狂人日記 – Bilingual Lyrics Chinese/English

• By: 柳應廷

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the world of Cantopop's avant-garde with Jer Lau's “狂人日記”. This song is a fantastic opportunity to learn the language through its rich, literary lyrics that tell a compelling story of excess and enlightenment. Its unique progressive rock style and challenging vocal performance make it a standout piece in modern Chinese music, offering a deep dive into both complex emotions and sophisticated vocabulary.

[English]

In the middle of the night, psychedelic music seeking happiness

Bass speakers rage with impact, hitting my eardrums (then there's light)

Blood vessels all over, connected to a laser turntable

Draped in jewelry, like Lucy crossing the sky curtain (traveling everywhere)

Roaming the universe, never tired of playing

Stars shimmer, like tempting bait

Symphony waiting for us

Greedy for life, craving something new, forgets old tastes

The masses, when hungry, open their mouths

Two eyes, two ears

Enter the world to enjoy

No need to chant scriptures, no need to recite spells

Peanuts, madness and craziness, even the audience accepts it

His life, wandering in dreams of the Big Dipper

Wipe a stroke, carve a bone

Record this life, the madman self-excavates

Skin color, identity, character, appearance

Thoughts, willpower, karma, genes

All things end, arise and collapse, empty space is recolored

Ask why, like Cowherd and Weaver Girl, longing day and night (staring vacantly at the wall)

Looking at the universe, so fictional

Born from the start, already a spoiler

Rolling dice, surrendering to God's hand, Woo

Greedy for life, craving something new, forgets old tastes

The masses, when hungry, open their mouths

One heart, one flower

Falling into the chaos of the world

No need to chant scriptures, no need to recite spells

Peanuts, madness and craziness, even the audience accepts it

His life leads thousands away, leaving the path

A mountain collapses, water splits

Which of these commandments is truly followed?

The original spirit, returning to its true form

The madman suddenly lowers his pen, only then feels regret

Floating clouds, watching the setting sun vaporize the past self

The soul, declaring that the remaining body in the afterlife is useless

Once again, madness enters the heart

Finally, the greed for life is satisfied

The masses, planting wounds that last a thousand years

Causality, cause and effect

There is never an exit

Diary as punishment, recite the Great Compassion Mantra a thousand times each day

Peanuts, understanding the audience, also gaining insight

His life, transforming decay into immortality

Close a window, open a chapter

In the second half of life, madness ends and retreat begins

Cultivate oneself, find stability, pursue happiness and success

Marry a wife, have children, buy property

A family, a few mouths, triggering shared karma

Finally, falling into madness once again

[Chinese]

三更半夜　迷幻音樂　找快樂

低音喇叭　狂怒衝擊　耳膜（然後有光）

周身血管　連著一部　鐳射唱盤

披起鑽飾　如露西橫越　天幕（遊歷四方）

逛宇宙　玩不夠

星閃閃　似利誘

交響曲　在迎候

貪生　貪了新　不記得厭舊

蒼生　肚餓時　張口

雙眼睛　雙耳朵

要入世　享受

不必唱經　不要唸咒

花生　瘋與癲　觀眾都接受

他生　再夢遊　北斗

揮一筆　刻一骨

記錄這生　狂　人　自　剖

膚色　身份　性格　樣貌

思想　意志　業力　基因

萬物緣盡　成住崩壞　空再著色

問為何像　牛郎織女　思念旦夕（呆望四壁）

看宇宙　多虛構

一出生　已劇透

舉骰子　送上帝手　Woo

貪生　貪了新　不記得厭舊

蒼生　肚餓時　張口

心一顆　花一朵

跌入　世間亂流

不必唱經　不要唸咒

花生　瘋與癲　觀眾都接受

他生　領萬人　出走

山一崩　水一分

這十誡　哪　個　守

元神　歸返他　正身

狂人　突然合手擱筆　方知悔恨

浮雲　望斜陽蒸發著　前身

靈魂　斷言餘生軀殼　不可

再　度　狂　入　心

貪生　終於會　貪夠

蒼生　種萬年　傷口

因果因　果因果

永沒有出口

日記罰抄　每天萬遍《大悲咒》

花生　想觀眾　也參透

他生　化腐為　不朽

閂一窗　開一章

誌下半生　狂　盡　退　守

修身　安穩　美滿　事業

娶妻　生子　購置　物業

一家　幾口　引發　共業

終於　再次　陷入　狂

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
狂人 /kwǎŋ rə̌n/ B2	noun - madman, maniac
音樂 /yīn yuè/ A1	noun - music
快樂 /kuài lè/ A1	adjective - happy, joyful
衝擊 /chōng jī/ B2	verb - to impact, to strike noun - impact, shock
血管 /xuè guǎn/ B1	noun - blood vessel
宇宙 /yǔ zhòu/ B1	noun - universe, cosmos
貪生 /tān shēng/ B2	verb - to be greedy for life, to cling to life
蒼生 /cāng shēng/ C1	noun - common people, the masses
享受 /xiǎng shòu/ B1	verb - to enjoy
瘋 /fēng/ B1	adjective - mad, crazy
觀眾 /guān zhòng/ A2	noun - audience, spectators
夢遊 /mèng yóu/ B2	verb - to sleepwalk, somnambulate
記錄 /jì lù/ A2	verb - to record, to document noun - record, documentation
思想 /sī xiǎng/ B1	noun - thought, thinking, ideology
靈魂 /líng hún/ B1	noun - soul, spirit
悔恨 /huǐ hèn/ C1	verb - to repent, to regret bitterly
事業 /shì yè/ B1	noun - career, undertaking

Key Grammar Structures

• 貪生 貪了新 不記得厭舊

  ➔ Use of the resultative complement "了" (le) to indicate the completion of an action.

  ➔ The character "了" indicates that the action of "貪了新" (greedily taking new things) has been completed or experienced.

• 舉骰子 送上帝手 Woo

  ➔ Use of the verb "送" (to send) to indicate giving or offering, often combined with the object and recipient.

  ➔ The verb "送" is used here to mean "send" or "offer" something, with the implication of an action directed towards an entity.

• 終於再次 陷入 狂

  ➔ Use of the adverb "終於" (finally) to indicate the culmination of an action after a process.

  ➔ "終於" expresses that the action of "陷入狂" (fallen into madness) has occurred after some duration or effort, emphasizing the culmination.

• 修身 安穩 美滿 事業

  ➔ Use of parallel structure with verbs or nouns to list qualities or goals.

  ➔ The phrase lists multiple goals or qualities using a parallel structure, indicating a balanced and comprehensive approach.

• 因果因 果因果 永沒有出口

  ➔ Repetition of the phrases "因果因" and "果因果" emphasizes the cyclical nature of karma and causality.

  ➔ The repeated phrases highlight the idea that karma and causality form a never-ending cycle without escape.

• 花生 想觀眾 也參透

  ➔ Use of the verb "想" (to think) followed by direct object to indicate the act of contemplating or understanding.

  ➔ The verb "想" expresses the act of contemplating or understanding, here suggesting viewers are starting to grasp the deeper meaning.