A few weeks ago, the 70-year-old Bob Dylan held a concert in China, which made the so-called Chinese intellectual and artistic circles lose their usual composure and show their ugly side. It was really embarrassing.
Regarding Bob Dylan, I once read part of his autobiography, then later listened to some of his popular songs. In my impression, he is an awesome person, but he still surpassed my imagination. So I went back to find his songs and listen to them repeatedly. It is said that Dylan is good at poetic lyrics, so I carefully studied his lyrics. However, my English is too poor to fully understand its essence, which makes me regretful! Fortunately, there is the Internet, so I found some Chinese translations of his lyrics online and used translation tools to study them. Now I have a general understanding. The more you get close to him, the more you feel how awesome he is (of course not only for his songs). What I say is superfluous, now I will post some relatively better Chinese translated lyrics I found online as follows:
"Blowing in the Wind"
Singer: Bob Dylan
How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
How many years must a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea
How many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
How many deaths will it take
'Till he knows that too many people have died
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
I won't translate this song because none of the translations I've seen are satisfactory.
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"Like a Rolling Stone"
by Bob Dylan
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People called, say beware doll, you're bound to fall
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You've gone to the finest school all right, miss lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
There was a time when you used to dress so well
You were so superior, giving pennies to beggars for fun, remember?
They warned you, "Hey, girl, you'll fall someday"
You thought they were just joking
You always laughed at those who hung out on the streets
Now you don't speak so loudly anymore
Now you don't mock those who beg for their next meal
What's it like to be homeless
Do you know how it feels
To be completely unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Yes, Miss Lonely, you attended the best schools
But you know, during that time you were just enjoying yourself
No one taught you how to survive on the streets
But now you realize, you'll have to learn how to cope
You said you'd never bargain with a mysterious vagrant
But now you understand
He doesn't need excuses
As you stare into his empty eyes
And ask if he wants to make a deal
What's it like to be alone
Do you know how it feels
Without a home to return to
Completely unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You never noticed the frowns of the jesters and clowns
When they came down to entertain you with their tricks
You never realized it wasn't good
You shouldn't let others enjoy life for you
You used to ride on a shiny motorcycle with your diplomat lover
Who carried a Siamese cat on his shoulder
Isn't it painful when you find out
He wasn't what you thought he was
After he stole everything he could from you
What's it like to be alone
Do you know how it feels
Without a home to return to
Completely unknown
Like a rolling stone?
The princess on the tower and all the beautiful people
They drink and believe they have it all figured out
Trading all sorts of valuable gifts and things
But you should lift your diamond ring, better pawn it dear
You used to be so amused
By Napoleon in rags and the words he spoke
Go to him now, he beckons you, you cannot refuse
When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you have no secrets to hide
What's it like to be alone
Do you know how it feels
Without a home to return to
Completely unknown
Like a rolling stone?
"One More Cup Of Coffee"
Bob Dylan
Your breath is sweet
Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.
Your back is straight, your hair is smooth
On the pillow where you lie.
But I don't sense affection
No gratitude or love
Your loyalty is not to me
But to the stars above.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee fore I go
To the valley below.
Your daddy he's an outlaw
He'll teach you how to pick and choose
And how to throw the blade.
He oversees his kingdom
So no stranger does intrude
His voice it trembles as he calls out
For another plate of food.
Your sister sees the future
Like your mama and yourself.
You've never learned to read or write
There's no books upon your shelf.
And your pleasure knows no limits
Your voice is like a meadowlark
But your heart is like an ocean
Mysterious and dark.
One more cup of coffee for the road,
One more cup of coffee fore I go
To the valley below.
Your breath is sweet, your eyes are like gems in the sky
Your back is straight, your hair smooth on the pillow where you lie
But I feel no affection, no gratitude or love
Your loyalty isn't to me, but to the stars above
One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below
Your father's an outlaw, he'll teach you how to choose
And how to throw the blade
He watches over his kingdom so no strangers intrude
His voice trembles as he calls for another plate of food
Your sister sees the future, like your mother and yourself
You've never learned to read or write, there are no books on your shelf
Your pleasure knows no bounds, your voice is like a meadowlark
But your heart is like the ocean, mysterious and dark
One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee before I go
To the valley below
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"Knockin' On Heaven’s Door"
Mama, take this badge off of me
Mom, remove my badge from me
I can't use it anymore.
Because I no longer need it.
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knocking, knocking, knocking on the gates of heaven
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Mama, put my guns in the ground
Mom, place my guns in the earth
I can't shoot them anymore.
Because I can't shoot them anymore
I feel like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door.
I feel as though I'm knocking on the doors of heaven
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knocking, knocking, knocking on the gates of heaven
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door