Obsessed with a song for men – 给自己的歌 Jonathan’s Song (Advanced Level)

李宗盛‘s (Jonathan Lee) songs had accompanied me for so many years. He’s one of the best artistes of music that I’ve seen.

Lately I found that I’m so obsessed with a song that he wrote for himself - 给自己的歌 (Jonathan’s Song). It’s probably not easy for young souls to fully understand the lyrics. It’s written for men that has had enough experience of life. It’s telling the philosophy of love and life in a way of chatting to oneself.

I’d categorize it as advanced level Chinese. Try your best to listen and feel the song. Feel free to ask if you don’t understand a line.

给自己的歌 Jonathan’s Song
作曲词：李宗盛 Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Lee

想得却不可得 你奈人生何
该捨的捨不得 只顾着跟往事瞎扯
Wanting but never attaining, you can’t control life
Should let go but never able, focused on talking about the past

等你发现时间是贼了
它早已偷光你的选择
Waiting for you to realize time is a thief
He’s long since stolen away your choices

爱恋不过是一场高烧
思念是紧跟着的好不了的咳
Love is just a fever
Longing is the incurable cough that follows

是不能原谅 却无法阻挡
恨意在夜裡翻墙 是空空荡荡
却嗡嗡作响 谁在你心裡放冷枪
It can’t be forgiven, but can’t be stopped
Regret crosses the wall in the night; it’s empty
But there’s a buzzing sound as a sniper hits your heart

旧爱的誓言像极了一个巴掌
每当你记起一句就挨一个耳光
然后好几年都问不得 闻不得女人香
An old love’s promises are like a fist
Whenever your recall them it’s like a punch in the face
Then for all those years you can’t ask after her, can’t smell a woman’s scent

往事并不如烟
是啊在爱裡念旧也不算美德
可惜恋爱不像写歌
再认真也成不了风格
The past is not like smoke
Yes, those love-filled memories aren’t virtuous
It’s too bad love isn’t like writing a song
No matter how hard you work at it, you still can’t achieve the style

我问你见过思念放过谁呢
不管你是累犯或是从无前科
我认识的只有那合久的分了
没见过分久的合
I ask you, whom have you seen released from this longing
No matter if you’re a repeat offender or have no record
All I’ve seen is that what was long united then divided
I’ve never seen the long-divided reunited

岁月 你别催
该来的我不推
该还的还 该给的我给
Life, don’t rush me
What must come I won’t push forward
Return what must be returned, I gave what must be given

岁月 你别催
走远的我不追
我不过是想道尽原委
Life, don’t rush me
I won’t chase after what’s long gone
But still I want to tell the whole story

谁能告诉我这是什么呢
他的爱在心裡埋藏了抹平了
几年了仍有余威
Who can tell me what this is
Her love has been buried deep in her heart, the surface smoothed flat
Years later it’s still so powerful

是不能原谅 却无法阻挡
爱意在夜裡翻墙 是空空荡荡
却嗡嗡作响 谁在你心裡放冷枪
It can’t be forgiven, but can’t be stopped
Love crosses the wall in the night; it’s empty
But there’s a buzzing sound as a sniper hits your heart

旧爱的誓言像极了一个巴掌
每当你记起一句就挨一个耳光
然后好几年都问不得 闻不得女人香
然后好几年都问不得 闻不得女人香
An old love’s promises are like a fist
Whenever your recall them it’s like a punch in the face
Then for all those years you can’t ask after her, can’t smell a woman’s scent
Then for all those years you can’t ask after her, can’t smell a woman’s scent

想得却不可得 你奈人生何
想得却不可得 情爱裡无智者
Wanting but never attaining, you can’t control life
Wanting but never attaining, there are no wise men in love