白果 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: Keung To, 姜濤

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Keung To's '白果' offers a unique window into Cantonese culture and contemporary expression. The song uses the colloquial phrase '食白果' (to get nothing), providing a great opportunity to understand how language can be both literal and metaphorical. Beyond the linguistic lesson, the song's universal themes of facing inner demons and finding freedom in passion make it a relatable and inspiring piece for any learner.

[English]

Art falls into a haze again

In the end, we still haggle over scores

Who sets their expectations too high?

Yet, we fear a favorite might stumble

The warmth of sixteen pregnancies in total

Sent for the world to endure the journey together

Soul, honestly confront yourself, do you want to reflect?

It's my inner demon, afraid of getting nothing

My heart forever holds shackles

Fame and fortune trap me in a prison, success and failure obsessed is just a feather

The me on stage, the me off stage, which is false fire?

Win or lose, let it go

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

No more battle, everybody let it go

White white white white, it's ginkgo, it's ginkgo

White white white white, it's angel, it's angel

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I'm gonna pick it up, hurry up, take it slow

Is it an egret or a crow, ask your heart

Want to gain everyone's admiration, a title

Or simply return home defeated

What relationship does it seek with music?

Sending the world both non-action and action

How to distinguish between salt fish and cabbage?

It's my inner demon, loves to get nothing

In my heart, remove the shackles

No need to recite lines for thanks, achievement doesn't wait for midnight

Ginkgo angel, wings spread overhead, dropping seeds

Win or lose, let it go

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

No more battle, everybody let it go

White white white white, it's ginkgo, it's ginkgo

White white white white, it's angel, it's angel

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I'm gonna pick it up, hurry up, take it slow

This gift is pure and firm, who would willingly open it?

Let me break it down, it's breaking down, oh

I am in head-on conflict with myself, self-dismantling in defeat

I'm breaking down, breaking down, breaking down, breaking down

Waking up, someone's waking up, waking up

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

I am Keung To, everybody has a role

White white white white, scatter scatter scatter scatter

Loud shouts and praises, spreading everywhere

Here comes the blessing in the rain

Here am I dressing up, everybody good show

...

[Chinese]

藝術又墮入煙霧

最尾也計較分數

誰人期望太高?

但又驚大熱倒灶

將一共16胎温度

送世人同捱過旅途

靈魂誠實對質 想不想檢討?

是我的心魔 怕吃白果

在我的心窩永有枷鎖

名利困着是囚牢 成敗執着是鴻毛

台上的我 台下的我 誰是虛火?

(Win or lose, let it go)

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

No more battle, everybody let it go

白白白白 it's ginkgo, it's ginkgo

白白白白 it's angel, it's angel

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I'm gonna pick it up, hurry up, take it slow

是白鷺或是烏鴉 問問心底

想得到個個傾慕 尊號

或索性鎩羽返歸

跟音樂覓甚麼關係

送世人無為也有為

鹹魚和白菜間 怎麼分高低?

是我的心魔 愛吃白果

在我的心窩 拆去枷鎖

鳴謝哪用背台詞 成就不用待零時

銀杏天使 頭上展翅 投下種籽

(Win or lose, let it go)

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

No more battle, everybody let it go

白白白白 it's ginkgo, it's ginkgo

白白白白 it's angel, it's angel

Here comes the seeding in the rain

I'm gonna pick it up, hurry up, take it slow

這份禮物潔白堅實 有誰會樂意開啓?

Let me break it down, it's breaking down, oh

我共我又正面衝突 挫敗裏自我解體

I'm breaking down, breaking down, breaking down, breaking down

(Waking up, someone's waking up, waking up)

Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

Let it flow, let it flow, let the water flow

Let it go, let it go, let the music glow

I am Keung To, everybody has a role

白白白白 撒撒撒撒

叱叱咤咤 到處散發

Here comes the blessing in the rain

Here am I dressing up, everybody good show

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
藝術 /yì shù/ B1	noun - art
煙霧 /yān wù/ B2	noun - smoke and fog; haze
分數 /fēn shù/ B1	noun - score
期望 /qī wàng/ B1	noun - expectation
熱 /rè/ A2	noun - heat, hot weather adjective - hot
溫度 /wēn dù/ B1	noun - temperature
靈魂 /líng hún/ B2	noun - soul
魔 / mó/ B2	noun - devil, demon,魔鬼
枷鎖 /jiā suǒ/ C1	noun - shackles, chains, restraints
名利 /míng lì/ B2	noun - fame and fortune
囚牢 /qiú láo/ C1	noun - prison, jail
成敗 /chéng bài/ B2	noun - success and failure
擁着 /yōng zhe/ C1	verb - to hold, to cling to
受 /shòu/ A1	verb - to receive
天使 /tiān shǐ/ B1	noun - angel

Key Grammar Structures

• 是我的心魔 怕吃白果

  ➔ Use of '是' (to be) for identification.

  ➔ The phrase "是我的心魔" translates to "is my inner demon," where "是" identifies the subject.

• 在我的心窩永有枷鎖

  ➔ Use of '在' (at/in) to indicate location.

  ➔ The phrase "在我的心窩" means "in my heart," where "在" indicates the location.

• Let it go, let it go, let the demon go

  ➔ Imperative mood for giving commands.

  ➔ The repetition of "let it go" emphasizes the command to release negativity.

• 在我的心窩 拆去枷鎖

  ➔ Use of '拆去' (to remove) indicating action.

  ➔ The phrase "拆去枷鎖" means "remove the shackles," where "拆去" indicates the action of removal.

• 成敗執着是鴻毛

  ➔ Use of '是' (to be) for equivalence.

  ➔ The phrase "成敗執着是鴻毛" translates to "success and failure are like feathers," where "是" indicates equivalence.

• 我共我又正面衝突

  ➔ Use of '共' (with) to indicate companionship.

  ➔ The phrase "我共我" means "I with myself," indicating an internal conflict.

• 這份禮物潔白堅實

  ➔ Use of '這' (this) for demonstrative reference.

  ➔ The phrase "這份禮物" means "this gift," where "這" indicates a specific item.