A Straw Rain Cape in Cold Snow

[Verse One]

Flying shadows over a thousand mountains vanish into the clouds

Countless paths lie deserted, the snow still falls

A thread of cold river, where the sky is about to close in

Who has set a straw cape and hat in the solitary boat

[Lead-in]

No trace remains of the path I took here

Beneath my bamboo hat, I silently watch the water flow

[Chorus]

Alone I cast my hook into the cold river

Wind and snow cloak a straw cape and a solitary boat

The fishing line hangs down into silence

Only snow can be seen drifting and lingering at the horizon

All the world's human voices have grown distant

The only sound remaining is the water flowing on

[Interlude]

[Verse 2]

Cold hues spread over the old sandbar

The river flows silently around the bow

Fine ripples form where the bamboo fishing rod dips

Beyond me, the peaks are still wrapped in white

[Lead-in]

No trace remains of the path I took here

Beneath my bamboo hat, I silently watch the water flow

[Chorus]

Alone I cast my hook into the cold river

Wind and snow cloak a straw cape and a solitary boat

The fishing line hangs down into silence

Only snow can be seen drifting and lingering at the horizon

All the world's human voices have grown distant

The only sound remaining is the water flowing on

[Bridge]

If you ask what I await aboard the boat

The empty river gives no answer, its waters flow on and on

Who knows the thoughts beneath that straw cape and hat

All that is seen are cold waves passing the fishing hook

[Final Chorus]

Alone I cast my hook into the cold river

Wind and snow cloak a straw cape and a solitary boat

The fishing line hangs down into silence

Only snow can be seen drifting and lingering at the horizon

All the world's human voices have grown distant

The only sound remaining is the water flowing on

[Outro]

Snow buries the homeward road deep

A person and a solitary boat at the water’s edge