The Lake's Beauty Suits Both

[Intro]

[Verse 1]

The boat drifts on the lake

The wind blows, and ripples rise on the lake

Before long, rain drifts down again

The distant mountains fade into, the curve of a brow

Whether sunshine or rain

The lake has, its own beauty in each

[Pre-Chorus]

Su Dongpo raises his wine cup

As he gazed and gazed, poetic inspiration suddenly came

[Chorus]

水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇 — Shimmering water is lovely in sunshine, misty mountains are wondrous in rain

欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜 — If West Lake were likened to the beauty Xizi, light makeup or rich adornment would suit her equally

In clear weather the waves shimmer, a lavish spread of light

The mountains' colors in the rain, now near, now elusive

Lovely in heavy makeup, distinct in light makeup too

West Lake is a quatrain, written by mountains and waters

[Verse 2]

He likened West Lake to the beauty Xizi

If Xizi saw it, she too would be delighted

What does light makeup look like

Mountains after rain, pure and serenely graceful

What does rich makeup look like

Is sunlit, shimmering water, radiant beyond compare

[Pre-Chorus]

If West Lake could smile

It would most likely be delighted, to accept the comparison

[Chorus]

水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇 — Shimmering water is lovely in sunshine, misty mountains are wondrous in rain

欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜 — If West Lake were likened to the beauty Xizi, light makeup or rich adornment would suit her equally

In clear weather the waves shimmer, a lavish spread of light

The mountains' colors in the rain, now near, now elusive

Lovely in heavy makeup, distinct in light makeup too

West Lake is a quatrain, written by mountains and waters

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

After this line of poetry spread

West Lake and Xizi, bound together

People come to see West Lake

As though visiting, a dear friend in light makeup

The boatwoman sings as she rows

She too sings these few lines of poetry

[Bridge]

Life too has sunshine and rain

Sunshine is not always better, nor rain always less

Every kind of weather has

Its own unique goodness, and its reasons

Those whose hearts are clear and bright

Find delight in sunshine and rain alike

May you too be like West Lake

Stand serene, through sunshine and rain

[Verse 4]

Dusk has tinted the lake

Dyeing it into a painting, on blue-green silk

I step off the boat and look back

Lake and mountains recede，into the blue-gray dusk

Tomorrow may bring rain

What does that, matter

[Final Chorus]

水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇 — Shimmering water is lovely in sunshine, misty mountains are wondrous in rain

欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜 — If West Lake were likened to the beauty Xizi, light makeup or rich adornment would suit her equally

In clear weather the waves shimmer, a lavish spread of light

The mountains' colors in the rain, now near, now elusive

Lovely in heavy makeup, distinct in light makeup too

West Lake is a quatrain, written by mountains and waters

[Outro]

欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜 — If West Lake were likened to the beauty Xizi, light makeup or rich adornment would suit her equally

I come to see you in sunshine, I come to see you in rain