wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

我飘向北方别问我家乡

I'm floating north, don't ask my hometown

gāo sǒng gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng dǎng bù zhù yōu shāng

高耸古老的城墙挡不住忧伤

The towering ancient walls can't hold back the sadness

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng jiā rén shì fǒu wú yàng

我飘向北方家人是否无恙

I floated to the north, is my family safe?

jiān shàng chén zhòng de xíng náng shèng mǎn le chóu chàng

肩上沉重的行囊盛满了惆怅

The heavy bag on the shoulders is full of melancholy

yǒu rén shuō tā lǎo jiā qiàn le yī duī qián

有人说他老家欠了一堆钱

Some people say that his hometown owes a lot of money

xū yào bì bì fēng tóu

需要避避风头

Need to avoid the wind

yǒu rén shuō tā liàn jiù le yī shēn wǔ yì

有人说他练就了一身武艺

Some people say he has practiced martial arts

què méi jī huì zhǎn lù

却没机会崭露

but no chance to show up

yǒu rén shī qù le zì wǒ

有人失去了自我

Someone has lost themselves

shǒu zú wú cuò sì chù piāo liú

手足无措四处漂流

Drifting around at a loss

yǒu rén wèi le mèng xiǎng wèi le sān cān

有人为了梦想为了三餐

Some people have three meals for their dreams

wèi yǎng jiā hú kǒu

为养家糊口

To support the family

tā zhù zài yàn jiāo qū

他住在燕郊区

He lives in the suburb of Yan

cán pò de qiú zhí gōng yù

残破的求职公寓

Dilapidated job hunting apartment

yōng jǐ de dà lóu lǐ

拥挤的大楼里

In a crowded building

duī mǎn mò shēng rén dōu lái zì wài dì

堆满陌生人都来自外地

It's full of strangers from outside

tā mái zhe tóu xiě zhe lǚ lì

他埋着头写着履历

He buried his head and wrote resume

huái bào zhe duō shǎo chōng jǐng

怀抱着多少憧憬

How much longing to hold

wǎng fǎn zài jiǔ sān líng hào gōng lù

往返在九三零号公路

To and from Highway 930

nèi xīn pàn zhe qí jì

内心盼着奇迹

Hope for a miracle in my heart

rěn zhe lèi

忍着泪

Endure tears

bù tīng yě bù xiǎng

不听也不想

Don’t listen and don’t want to

bù gǎn huí tóu wàng de yí hàn

不敢回头望的遗憾

Sorry not to look back

yǎn zhe shāng

掩着伤

cover the wound

káng xià le mèng xiǎng

扛下了梦想

Carry on the dream

yào yì rán jué rán qù liú làng

要毅然决然去流浪

Go wandering resolutely

tái tóu kàn

抬头看

Look up

xiè xià le zì zūn guāng huán

卸下了自尊光环

Removed the self-esteem halo

guò qù duō fēng guāng

过去多风光

The past is so beautiful

kàn xié yáng

看斜阳

Look at the setting sun

jiù suàn zài bù kān bài zhàng

就算再不堪败仗

Even if it's unbearable again

yě bù néng tóu jiàng

也不能投降

Can't surrender

qīn ài de

亲爱的

Dear

zài jiàn le nán fāng tiào wàng zuì měi lì de jiā xiāng

再见了南方眺望最美丽的家乡

Goodbye, looking at the most beautiful hometown in the south

zài yuǎn fāng

在远方

in the distance

yē zi shù yáo huǎng

椰子树摇晃

Coconut tree shaking

mèng jìng dào yìng zhe de huàn xiǎng

梦境倒映着的幻想

Fantasy reflected in dreams

zhè chéng shì

这城市

this city

wù mái tài chāng kuáng bù sàn

雾霾太猖狂不散

The smog is too rampant

dōu kàn bù qīng qián fāng

都看不清前方

Can't see the front

tài mí wǎng

太迷惘

Too confused

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

我飘向北方别问我家乡

I'm floating north, don't ask my hometown

gāo sǒng gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng dǎng bù zhù yōu shāng

高耸古老的城墙挡不住忧伤

The towering old city walls can't stop the sadness

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng jiā rén shì fǒu wú yàng

我飘向北方家人是否无恙

I'm floating to the north, is my family safe?

jiān shàng chén zhòng de xíng náng shèng mǎn le chóu chàng

肩上沉重的行囊盛满了惆怅

The heavy bag on the shoulder is full of melancholy

yě shì zuì hòu jì wàng

也是最后寄望

and the last hope

huí bù qù de yuǎn fāng

回不去的远方 oh

The far place you can't go back oh

kōng qì tài zàng tài hún zhuó

空气太脏太浑浊

The air is too dirty and muddy

tā shuō bù xǐ huān

他说不喜欢

He said he didn't like it

chē tài hùn luàn tài cōng máng

车太混乱太匆忙

The car is too messy and rushed

tā hái bù xí guàn

他还不习惯

He is not used to it yet

rén xíng dào yī shuāng yòu yī shuāng

人行道一双又一双

One pair after another on the sidewalk

xié shì lěng mò de yǎn guāng

斜视冷漠的眼光

Strabismus and indifferent vision

tā jīng cháng jiāng zì jǐ guàn zuì

他经常将自己灌醉

He often gets himself drunk

qiáng pò róng rù zhè dà rǎn gāng

强迫融入这大染缸

Forcing into this big dye vat

zǒu zhe jiǎo bù pán shān

走着脚步蹒跚

Walking along

èr guō tóu zài yáo huǎng

二锅头在摇晃

Erguotou is shaking

shī yì de rén a

失意的人啊

Frustrated people

ǒu ěr zuì dào zài nà hú tóng lòu xiàng

偶尔醉倒在那胡同陋巷

Occasionally drunk in that alley

jǔ jué bào dù shuàn zhe yáng

咀嚼爆肚涮着羊

Chew the belly and rinse the lamb

shǒu zhōng shèng zhe yī wǎn rè tāng

手中盛着一碗热汤

I have a bowl of hot soup in my hand

yǒu lì dì wēn nuǎn zhe nèi xīn lǐ de bù ān

有力地温暖着内心里的不安

Warm the restlessness in my heart vigorously

rěn zhe lèi

忍着泪

holding tears

bù tīng yě bù xiǎng

不听也不想

Don’t listen and don’t want to

bù gǎn huí tóu wàng de yí hàn

不敢回头望的遗憾

The regret that I dare not look back

yǎn zhe shāng

掩着伤

cover the wound

káng xià le mèng xiǎng

扛下了梦想

Carry on the dream

yào yì rán jué rán qù liú làng

要毅然决然去流浪

Go wandering resolutely

tái tóu kàn

抬头看

Look up

xiè xià le zì zūn guāng huán

卸下了自尊光环

Removed the self-esteem halo

guò qù duō fēng guāng

过去多风光

The past is so beautiful

kàn xié yáng

看斜阳

Look at the setting sun

jiù suàn zài bù kān bài zhàng

就算再不堪败仗

Even if it's unbearable again

yě bù néng tóu jiàng

也不能投降

Can't surrender

qīn ài de

亲爱的

Dear

zài jiàn le nán fāng tiào wàng zuì měi lì de jiā xiāng

再见了南方眺望最美丽的家乡

Goodbye to the south, overlooking the most beautiful hometown

zài yuǎn fāng

在远方

in the distance

yē zi shù yáo huǎng

椰子树摇晃

Coconut tree shaking

mèng jìng dào yìng zhe de huàn xiǎng

梦境倒映着的幻想

The fantasy reflected in dreams

zhè chéng shì

这城市

this city

wù mái tài chāng kuáng bù sàn

雾霾太猖狂不散

The smog is too rampant

dōu kàn bù qīng qián fāng

都看不清前方

Can't see the front

tài mí wǎng

太迷惘

Too confused

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

我飘向北方别问我家乡

I'm floating north, don't ask my hometown

gāo sǒng gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng dǎng bù zhù yōu shāng

高耸古老的城墙挡不住忧伤

The towering ancient walls can't stop the sadness

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng jiā rén shì fǒu wú yàng

我飘向北方家人是否无恙

I'm floating to the north, is my family safe?

jiān shàng chén zhòng de xíng náng shèng mǎn le chóu chàng

肩上沉重的行囊盛满了惆怅

The heavy bag on the shoulder is full of melancholy

jiù xiàng nà chén tǔ piāo sàn suí zhe fēng xiàng

就像那尘土飘散随着风向

It's like the dust drifting away with the wind

shuí yòu néng dài lǐng zhe wǒ yī qǐ fēi xiáng

谁又能带领着我一起飞翔

Who can lead me to fly together

wǒ zhàn zài tiān tán zhōng yāng bì shàng yǎn

我站在天坛中央闭上眼

I stand in the middle of the Temple of Heaven and close my eyes

qí qiú yī jiā rén dōu píng ān

祈求一家人都平安

Pray for the safety of the family

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

我飘向北方别问我家乡

I'm floating north, don't ask my hometown

gāo sǒng gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng dǎng bù zhù yōu shāng

高耸古老的城墙挡不住忧伤

The towering ancient walls can't stop the sadness

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng jiā rén shì fǒu wú yàng

我飘向北方家人是否无恙

I floated to the north, is my family safe?

jiān shàng chén zhòng de xíng náng shèng mǎn le chóu chàng

肩上沉重的行囊盛满了惆怅

The heavy bag on the shoulder is full of melancholy

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng

我飘向北方

I float to the north

wǒ zhàn zài tiān zi jiǎo xià

我站在天子脚下

I stand at the feet of the emperor

bèi cǎi dé chuǎn bù guò qì

被踩得喘不过气

I can’t breathe

bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

别问我家乡

Don't ask my hometown

zǒu zài qián mén dà jiē gēn rén cháo

走在前门大街跟人潮

Walking on Qianmen Street with the crowd

zǒng huì fēn qí

总会分歧

There are always differences

gāo sǒng gǔ lǎo de chéng qiáng

高耸古老的城墙

The towering ancient walls

huò xǔ wǒ gēn běn bù shǔ yú zhè lǐ

或许我根本不属于这里

Maybe I don’t belong here at all

zǎo jiù gāi lí qù

早就该离去

It's time to leave long ago

dǎng bù zhù yōu shāng

挡不住忧伤

Unstoppable sadness

shuí néng gěi wǒ zhì mìng de yī jī

谁能给我致命的一击

Who can give me a fatal blow

qǐng yòng lì dào chè dǐ

请用力到彻底

Please use force to the full

wǒ piāo xiàng běi fāng

我飘向北方

I float to the north

zhè lǐ shì mèng xiǎng de zhōng xīn

这里是梦想的中心

Here is the center of dreams

dàn mèng xiǎng dōu yáo bù kě jí

但梦想都遥不可及

But dreams are out of reach

jiā rén shì fǒu wú yàng

家人是否无恙

Is the family safe?

zhè lǐ shì yuán mèng de shèng dì

这里是圆梦的圣地

This is the holy place for dreams

dàn què zǒng shì pū shuò mí lí

但却总是扑朔迷离

But it is always confusing

jiān shàng chén zhòng de xíng náng

肩上沉重的行囊

Heavy bag on shoulder

duō shǎo rén dí bù guò cán kù de xiàn shí

多少人敌不过残酷的现实

How many people can't match the cruel reality

cóng cǐ xiāo shēng nì jì

从此销声匿迹

Since then disappeared

shèng mǎn le yōu shāng

盛满了忧伤

full of sadness

duō shǎo rén xiàn rù le hūn mí

多少人陷入了昏迷

How many people fell into a coma

shèng xià yī jù kōng ké shī tǐ

剩下一具空壳尸体

An empty corpse left

yě shì zuì hòu jì wàng

也是最后寄望

and the last hope

huí bù qù de yuǎn fāng

回不去的远方 oh

The far away you can't go back oh

piāo xiàng běi fāng

飘向北方

Floating north

bié wèn wǒ jiā xiāng

别问我家乡

Don't ask my hometown