Piece of Red Cloth

By chance, I heard Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz again recently. The plaintive voice, the subversive social commentary, the folk sound -- I'd heard this before somewhere.

Took me a while to realize I was thinking of Cui Jian's Piece of Red Cloth. Cui Jian was the pioneer of Chinese rock. His music is unique and not what I would call timeless. Some of the sounds are flat out bizarre, evoking a wide range from karaoke parlor to 80s new wave to Chinese folk.
Cui's voice is even harder to describe to a non-Chinese listener. Yes, it's gravelly and harsh. But on top of that, Cui adds his own unusual vocal stylings. His delivery sometimes wanders into Falco's hallmark staccatos or Randy Newman croaks territory. I would say his music is an acquired taste. But here's Red Cloth. Listen to see if you can get why it reminded me of Mercedes Benz.

My interest in Cui Jian started as curiosity for his role in the Chinese democracy movement of the 80s. I tried to study the meaning behind his songs. He was known for penning lyrics that have a convenient surface meaning and a deeper, critical meaning. One that the government would regard as "counter-revolutionary." A few comments:

• this double layering of meaning is a longstanding tradition throughout Chinese literature. I suppose that doesn't say flattering things Chinese government over the millenia
• something similar goes on in Born in the USA and Mercedes Benz. Though you could easily argue that the overt imagery in Born in the USA is simply ignored by people who think of it as a flat out anthem to patriotism. Anyways, people can and did enjoy Cui Jian's songs just for their rock value, and not necessarily for any clever hidden messages.
• for whatever reason, Cui Jian never got punished as much as other writers and artists. It's not like the lyrics were so coded and cryptic that the government censors couldn't figure out what he was saying. So he was generally able to write and perform and be a success over that critical time period.

Back to Piece of Red Cloth. This song talks about 2 people, misfortune, and blind loyalty. The color red can symbolize love and happiness, which it does when reading the lyrics casually. But red is also a symbol for the Communist government. The protagonist of the song accepts a red blindfold and willingly follows the other person, for better or for worse. Even when it's for worse, the narrator doesn't cry outright foul, but instead still takes a tone of forgiveness.

In few words, Cui Jian gives his very nuanced view on the Chinese people in relation to their government. There's a lot of details that mesh with post 1950s history. I could RapGenius all day on it, but something else distracted me.

If you don't know Chinese, you're missing out on a huge component of this song. It's a shame. And some other guy agreed. He made his own English cover of the song. While I kinda don't want to link it because I'm about to slam him, I think you have to decide for yourself. My beefs with it:

• opens with something that sounds maybe a bit racist. I know I raised my eyebrow.
• I'm not sure who to compare this voice to. But it won't be a compliment. While not all aspects of how Cui Jian sings could ever be emulated in another language, this cover dude makes no attempt at the force and gruffness that Cui Jian has.
• the translation is extremely literal. It's not only distracting, but its meter means it can't be fit to the original music.
• some kids (in Chinese class) decided to do their own exact rendition of this cover. 

I dunno, the poor quality of this cover really bothers me. To the point where I think I have to make my own cover. I've spend the last hour doing my own translation. Anyone who read the Odyssey or Iliad in high school must remember what the teacher said about the challenges of translating -- balancing meaning vs meter and rhyme, establishing a cohesive flow, all that. I haven't done a perfect job because I know a perfect job is impossible. My main goal here is a beat-perfect translation that can be sung over Cui Jian's original music. I've taken quite a few liberties with the verse meanings, at one point losing the double meaning and exposing Cui Jian's intent.

So now I just need to make a guitar buddy do an acoustical track of this song. And I guess I'll sing over it? This is gonna be harder than when I tried to reconstruct a mashup I heard on the radio without knowing the first thing about editing music.

Here's what I've got so far:

那天是你 用一块 红布

remember that day? you covered up: my eyes

蒙住我双眼 也蒙 住了天

that piece of red cloth blotted out the sky

你问我 看见了什么

you asked me: now what do you see?

我说 我看见了幸福

i said i see: what makes me happy

这个感觉 真让我舒服

this feeling puts me really at ease

它让我忘掉 我没地儿住

so i can forget that i've got no roof

你问我 还要去何方

you asked me are you going this way

我说要 上你的路

i told you yes i'd go with you

看不见你 也 看不见路

i can't see you; i can't see the road

我的手 也被你攥住

took my hand and wouldn't let go

你问我 还在想什么

you asked what: i was thinkin about

我说 我要让 你做主

i said i'd leave it up to you

我感觉 你不是铁

i can feel: your beating heart

却象铁 一样的 强和烈

your blood in my hand rushes fierce and strong

我感觉 你身上有血

i can tell: your body's red guilt

因为你 的手 是热呼呼

all just from: a touch of your hand

这个感觉 真让我舒服

this feeling puts me really at ease

它让我忘掉 我没地儿住

so i can forget that i've got no roof

你问我 还要去何方

you asked me are you going this way

我说要 上你的路

i told you yes i'd go with you

我感觉 这不是荒野

i know that: we're stranded out here

却看不见 这土地 已经干裂

my throat is parched just like this cracked up earth

我感觉 我要喝点水

i confess: i'm dying of thirst

可你的嘴 将我的嘴堵住

but all i find is the touch of your lips

我感觉 这不是荒野

i know that: we're stranded out here

却看不见 这土地 已经干裂

my throat is parched just like this cracked up earth

我感觉 我要喝点水

i confess: i'm dying of thirst

可你的嘴 将我的嘴堵住

but all i find is the touch of your lips

我不能走我也不能哭

now i can't leave, and now i can't cry 

因为 我身体 已经干枯

cuz what's left of me is just my bones

我要 永远这样 陪伴着你

and now forever i'll be by your side

因为我 最知 道你的痛苦

cuz only i can truly know your pain