Spring scene: In a far-reaching dream, the southern land is in fragrant spring. The music of pipes and strings drifts from a boat over the clear green river; willow catkins tumble throughout the city, with fine dust floating along. Those busy admiring the flowers can scarcely take it all in!

Autumn passage: In a far-reaching dream, the southern lands are in clear autumn. A thousand miles of rivers and hills stretch into the distance in chilly colors; a lone boat rests deep among reed blossoms. The bright moon shines on a tower, and the sound of a flute carries from it.

闲梦远: in idle retirement, dreaming of distant places; it suggests both spatial distance and the irretrievability of the past. 南国: the mountains and rivers of the former homeland in the south; in light of Li Yu’s life, it may be understood as the former territory of Southern Tang.

渌（lù）: clear water. 辊（gǔn）: rolling or tumbling. 忙杀: “杀” serves as a complement of degree, meaning extremely busy. 寒色远: the wording used on this page, meaning the cold hues stretch far; another version reads “寒色暮,” cold hues at dusk.

This page includes two passages in the same tune pattern, one on spring and one on autumn. Transmitted versions differ in tune titles and in whether they are combined or separated; they are often selected separately as two Remembering Jiangnan lyrics. Both passages are translated here, without deleting or altering the original text.

Reading guide: These two passages depict Jiangnan’s spring scenery and autumn colors in dreams, and are often read in connection with Li Yu’s longing after the loss of his kingdom. Rather than directly recounting his actual hardships, they allow past or dreamed landscapes and ways of life to appear, generating feeling from the distance between beautiful scenes and the “faraway dream.”

The spring passage is full of sound and movement: strings and pipes, flying willow catkins, light dust, and people admiring flowers together form a bustling world. The autumn passage gradually grows still through its lone boat, reed blossoms, moonlit tower, and flute music, giving the two seasons distinct moods.

The repeated “闲梦远,” “my wandering dream travels far,” sets a shared limit: whether splendid or secluded, everything before the speaker is only a dream. The lyric does not loudly lament; the distance that cannot easily be retraced already lends melancholy to its beautiful scenery.