Slender Hands Peel a Fresh Orange

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

The blade from Bingzhou gleams like water

Salt from the land of Wu, purer even than snow

A pair of slender hands lifts it

Split open a fresh orange, its fragrance wakes at once

Dip into just a little salt

Sweetness within the tartness, like the mood tonight

[Pre-Chorus]

The bed curtains have only just grown warm

The beast-shaped incense burner, its smoke has never stopped

[Chorus]

并刀如水，纤手破开新橙 — A Bingzhou knife gleams like water, slender hands cut open a fresh orange

The brocade canopy grows warm, incense curls from the beast-shaped burner

We sit facing each other，slowly tuning the sheng

A softly spoken question, the third night watch has sounded over the city

马滑霜浓，直是少人行 — Horses slip in the heavy frost, truly few travelers are about

Tonight, stay and keep this lamp company

[Verse 2]

We sit facing each other

You tune the sheng, I softly hum the melody

You bow your head to tune the sheng

The firelight lends your profile a quiet glow

The firelight leaps and leaps

The firelight gently rocks the shadows

[Pre-Chorus]

Before I had time to answer

The frost outside the window, adds another layer to the answer

[Chorus]

并刀如水，纤手破开新橙 — A Bingzhou knife gleams like water, slender hands cut open a fresh orange

The brocade canopy grows warm, incense curls from the beast-shaped burner

We sit facing each other，slowly tuning the sheng

A softly spoken question, the third night watch has sounded over the city

马滑霜浓，直是少人行 — Horses slip in the heavy frost, truly few travelers are about

Tonight, stay and keep this lamp company

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

You suddenly ask in a low voice

Tonight, at whose house will you stay

I lift my head to hear the night watch sound

The watch drum sounds three times, the frosty air is thickening

How deftly that question is asked

Who could miss the deep affection in this plea to stay

[Bridge]

You say the horse's hooves will slip

The frost is so thick, it freezes the flagstone road to ice

It is so deep into the night

Along the whole road, where is there even a human shadow?

Rather than press on through the dark

Better to go on, tuning the sheng until dawn

Half an orange still remains

The fragrance lingers, the coals still glow red

[Verse 4]

I set down my riding whip

Let the road be slippery, let the frost grow thick

I sit down by the stove again

I listen to the unfinished tune, all the way to its end

Orange fragrance mingles with smoke from the stove

Just sitting like this, is already a rare blessing

[Final Chorus]

并刀如水，纤手破开新橙 — A Bingzhou knife gleams like water, slender hands cut open a fresh orange

The brocade canopy grows warm, incense curls from the beast-shaped burner

We sit facing each other，slowly tuning the sheng

A softly spoken question, the third night watch has sounded over the city

马滑霜浓，直是少人行 — Horses slip in the heavy frost, truly few travelers are about

Tonight, stay and keep this lamp company

[Outro]

The night-watch drum has sounded another round

Tonight, let neither of us mention the journey