寒蝉凄切，

对长亭晚，

骤雨初歇。

都门帐饮无绪，

方留恋处，

兰舟催发。

执手相看泪眼，

竟无语凝噎。

念去去千里烟波，

暮霭沉沉楚天阔。

多情自古伤离别，

更哪堪冷落清秋节!

今宵酒醒何处?

杨柳岸晓风残月。

此去经年，

应是良辰好景虚设。

便纵有千种风情，

更与何人说!

TUNE: BELLS RINGING IN THE RAIN

Cicadas chill

Drearily shrill.

We stand face to face in an evening hour

Before the pavilion, after a sudden shower.

Can we care for drinking before we part?

At the city gate

We are lingering late,

But the boat is waiting for me to depart.

Hand in hand we gaze at each other’s tearful eyes

And burst into sobs with words congealed on our lips.

I’ll go my way

Far, far away

On miles and miles of misty waves where sail ships,

And evening clouds hang low in boundless Southern skies.

Lovers would grieve at parting as of old.

How could I stand this clear autumn day so cold!

Where shall I be found at daybreak

From wine awake?

Moored by a riverbank planted with willow trees

Beneath the waning moon and in the morning breeze.

I’ll be gone for a year.

In vain would good times and fine scenes appear.

However gallant I am on my part,

To whom can I lay bare my heart?