Please sprout at the speed of light,
it’ll be a while before you can cover the sky
Please grow with all your might,
your story is only beginning

A beautiful song by composer Xiaoke and featuring a number of top Beijing-based artists headed by Wang Feng, Vine 藤 ‘s lyrics remind us to remember our dreams and reach for the sky at any age. The song is the theme for documentary Beijing Memories, and may one of my favorite cities grow and sprout while never forgetting its roots. Translated below the cut.

《Vine》 《藤》
Singers: Xiaoke, LaoLang,Sha Baoliang, Man Wenjun, Man Jiang, Huang Zheng, Wang Feng, Chang Kuan
Composer: Xiaoke
Lyrics: Xiaoke

 

When we turn our heads, see that sun rising slowly
the dove is still resting on the roof,
but it’s no longer the same one as before

 

When we rise our heads, we’re already past our youth
See that branching tree over there,
it was once a tender green

 

So many branches and vines,
covering those pasts,
followed by another past
The long vines intertwines,
intertwining those memories,
with another memory

 

Please grow with all your might,
you’re still far from reaching the sky
Please sprout at the speed of light,
it’ll be a while before you can cover the sky
Please grow with all your might,
your story is only beginning
Please sprout  at the speed of light,
use your branches to intertwine the memories of the pasts
slowly written

 

Repeat

 

Please grow with all your might,
you’re still far from reaching the sky
Please sprout at the speed of light,
it’ll be a while before you can cover the sky
Please grow with all your might,
your story is only beginning
Please sprout  at the speed of light,
use your branches to intertwine the memories of the pasts
slowly written