The wind gently blows with a scent of kapok trees

[nijibug]

I just got my hands on JS’s 2004 album, 遇见未来 (”Encounter the Future”). I had to translate 天空的颜色 (”The Color of the Sky”) right away. A traditional Chinese melody with lyrics in the same spirit as Do As Infinity’s “Enrai” that conjured up the imagery of a Miyazaki film — it was simply too moving…

天空的颜色 火车厢一列列经过了隧道 风轻吹有木棉的味道 探着头数一数旧时的街道 我们的故事有多少 疏离的城市 和轻狂的年少 苦的甜的只有自己知道 有一个声音不能忘掉 还记得外婆对我轻轻唱 孩子 不要忘记了 人间的遭遇有它的规则 有一天当世界都变了 别忘记天空原来的颜色 水稻田阳光下追逐的嬉闹 小河边放只船水中漂 蒲公英吹散了像雪随风飘 那属于夏天的记号 长大了以后 你会不会忘掉 我们要勾勾手约定才好 未来的变化谁会知道 记得有首歌是这样唱的 孩子 不要忘记了 人间的遭遇有它的规则 有一天当世界都变了 别忘记天空原来的颜色 火车厢一列列经过了隧道 风轻吹有木棉的味道

The Color of the Sky Section by section, the train passes into the tunnel The wind gently blows with a scent of kapok trees Searchingly, I turn my head to count the streets of the past How many stories did we have… A deserted town And lighthearted childhood The bitter, the sweet, I alone can know There is only one voice that cannot be forgotten I still remember grandmother softly singing to me: “Child, do not forget There is a rhyme and reason to our destinies When, one day, the entire world has changed Don’t forget what the color of the sky used to be” Chasing happily through the rice paddies under the sunlight Beside the little river, a boat set adrift Dandelions disperse like snow wafting on the wind Memories emblazoned with summer’s seal After growing up Will you forget? We need to make a pinky promise No one can know the change the future will bring Remember there is a song that goes like this: “Child, do not forget There is a rhyme and reason to our destinies When, one day, the entire world has changed Don’t forget what the color of the sky used to be” (repeat) Section by section, the train passes into the tunnel The wind gently blows with a scent of kapok trees…