Blowin’ in The Wind

On April 8^th, 2008, Bob Dylan was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his contribution to music. The legendary singer-songwriter was given the Special Citation In Music “for his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.”

For those who are too young to know him, Dylan was a symbol of anti-war and civil right movements in 1960s. Yes, the poetic power there was as illustrated by one of his most memorable songs Blowin’ in The Wind in 1963, early in his career, at the height of civil rights movements and early days of the Vietnam War.

To me, Bob Dylan has always been a poet more than a folk star. He is more a soul of American than a rock singer. To mark this award occasion and to remind all of us the tragic Iraq War as it enters the 6^th year, below is my attempt of a Chinese translation of the lyrics of Dylan's Blowin’ in The Wind.

隨風而逝 Blowin’ in The Wind

一個人要走過多少路, How many roads must a man walk down
我們才能接納這人? Before you call him a man?
唉,一隻鴿子要飛過多少大海,
Yes, n how many seas must a white dove sail
才能在沙丘上歇息? Before she sleeps in the sand?
唉,要多少炮彈飛越我們頭上,
Yes,n how many times must the cannon balls fly
才能永無戰爭?
Before they’re forever banned?
朋友們,謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

一個人要往上看多少次, How many times must a man look up
才能識得天空? Before he can see the sky?
唉,一個人要有幾隻耳朵,
Yes, n how many ears must one man have
才能聽到人們的哭泣? Before he can hear people cry?
唉,要犧牲多少人,
Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows
我們才覺悟代價太大?
That too many people have died?
朋友們,謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

一座山要矗立多久, How many years can a mountain exist
才能回歸大海? Before its washed to the sea?
唉,人們要偷生多久,
Yes, n how many years can some people exist
才能獲得自由? Before they’re allowed to be free?
唉,一個人要轉幾次頭,
Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head,
才能視而不見?
Pretending he just doesn’t see?
朋友們,謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,
謎底是 - 隨風而逝.
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

Talk to you soon!