A Folk Arts Studies Corner: Hát Xẩm

Temple University Center for Vietnamese Philosophy, Culture & Society Folk Arts
	F O L K · A R T S · S T U D I E S A research project in the Vietnamese folk arts heritage

H Á T X Ẩ M
Folk Songs of the Blind Traveling Beggars
Phan Gia Anh Thư & Ngô Thanh Nhàn
October 19, 2017

L Y R I C S *Giạt nước cánh bèo* "Like a fern petal in the angry stream" Style Xẩm Hà Liễu Sung with đàn nhị "two-string fiddle" by Hà Thị Cầu accompanited by trống mảnh "twin lap drums", and cặp kè "bamboo clappers"
Vietnamese	Engliah rough draft
Rao	Introduction music, 2-string fiddle and drums
Dạt nước cánh bèo, bấy lâu nay lênh đênh dạt nước cánh bèo Đã từng lưu lạc... chữ tình lưu lạc để nhiều điều vất vả gian truân (xuyên tâm) Trời cao có thấu tình chăng	I have always been tumbling like a fern in the angry stream I have always been wandering... my unsettled love life that brought me hardship and sufferings (pickup) Oh Heaven on high! Do you know the troubles I'm in?
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Trời mấy cao có thấu tình chăng đòi người mà mấy lúc, đòi người với lúc vất vả gian truân cho kiếp tôi già (xuyên tâm) Tôi hiềm về liệu bẩy lo ba đến với chồng thì cũng nặng bên cha cao dày thế cho nên một tôi lo lắng cả đêm ngày	Oh Heaven on high! Do you know how much trouble I'm in? How many times in one’s life… How many times in your life, you has to go through hardship and sufferings that had aged me quickly… (pickup) I think and think of all paths that led me astray, on the one side, I am burden with the love for my husband, and on the other, the debt of life for my father… Both torture me relentlessly, day and night
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Cho mấy nên lo lắng đêm ngày đĩa trầu vơi mà nước mắt trầu vơi nước mắt thiếp chẩy đầy cả năm canh... (xuyên tâm) Ngồi một mình mà sao tôi cứ tủi mãi duyên mình	That’s why I worry sick day and night my betel dish is emptied, but my tears kept running ceaselessly (pickup) I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Một mình tôi cứ tủi mãi duyên mình Than thân mà rằng chả than thân rằng chả ăn ở bạc tình với ai (xuyên tâm) Thà vấy ơ gió trúc mưa mai ngẩn ngơ trăm nỗi dùi mài một thân cam mấy lòng tôi vất vả nơi xa gần	Alone, I keep feeling sorry for my life I cry for my lot I cry for my lot but I have never to fail anyone (pickup) I looked away from all temptations, stunt by thousands of problems, I just focus on these duties alone And invite hardships, far and near, onto myself
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Cam lòng thân tôi vất vả xa gần chẳng ai vò mà rối Ai vò tôi rối chả có ai giần khúc ruột tôi đau (xuyên tâm) Một mình tôi mới đứng tủi ngồi sầu	I endure alone the hardships far and near (pickup) Nobody messes me up, yet I am all twisted and turned Nobody steps on me. yet my guts are all in pain (pickup) I am all alone standing in shame and sitting in pain
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Mình mới tôi đứng tủi ngồi sầu than thân rằng chả than thân rằng chả bạc đầu với hoa ... (xuyên tâm) Thương mấy thân thời chút phận của đàn bà những điều vất vả ấy là điều chung Chị em ơi đàn bà thương lấy nhau cùng	I am all alone standing in shame and sitting in pain I regret that I might not be living all my life with my love (pickup) Then I feel pity for myself, A dreadful life of a woman These pain and sufferings are fated on every woman Oh sisters! Do pity for each other
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Chị em ơi đàn bà thương lẫn nhau cùng Thiền quyên nhỡ bước Thiền quyên nhỡ bước để má hồng vất vả gian nan (xuyên tâm) Đêm mấy ngày mình tôi nghĩ ngợi mà lo toan Vất vả tại số, giở giang tại giời Có may ra thì tôi thì vào được cái giếng khơi	Oh sisters! As women, we have to empathize with each other A woman always takes a wrong step Then she lands in the wrong place she endures hardship and sufferings (pickup) I just think and worry I realize the hardship is our fate And landing in wrong places it’s the heaven’s will If one is lucky, one lands in an open well
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
May mấy ra vào được giếng khơi vò/vừa trong vò/vừa sạch vò trong vò sạch mát mẻ là nơi chỗ thanh nhàn (xuyên tâm) Chả mấy may thân tôi vất vả mấy gian nan bước vào nơi mà cay đắng phàn nàn cùng ai Dạ tôi sầu tuy rằng trong héo ngoài tươi...	If you’re really lucky, you land in an open well The water is clear, and clean The water is clear and clean where you can enjoy leisure (pickup) I, like all of you, fall into the wrong places, I must endure hardship, to whom can I complain All in pain, but, like a flower, I still have to look cheerful
Lưu không	Style instrumental refrain
Tôi mới sờ/sầu tuy rằng trong héo ngoài tươi, tiếc công thì gắn bó tiếc công gắn bó thiệt thòi mà lắm ru…(xuyên tâm) Con rồng vàng mà ai đem tắm nước ao tù người khôn thì ở mấy người ngu mà nặng mình cho mắy nên tôi phải đèo bòng	All in pain, yet I have to look cheerful, I can’t feel wasteful for my stupid commitment The stupid commitment, that keeps me holding on to the short ends (pickup) We are all like golden dragons falling into the pools of mud, we are the smart ones who have to live with the dumb dumbs, how can we not feel all dragged down… That’s why I continue… in silence
Chung kết	Final rally

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Folk Arts page queries: Folk Arts Studies