Amy Wen Du was originally from Beijing and has lived in Canada for 10 years, working as a Chinese language teacher. She was a Chinese language and literature teacher in China and a passionate translator from English to Chinese.
the “Farewell song”（“送别”）
As the saying goes, music is the world language without boundaries and conveys universal emotions and feelings. Here is an amazing example of it.
More than 100 years ago, three musicians from the USA, Japan, and China composed three lyrical songs to one tune and they are still widely known.
In 1868, an American medical doctor and composer John P. Ordway wrote his lyrics “Dreaming of Home and Mother”, a popular sentimental song from Civil War era.
In 1907, Japanese music teacher and lyricist Kyūkei Indō (犬童球渓) composed his song” Ryoshū” (旅愁, meaning “Yearning (for home) in travelling”) to melody of the lyrics” Dreaming of Home and Mother”. Ryoshū has since been very popular in Japan. It was selected as one of the 100 Best Known Japanese Songs in 2007.
In 1915, Chinese artist, composer, lyricist and Buddhist monk Li Shutong (23 October 1880 – 13 October 1942, 李叔同, Hong Yi 弘一, most commonly known by his Buddhist name ) wrote his famous romantic ballad, the “Farewell song”（“送别”）to the melody of the song “Dreaming of Home and Mother”. He composed the song at the time when he sadly saw his best friend off. Li was initially introduced to this song while studying in Japan, in the form of the Japanese song “ Ryoshū ” (旅愁）.
The melody of the mid-19th century song “Dreaming of Home and Mother” even rang through the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics’ closing ceremony as a farewell song.
The lyrics in Chinese of 送别 are as follow:
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，
Cháng tíng wài, gǔ dào biān, fāng cǎo bì lián tiān.
Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient route, fragrant green grass joins the sky,
晚风拂柳笛声残，夕阳山外山。
Wǎn fēng fú liǔ dí shēng cán, xì yáng shān wài shān.
The evening wind caressing willow trees, the sound of the flute piercing the heart, sunset over mountains beyond mountains.
天之涯，地之角，知交半零落，
Tiān zhī yá, dì zhī jiǎo, zhī jiāo bàn líng luò.
At the brink of the sky, at the corners of the earth, my familiar friends wander in loneliness and far from home,
一瓢浊酒尽余欢，今宵别梦寒。
Yī piáo zhuó jiǔ jìn yú huān, jīn xiāo bié mèng hán.
One more ladle of wine to conclude the little happiness that remains; tonight my dreams of parting leave me cold.
长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天，
Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient route, fragrant green grass joins the sky,
问君此去几时来？来时莫徘徊。
Wèn jūn cǐ qù jǐ shí lái? Lái shí mò pái huái.
I ask of you, as you go this time, when are you to return? When it’s time to come please don’t hesitate.
天之涯，地之角，知交半零落，
At the brink of the sky, at the corners of the earth, familiar friends wander in loneliness and far from home,
人生难得是欢聚，唯有别离多。
Rén shēng nán dé shì huān jù, wéi yǒu bié lí duō.
In life it is happy reunions that are rare; most often we bid farewell.
天之涯，地之角，知交半零落，
At the brink of the sky, at the corners of the earth, familiar friends wander in loneliness and far from home,
人生难得是欢聚，唯有别离多。
In life it is happy reunions that are rare; most often we bid farewell.
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Billy also learned the following about the American, Dr. John P. Ordway from Chat Open Ai :
John P. Ordway (1824–1880) was an American composer, doctor, and music publisher known for his contributions to the minstrel tradition and 19th-century popular music. One of his most famous songs is “Dreaming of Home and Mother”, which became quite popular during and after the American Civil War. The song reflects themes of nostalgia and the emotional longing for home and family.
Here are some famous lyrics from “Dreaming of Home and Mother”:
Chorus: “Dreaming of home, dear old home,
Home of my childhood and mother;
Oft when I wake ’tis sweet to find
I’ve been dreaming of home and mother.”
The song resonates with feelings of loss and the comforting memories of home and maternal love, which was common in songs of the era, especially among soldiers and those far from home.
“Dreaming of Home and Mother” was actually adapted from a tune composed by Sir Henry Bishop, an English composer. The original tune is from Bishop’s 1823 opera Clari, or the Maid of Milan, specifically from the famous aria “Home! Sweet Home!”
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