The Lonely City’s Gates Are Shut

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

As soon as autumn reaches the frontier

The landscape takes on a different temper

The wild geese have gone toward Hengyang

Without looking back, without the slightest swerve of a wing

They too find it cold here

Only the city must still keep watch where it stands

[Pre-Chorus]

Frontier sounds on every side mingle with the horns

At the first sound of the horn, a thousand mountains hold their breath

[Chorus]

塞下秋来风景异 — Autumn brings a different landscape to the frontier

衡阳雁去无留意 — Geese leave for Hengyang with no wish to linger

千嶂里，长烟落日孤城闭 — Amid a thousand peaks, long trails of haze and a setting sun, the lone city shuts its gates

浊酒一杯家万里 — A cup of cloudy wine，home ten thousand miles away

燕然未勒归无计—With no victory yet inscribed at Yanran, there is no way to return

The general's hair turns white, the soldiers too shed tears in secret

[Verse 2]

A long plume of smoke rises straight up

The setting sun stretches shadows, long to their very ends

The city gates creak shut

They cannot shut out homesickness, rising inch by inch

A thousand peaks encircle us like an iron barrel

The lonely city grits its teeth and stands straight

[Pre-Chorus]

A cup of cloudy wine goes down

Wine warms my throat, but cannot warm the place where home belongs

[Chorus]

塞下秋来风景异 — Autumn brings a different landscape to the frontier

衡阳雁去无留意 — Geese leave for Hengyang with no wish to linger

千嶂里，长烟落日孤城闭 — Amid a thousand peaks, long trails of haze and a setting sun, the lone city shuts its gates

浊酒一杯家万里 — A cup of cloudy wine，home ten thousand miles away

燕然未勒归无计—With no victory yet inscribed at Yanran, there is no way to return

The general's hair turns white, the soldiers too shed tears in secret

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

The stone monument on Mount Yanran

Has yet to be inscribed with our victory

Until we have won this battle

Of going home，no one dares speak again

It is not that we do not want to return

I fear going home, and failing the city I guard

[Bridge]

The Qiang flute plays its lingering notes

The frost is so white, it covers every footprint

I lie down, then rise again

So I throw on a robe, and watch the moon lean west

The general touches his white hair

Every strand，remembers a date

The soldier turns his face away

Secretly wiping them away, pretending they are grains of frost

[Verse 4]

At daybreak the horn sounds again

A new day begins again with the horn's call

If you ask when we can return

Wait for victory to be carved on Mount Yanran, wait for the galloping messenger of triumph

The letters from home are worn from being carried close

The words have worn away, yet I still cannot bear to throw it out

[Final Chorus]

塞下秋来风景异 — Autumn brings a different landscape to the frontier

衡阳雁去无留意 — Geese leave for Hengyang with no wish to linger

千嶂里，长烟落日孤城闭 — Amid a thousand peaks, long trails of haze and a setting sun, the lone city shuts its gates

浊酒一杯家万里 — A cup of cloudy wine，home ten thousand miles away

燕然未勒归无计—With no victory yet inscribed at Yanran, there is no way to return

The general's hair turns white, the soldiers too shed tears in secret

[Outro]

Another night has passed

The city gates remain shut，frost has whitened the banners again