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童年时

童年时 我与你家乡中相见天未亮
你与我 永远心意也一样
何时能再与你家乡中相见天未亮
我这里每晚每朝也会对你想一趟

童年时 我与你一双双走到阡陌上
你要我替你采花插襟上
何时能再与你一双双走到阡陌上
每次我看见野花也会对你想一趟

童年时我与你打千秋想要攀月亮
你说过要我将心挂天上
何时能再与你打千秋飞到星月上
每次我看见星星也会对你想一趟

童年时 我与你将颗心刻到花树上
你说过两个痴心永守望
何时能再与你一双双走到花树望
再看看这两颗心有无永远相向

(Time of) Childhood

When I and you as children met up in our native birthplace, before daybreak
Your sentiments and mine always coincided
When again can (I) meet up with you in our native birthplace, before daybreak
Each night and day over here I always pause to reminisce about you

When I and you as children paired up running between the fields
You demanded I plucked a flower to pin to your bosom
When again can (I) pair up running with you between the fields
(At) Each sighting of wildflowers I always pause to reminisce about you

When I and you as children took flight on a swing and wished to reach the moon
You demanded I pin my heart to the heavens
When again can (I) take flight with you on a swing for the stars and moon
Each time I see the stars I always pause to reminisce about you

When I and you as children carved our hearts on a blossoming tree
You remarked that these bonded hearts will forever watch over (us)
When again can (I) and you pair up to see the blossoming tree
and see once more if these hearts remain bonded

Submitted by justanotherone

Author’s comments:
Ballad of Changgan, by Li Bai comes to mind: the naivety of childhood sweethearts, innocence of childhood gestures, implied separation by circumstances of growing up, growing apart and yearnings for a long lost uncomplicated (rural) life and uncomplicated love. Stories of that separation and yearnings are commonplace among a certain (vanishing) generation of Hongkongers who left behind everything and everyone as refugees and their hopes of reuniting with loved ones gave way to harshness of life. Songs like this one can evoke deep and familiar emotions not only among this shrinking population but also much younger ones who often get sent abroad for schooling around the onset of adolescence, tearful farewells, promises of forever, growing apart and lives abruptly and irreversibly changed.

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