爸爸的草鞋 [Bà bà de cǎo xié] [English translation]

(Monologue) Daddy has a pair of straw sandals, resting on the shoe rack. He often stares at them silently, as if watching a boat on a vast ocean. Unconsciously, a tear drops on a shoe reflecting this very long, very long story.

The sandals were a boat, daddy was the sail

Grandma's urges filled the cabin

Full of dreams of a seventeen years old teenager

A sail which's full of hopes, was set to sail

The little boat sailed to the Yellow River shore

Thick loess heaped on board

Night docked by the green curtain of tall crops

Daybreak far away at Shanhaiguan

The sandals were a boat, daddy was the sail

Grandma's urges filled the cabin

Fully choked by the melancholy feeling of leaving home

Looked back and had to set sail, set sail again

Trekked all the way to Jiangnan

Saw the spotless Dongting Lake

Very desolated Emei Mountain

Couldn't bear to look back, secretly shed tears

The sandals were the boat, Daddy was the sail

The urges of the motherland didn't dare to forget

Endured the helplessness and little pathos

Took an oath devoutly and had to set sail, set sail again

Boat sailed to Penghu Bay

Mummy joined to paddle

Affectionately propped up the exhausted sail

Broke through a lot of winds and waves again

The sandals were a boat, daddy was the sail

The homeland at distance is calling

Full of half a century vicissitudinous drift

Weary little boat please come to moor, come to moor

Weary little boat please come to moor, come to moor

Weary little boat please come to moor, come to moor

Weary little boat please come to moor, come to moor

• Artist:Pan An-Bang