#maobuyi

Cho người mượn một đời bình phàm..

- Mượn -

/Mao Bất Dịch /

Drown One's Sorrows

毛不易 // Mao Buyi

 MAO BUYI’S SECOND ALBUM VIRTUAL CONCERT - 东北民谣

This song is in Chinese, so I’ll be providing including both the original lyrics, as well as the English lyrics for discussion! The English translation accompanying the original will not be very lyrical or follow the music per say. However, if anyone not Chinese-speaking is interested in trying to sing along, right at the bottom, I’ll be including an English sing-along version that follows the music (to the best of my ability). 

I may do a cover of the song in future but as of right now, I don’t have the time, location, or instrument required to record something like that. If anyone wants to do a cover based on the translation, I’ll appreciate if you link the post (and maybe send me a message so I can check it out too!).

The music starts at 2:00 in the video but feel free to watch the rest of the video too, it’s quite entertaining and there are English subtitles for the video! :)

Lyrics (with English Translation)

如果有一天我变得很有钱 If one day I become very rich 我的第一选择不是去环游世界  My first step isn’t to travel around world 躺在世界上最大最软的沙发里 I’ll lie on the world’s largest and most comfortable sofa 吃了就睡醒了再吃先过一年 Sleep right after I eat, and eat once I awake, for one whole year

如果有一天我变得很有钱 If one day I become very rich 我就可以把所有人都留在我身边 Then I can make sure everyone stays by my side 每天快快乐乐吃吃喝喝聊聊天 Happily eating, drinking, chatting everyday 不用担心关于明天和离别 With no need to worry about the future or separations

(Chorus) 变有钱 我变有钱 Become rich, I become rich 多少人没日没夜地浪费时间 How many people waste every day and night (to do so) 变有钱 我变有钱 Become rich, I become rich 然后故作谦虚说金钱不是一切 And then pretend to be modest and say that money isn’t everything

如果有一天我变得很有钱 If one day I become very rich 我会买下所有难得一见的笑脸 I will buy every smile that is hard to come by 让所有可怜的孩子不再胆怯 Make sure every pitiful child no longer feel fear 所有邪恶的人不再掌握话语权 And every cruel person no longer have the right to speak

如果有一天我变得很有钱 If one day I become very rich 我会想尽一切办法倒流时间 I will think of every possible way to turn back time 不是为了人类理想做贡献 Not to contribute to mankind 只是想和她说一句我很抱歉 Just because I want to tell her - I’m very sorry

(Chorus) 变有钱 我变有钱 Become rich, I become rich 然后发自内心地说金钱它不是一切 And then say that money isn’t everything from the bottom of my heart

Reflections

First off, can I just say being able whistling a tune is insanely cool?! Not many people can do that so... who is this amazing artiste? Well this is 毛不易 Mao Bu Yi (often translated by Google to “hair is not easy” because it literally means that), nicknamed 毛毛 MaoMao. He debuted in 2017 after winning the competition in the show above (明日之子) and this song was his audition piece on the show. Quite an opening, isn’t it?

Even though the song is quite simple, it is easily one of my favourite songs! It does an extremely good job of balancing between playfulness and lightheartedness with serious issues.

Starting off, he speaks sings my (and likely many other people’s) hearts desire with the very first verse. While I do want to travel the world, the exhaustion from daily life right now just makes me want to take a long long break. Many people point out that part of why he likely won the competition was because of how he sings the desire of many millennial in this day and age and this is only one of the many examples.

The second verse talks about friendship. With the busy (almost impossible schedule) that everyone has to keep up with, it is so difficult to maintain friendships when everyone is travelling their own paths and it is something I myself always find stressful as well. 

I’ve always always wanted a deep lifelong friendship and put a lot of efforts into trying to maintain my friendships but recently, I’ve been realising that everything seems so one-sided. I don’t need the amount of effort to be the same but its trampling on my heart whenever I see that a friend I used to be close to isn’t even bothering to put in any effort.

However, spending money on friends is often something people say when they’re not rich but never do. But my favourite part is that after he won this competition and came to fame, he actually lives together with his friends, pays the rent for them, and often also treats them. Finding this out was really touching because it was just nice to know that there are still people out there who keeps their word and are actually willing to be so open-handed with friends. It gives me hope knowing that there is someone who’s willing to put in these kind of effort into their friendship and I sincerely hope his friends treat him the same.

I also love the mild critique (using the word waste instead of a more neutral word like spend) in the first chorus of people giving too much focus to being rich in today’s society. It also displays how mocking the phrase “money isn’t everything” when said by people who have lots of them by stating its an act of modesty.

The verse after that is definitely my favourite verse. It shows benevolence and encourages people to do good in a song. Perhaps I’m just not exposed to enough alternative music but it is nice to see mainstream music discussing such issues instead of the usual drama of love. I like a good love song as much as the next person, but there are so many more important issues that is seems disproportionate to have so many love songs. I wish there were more song that discuss and promote such acts of kindness.

The last verse is quite open to interpretation, on who the “her” is. However, MaoMao has mentioned that he has never dated before and he has another song where he talks about his regrets towards his late mother. Although it isn’t the most important or obvious detail in the song, I personally believe it is about his mother and its just another icing to the cake because more songs on the emphasis on familial love are definitely welcomed!

Lastly, the ending has a nice touch to it where he implies that he genuinely thinks that money isn’t everything. While elsewhere in the song already implied it, it is an important message and I think a wonderful way to end the song.

Musically, I think one of my favourite things in this song is how the melody “变有钱 我变有钱” in the chorus has a longer “tail” each time it returns. It can be interpreted in many ways I suppose but I shan’t bother to discuss them. I simply thought that it added colour to the song and I really enjoyed it.

If anyone wants to discuss more about the song or any other songs, I’ll be happy to do so! Let me know if I’ve missed any important details as well.

Sing-along English Lyrics

If one day I turn into a millionaire The first thing that I do won’t be to travel round the world I’ll be lying in the world’s most comfortable cushion Doing nothing else but eat and sleep for one whole year

If one day I turn into a millionaire Then I can have everyone staying right by my side Spending everyday in bliss partying up a storm No need to worry ‘bout futures or goodbyes Millionaire, a millionaire Crowds of men waste everyday trying to do so Millionaire, if I’m a millionaire I’ll forge modesty and say that money - it isn’t all

If one day I turn into a millionaire I’ll bring smiles to everyone who finds it hard to smile Wash away the worries of the children living in fear Take away the power from everyone with a black heart

If one day I turn into a millionaire I’ll find every way I can to turn back in time Not to find a way to give back to mankind Just because I want to tell her how sorry I am

Land of lakes -Maobuyi

水乡- 毛不易

小王 -毛不易 Xiao Wang- Mao Buyi 如果我在角落裡遇見他 If I meet him in the corner,

碰巧有烏雲遮住天空啊 It happens to be dark clouds that cover the sky.

我會伸出還溫熱的手掌 I’ll hold out my warm hand.

告訴他明天會有多晴朗 Tell him how clear it will be tomorrow.

What will you say if you meet your pass self?