Cantonese song pays tribute to Mandela

Over the past two weeks, many Chinese people have been paying their respects and expressing their best wishes to Nelson Mandela by posting a special song on the Internet.

Glorious Days is a critically acclaimed Cantonese song performed by Beyond, a Hong Kong rock band.

The late Wong Ka-kui, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and founding member of the band, wrote it in 1990 as a tribute to Mandela’s contribution to his country's freedom.

"His dark skin gives meaning to his life's devotion to the color struggle," the lyrics say.

"He believes in his ability to change the future. Who else can accomplish this?"

Wong's song won an award for best lyrics in Hong Kong the year it was released.

Wong died in 1993 in Japan, while the band was filming a popular Japanese game show. He fell 2.7 meters from the stage to his death.

Many years after the musician died, Mandela heard about the song. It was reported that he shed tears when he listened to the lyrics, translated from Chinese.