song on Youtube: https://youtu.be/m7uk0-vlpP0