TUNE: BEAUTIFUL LADY YU LISTENING TO RAIN

Jiang Jie

(Southern Song Dynasty)

While young, I listen to rain in the house of song,

Overjoyed in curtained bed

Beside a candle red.

In prime of life I heard rain on the river long,

In lonely boat, when wailed wild geese

Beneath low clouds in western breeze.

Now that I listen to rain under temple's eave,

My hair turns grey

Like starry ray.

Who cares if men will meet or part, rejoice or grieve?

Can I feel joy or sorrow?

Let it rain till tomorrow!

虞美人•听雨

[南宋]蒋捷

少年听雨歌楼上,

红烛昏罗帐。

壮年听雨客舟中,

江阔云低,断雁叫西风。

而今听雨僧庐下,

鬓已星星也。

悲欢离合总无情,

一任阶前, 点滴到天明。

About the poet 

Jiang Jie was a Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) poet who was known to be a versatile literati. He writes in different form and style.

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) was born in Nanchang in East China's Jiangxi Province. He was a professor of literary translation at Peking University.

About the book 

300 Song lyrics Translated by Xu Yuanchong Published by China