[updated September 2022]
Water Mixing at the Beginning of Songs
水 调 歌 头
安 石 在 东 海
从 事 鬓 惊 秋。
中 年 亲 友 难 别
丝 竹 缓 离 愁。
一 旦 功 成 名 逐
准 拟 东 还 海 道
扶 病 入 西 州。
雅 志 闲 轩 冕
遗 恨 寄 沧 州。
岁 云 暮， 须 早 计
要 褐 裘。
故 乡 归 去 千 里
佳 处 辄 迟 留。
我 醉 歌 时 君 和
醉 倒 须 君 扶 我
惟 酒 可 忘 忧
一 任 刘 玄 德
相 对 卧 高 楼。
Shui Tiao Ge Tou
An shi zai dong hai
Cong shi bin jing qiu.
Zhong hian qin you nan bie,
Si zhu huan li chou.
Yi dan gong cheng ming zhu
Zhun ni dong huan hai dao
Fu bing ru xi zhou.
Ya zhi xian xuan mian
Wei hen ji cang zhou.
Sui yun mu xu zao ji
Yao he qiu.
Gu xiang giu chu qian li
Jia chu zhe chi liu.
Wo zui ge shi jun he
Zui dao xu jun fu wo
Wei jiu ke wang you.
Yi ren liu xuan de
Xiang dui wo gao lou.
Water Mixing at the Beginning of Songs
Took a government job at the start of middle age
White hair, difficult to leave family and friends.
Play silk-bamboo music so one can leave with worry
One day you will achieve success and win recognition.
Then come back on the road from the eastern ocean
In spite of illness, serve the people of Xizhou.
Even with the best of intentions, you are stranded and stuck in your imperial position
Only regret, never to experience the solitude and peace of a river islet.
Time of sunset clouds, await morning to make ideas
Must follow earlier plans, want a simple life without fancy clothes.
Hometown still more than hundreds of miles away
Being delayed and detained from there.
When drunk, I can sing of the seasons for you
If I fall down drunk, you can hold me up.
Only with wine is one able to forget worry and care
Like King Liu Xuande, do not have to explain myself to the critics
He and I sit face to face in the high tower.
Notes:
Xizhou: City near Dali, Yunnan Province
King Liu Xuande: (161-223) (r. 221-223) His official name was Liu Bei. Warlord during the Eastern Han Dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han.