Red Cliffs Rhapsody

念奴娇

赤壁怀古

苏轼 (1037-1101)

大江东去，

浪淘尽、千古风流人物。

故垒西边，

人道是、三国周郎赤壁。

乱石穿空，

惊涛拍岸，

卷起千堆雪。

江山如画，

一时多少豪杰!

遥想公瑾当年，

小乔初嫁了，

雄姿英发。

羽扇纶巾，

谈笑间、

樯橹灰飞烟灭。

故国神游，

多情应笑我,

早生华发。

人生如梦，

一樽还酹江月。

Tune: Niannu Jiao

Red Cliffs Rhapsody

By Su Shi (1037-1101)

Eastwards the Great River flows,

Waves wash away all the gallant heroes

Through thousands of bygone years!

West of the ancient rampart they call it Red Cliff

Of the Three Kingdoms the battle field,

Remembered by the name of General Zhou.

Jagged rocks pierce the clouds,

Tempestuous waves lash the shore,

Whipping up thousands of layers of snow.

What hosts of heroes once there were

In such a splendid painting of mountain and river!

Imagine young General Zhou in those days,

Having Xiao Qiao, the bride so fair,

Majestic and spirited himself,

With a silk kerchief binding hair,

And a plume fan in hand,

Laughing and jesting,

While Cao Cao’s fleet was destroyed as planned.

Were I to visit the ancient Kingdom,

Sentimental, I would be laughed at,

And my hair turned grey earlier.

Life is but a dream,

Let me pour a libation

To the river with moonlight gleam.