Singing of the Luo River Again

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

Dusk follows the vehicle over the ridge

I stand by the river watching the setting sun

一川秋水明如镜 (A river of autumn water shines clear as a mirror)

Orchids send a subtle fragrance on the breeze

Your sleeves turn lightly like flying snow

One glimpse of your startled-swan grace settles in my heart

[Pre-Chorus]

One meeting of our eyes, and my heart is already in turmoil

Before a word is spoken, uncertainty takes hold

[Chorus]

Separated by a vast stretch of water, by moonlight on two shores

You leave your unspoken words, in the middle of the water

I unfasten my jade pendant, you give me the gleam of pearls

Though our hearts are together, our bodies are far apart

If in this life we are not destined, to stay together through long years

May this river carry you, far away for me

[Verse 2]

Your sleeves billow in the wind

Wanting to leave yet lingering, with the night still far from over

I fear our vows will scatter with the dream

You entrust your sighs to the shimmering water

There are words in your eyes still unspoken

A moment's meeting treasured for a lifetime

[Pre-Chorus]

When love grows deep there is nowhere to hold it

Two hearts wander in uncertainty, separated by water

[Chorus]

Separated by a vast stretch of water, by moonlight on two shores

You leave your unspoken words, in the middle of the water

I unfasten my jade pendant, you give me the gleam of pearls

Though our hearts are together, our bodies are far apart

If in this life we are not destined, to stay together through long years

May this river carry you, far away for me

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

The cloud chariot recedes, water and sky stretch far

We turn to gaze at each other with tears streaming down

You said we would seldom meet again

Still you leave your true heart here beside me

[Bridge]

You are a goddess in the water

I am a son of this mortal world

Even if both hearts feel the same

Yet what can we do when our roads home lead different ways

I take a little boat to seek the shadows of the past

A boatful of starlight shines upon the empty river

Frost settles on my clothes as dawn draws near

Still looking back toward the middle of the water

[Verse 4]

I follow the flowing water toward daylight

No sleeve in sight, only waves

Softly I call your name

Each call falls upon my heart

[Final Chorus]

Separated by a vast stretch of water, by moonlight on two shores

You leave your unspoken words, in the middle of the water

I remember our first meeting, and still keep watch over the pearls’ glow

Though our hearts are together, our bodies are far apart

If in this life we are not destined, to stay together through long years

May this river carry you, far away for me

[Outro]

How often I look back along the road eastward home

The Luo River is silent beneath the boundless sky