Explanation of Hacken's song "City Surrounded by Heaven and Water - TinSuiWaiSing". The translation took over an hour so I'd appreciate crediting if it's reposted elsewhere..!

天水圍是香港的一個地名，位於元朗（這個地方聽說過的人應該就很多了）。這個地方以新建的屋村居多，所居住的人大都是香港的中下層階級，但區內也不乏有錢人。同時很多從內地來的移民也都居住在這裡。
“Tin Sui Wai Sing” is a place in HK near Yuen Long (many people should have heard of this place). Tin Sui Wai Sing (TSWS) has lots of newly built houses, with the majority of residents being middle to lower class, but there are also some richer people. There are also lots of immigrants from mainland China living there.

天水圍是備受爭議的香港城市新興規劃的一個典型代表。無論是居住環境，購物條件，交通、教育、市民娛樂等等，天水圍都是極其糟糕的。舉一個簡單的例子，有很多住在天水圍，但工作在九龍的人，經常因為交通不便利，要幾個小時到深夜才回家，或者根本就無法回去。而且即便交通尚可，交通費也高得嚇人。而在建筑天水圍時，因為政府提出一些不合理的規劃，例如要在某某年達到修建多少多少戶這樣的目標，而使得天水圍中拼了命似的大興土木，造成整個天水圍居住環境日益惡劣。
TSWS is an example of a ‘model’ of bad urban planning in HK. Whether it’s the living environment, traffic, education, entertainment etc – all of it is badly designed. For example – lots of people who live in TSW work in Kowloon, and because of the inconvenient traffic they don’t return home until late at night after a few hours travel, or simply don’t have a way of going home. The cost of transport is also astronomical, when it is existent. When planning TSW, as the government suggested some illegal plans (eg in X years, had to construct Y number of places) which meant construction in TSW had to be fast to reach the goals set, leading to a bad environment.

而縱觀天水圍的市民生態環境，綠化差，公園差，甚至連一家醫院都沒有。而這樣的地方卻有一個意義不大的濕地公園，實在是令人諷刺。而在天水圍中，家庭因為擠迫而發生的爭執，學生因為得不到良好的教育發生的惡性事件也在逐年上升。近幾年也有多起學生自殺、殺人的惡性案件發生，去年更成為全香港家庭慘劇最多和青少年犯罪問題最嚴重的地區。
Public welfare is also bad in TSW. There is little greenery, badly maintained parks, and there isn’t even a hospital. This place also has a meaningless wetland, adding to the irony. In the middle of TSW, because of the cramped surroundings, families often argue. Students are disadvantaged in education and thus often become rebellious, increasing crime rate. In the past few years there have been many cases amongst students of murder-suicide, and last year it became the worst place in HK with the most family dramas and highest youth crime rate.

相對於內地，香港的住宅條件整體是要高於國內的。而很多抱有多香港憧憬的內地人，都朝著活得更好之類的原因奔往香港，其中最多的又是嫁過去、漂洋過海的內地女性。當這些人到了香港之后，住進天水圍這個新興的移民市鎮之后，發現並不是他們所想的那樣，在內陸面臨的問題不但沒有解決，反而變得更嚴重，各種各樣的家庭、社會危機就接踵而至。
Compared to the mainland, HK living environments are higher. Lots of mainland Chinese come to HK in search of better living environments, and lots of these immigrants are girls who marry to HK. When these people arrive in HK and find they are living in TSW, they find it is nothing like that they imagined at all – not only are the problems they faced in China not solved, but are even worse. After each family, the social crisis follows on the heels of another.

例如去年一個案例，天水圍中三名中年女性在屋中燒炭自殺，年齡均在30-40歲之間。這三個人中，一個有虐兒記錄，其余兩個則有精神病史。
For example, last year, there were 3 cases of women committing suicide by gassing themselves in their houses, all of whom were aged between 30-40 yrs old. Of the three, one had a record of being abused, and the other two had a history of mental illness.

如果抽開來看，這個案例的死者都比較特殊。但她們所代表的年齡層，恰恰也就是天水圍的主流。很多嫁來香港的女人，在香港沒有根基，沒有學歷，沒有朋友，沒有自己一個完善的可認知空間，有的隻是自己的香港籍丈夫，而自己的丈夫整天外出工作，這些留守在家的婦人的心境又是該由誰去調解呢？在天水圍這樣一個連醫院都沒有的地方，市民娛樂基本為0，區內影院、球場、圖書館、商場等等都少得可憐，常常人滿為患，試問一個人若想在圖書館裡清淨看書，卻要排隊等上個把鐘頭才能進到館內，他還想有靜下心來閱讀的心情麼？
If we break it apart, these deaths aren’t out of the ordinary. However the age group these women represented are the core of TSW. Lots of women who marry down to HK lose their family ties, don’t have a good education, don’t have friends, and don’t have their own personal space or identity. For some who marry because their husband has a HK-ID, their husbands spend all day working outside TSW, and these wives spend all day inside their houses with no one to talk to. In a place like TSW that does not even have a hospital, there is no entertainment, and only a few badly maintained cinemas, soccer fields, library, shopping centres etc. These places are often overcrowded – the queue outside the library is over an hour long, would someone who has lined up for an hour be in the mood to study or read?

天水圍是香港移民問題造成的種種惡果一個簡單的縮影，而林夕的《天水•圍城》在歌詞裡將天水圍的困境時而含蓄時而直白的抒發了出來。
TSW is an example of all the immigration problems in HK, and Lam Jik’s “TinSui.WaiSing” expresses all the frustrations and horrible conditions in TSW.

“圍住了的血汗、跌宕、厚望”，因為很多人是抱著希望來到香港，卻沒想到依舊面臨同樣的困境﹔
“The surrounding blood and sweat, failures, initial great hopes”, as a lot of people harbour hope of a better life with them to HK, without realizing they’d meet the same problems as before;

“圍住了升學、收獲，便了解何謂罪惡”這段著重提到的教育問題，天水圍中惡劣的教育環境使得孩童得不到心智體的發展，隻能走到犯罪的道路﹔
“The surrounding graduations, results, when surrounded you will understand what is the true evil”. This line is about the education in TSW. The education in TSW is insufficient to develop children, leading them only to the road of crime.

“誰策劃這寸地尺土，人擠逼中便容易退步” 這段話林夕在質問，是誰導致了天水圍今日的局面？誰令天水圍的居民越生活越往下坡路走？其中的憤怒不言而喻。
“Who planned this piece of land, when so crowded it is easy to fall behind”. In this line, Lam Jik is asking who is responsible for making TSW into the place it is now? Who has neglected the residents of TSW until their conditions get worse and worse? The anger in this line is evident.

“他親身真正感到 尺地寸金人便會無余地平和獨舞” 這段則直接告訴聽眾，正因為天水圍嚴重的規劃問題，擠迫的空間，失敗的城市建設，才造成了惡性事件逐年遞增，使得居民“無余地平和共舞”﹔
“He can feel it inside him. When there’s riches everywhere you look, we lose our space to stand and dance our own dance” This line is telling the listeners that because of the failures of TSW, the lack of breathing space, the failed city planning, this nightmare has come about, leaving no space for residents to “dance together”

“氣候太涼像殘酷得天生等天養 怨恨暴燥壓抑唯有記住 人靜便心涼
誰憑權力照料這寸地尺土難為他不管平日惡耗 ”這段指責憑手中權利管理著天水圍的政府，對糟糕的現狀熟視無睹，猶如讓一直“惡耗”的居民“天生等天養”一樣，不去解決問題，內裡發生的種種怨恨、暴躁、壓抑，隻能讓居民自己去“人靜心涼”。但，又有多少人做得到這一點？
“The air is too cold, like the cruelty of leaving everything to fate. Hate, frustration, constraint, can only remember - When you are quiet your heart will cool. Which authority tries to look after this place? It’s just too bad they don’t care for the crimes” This line says that the government responsible for TSW has given up, simply letting the “bad people” (as the residents are dubbed) be left to fate, not solving the problem. The hates, frustrations and constraints – the residents should “be quiet, and their heart will cool”. But how many people can do this?


最后林夕也沒有完全灰暗，給了聽眾一個希望
At the end, Lam Jik doesn’t leave it as a dark place devoid of rescue – he lets the audience have a glimmer of hope.

“圍住了的國度、血路 他都肯照做
牆沒有給拆掉 城沒有給棄掉牆令到他攀登進步”
“The surrounding angles, blood-tinged road, he is willing to take.
The walls have not broken him, the city has not made him feel abandoned
The wall makes him climb and progress”

即使政府造成天水圍今日的局面，讓天水圍自成一國，這個無形的大牆拆不掉，天水圍也依舊繼續存在，而這份負擔，也是“我”繼續生活，奮斗的動力。
The situation that the government has created today means that TSW has been left to be a nation unto itself. This invisible wall is hard to knock down – TSW continues to exist and this burden means that the concept of “I” continues to exist, fighting to gain power.

《天水•圍城》的確是今年來香港樂壇難得的良心之歌。相比《愛得太遲》中看似捫心自問，實則浮於表面的行貨，林夕在《天水•圍城》中，詞作相當具有現實意義。
TinSui.WaiSing is definitely one of the deeper songs in HK this year. Compared to “Loving too late” (Leo Koo’s song), loving too late seems very superficial. In TinSui.WaiSing, Lam Jik’s lyrics are really a meaningful reality.

Credits: http://post.baidu.com/f?kz=193944513
Translation: peggy jean @ http://hacken-lyrics.blogspot.com

投奔愛海 - escaping into love's ocean

曲: 陳國平
music: john chen
詞: 林夕
lyrics: lam jik
編: 陳國平
arranged: john chen
碟: 紅日
album: red day


獨白: 我記得第一次
monologue: I remember the first thime
我地就係呢個碼頭度講o左好多野
we're here at this dock and we talked about a lot of things
我又記得最後一次
and I still remember the last time
我地亦都係呢度淨係講o左句：「再見」
we were here as well, and said "goodbye"
但係我知道妳其實仲有好多o野想同我講
but I know that you actually have a lot of things to say to me


在妳出走那夜 在這海港對岸
the night you went away, at this harbour
像妳的背影化做海風與浪
you shadow became the waves on the ocean
船在悄悄夜航 人在冷冷遠望
the boat quietly sailed off, and I stood here watching
從未發現妳早已遠隔一方
never realising that you had been distant since long ago


愛又去又來 其實我不應該
love comes and goes, actually I shouldn't have
分開等待 永遠不悔改
kept waiting after we broke up, never learning from my mistakes
當天妳共我 投奔洶湧愛海
that day you and me, escaped into love's ocean
純綷無奈 還是愛的意外
with no trace, this was love's accident
有日妳回來 還是昨天風采
one day you came back and it was yesterday's glamour
可惜關係 妳我都變改
unfortunately our relationship had changed
今天妳獨個 投奔洶湧愛海
today you alone, escaped into love's ocean
無數前事 流入我的眼內
countless memories, flow into my vision


沒有給我一句話 沒有這個需要吧
you never left me a word, not that there was the need
讓我聽那風與浪 狠狠對罵
let me listen to the wind and the waves, let me yell angrily at them
情在剎那降下 然後悄悄退下
love lands here for now, but then quietly retreats
難道妳沒有真正愛過我嗎
can it be that you've never loved me at all?


愛又去又來 其實我不應該
love comes and goes, actually I shouldn't have
分開等待 永遠不悔改
kept waiting after we broke up, never learning from my mistakes
當天妳共我 投奔洶湧愛海
that day you and me, escaped into love's ocean
純綷無奈 還是愛的意外
with no trace, this was love's accident
有日妳回來 還是昨天風采
one day you came back and it was yesterday's glamour
可惜關係 妳我都變改
unfortunately our relationship had changed
今天妳獨個 投奔洶湧愛海
today you alone, escaped into love's ocean
無數前事 流入我的眼內
countless memories, flow into my vision

情比紙薄 - love thinner than paper

情比紙薄

曲：王菀之
詞：林夕
編：Johnny Yim

你試過　肯捐款　肯賑災
You were once willing to donate to charity, to help out causes
若你這愛　尚存在
If your love still exists
為何大家後來　不肯再次貢獻恩愛
Why is it that at the end, we were unwilling to give out our love?

同時望著電視中的怒海
Watching the world in the TV together
最好的情人　竟然不瞅睬
Where lovers could ignore each other
懷疑現在若是我摔了下來
I wonder if I stumbled to the ground now
仍未得到慷慨
Would anyone help me?

＊人情就算薄到透　非有仇
Even when love is so thin it's transparent, it doesn't mean there's hate
情義何以卻捐給　你的好友
Why are feelings still given to your friends?
假若疏淡內疚　你我都不要內鬥
If the guilt were to fade, then we will no longer fight
唯願你念在從前　不分手＊
I only hope that because of the past, you won't let go of me

人情薄到被看透　便維修
When love becomes so thin it's transparent, it needs fixing
長期付出那麼多　哪只好友
Giving out so much for so long, and still only friends
火花縱非萬有
The sparks no longer exist
但半滴情誼　還有沒有
But a drop of friendship: do we still have it?

為何道義願付出給怒海
Why are we willing to lose morals and justice in this angry world
對於眼前人　不留多一載
But to those we know, we cant leave one bundle
和談或是道別要怎過未來
Talking of peace or saying goodbye, how do we pass the future?
無謂再去避開
Don't avoid it anymore

REPEAT＊

人情薄到被看透　便維修
When love becomes so thin it's transparent, it needs to be fixed
長期付出那麼多　哪只好友
Giving out so much for so long, and still just friends
請給個機會我　互相補救
Please give us a chance to right wrongs

REPEAT＊

一張紙縱望到透　沒恆久
When you can see right through a piece of paper, it won't be permanent anymore
情人莫非要分手　也因折舊
Do lovers seperate to break away from the past?
因早晚都共處　便厭倦回頭
Because we see each other night and day, we hate and become weary
純粹莫須有
And innocence is no longer needed.

合久必婚 - inevitable marriage

曲:伍樂城
music: ng lok sing
詞:林夕
lyrics: lam jik
碟: ever last
album: ever last

我大概未算學懂保護別人
I don’t think I have learnt how to protect others
才無名無份以致我們拖拉至今
so without name or status, we hold hands until now
令你未放心　全情做我一世情人
to make you stop worrying, and whole heartedly become my love forever
彷彿還未夠相襯
losing is not close enough

大家忙　多麼漂亮理由
"everyone’s busy", such a beautiful reason
愛不夠　只不過是借口
"love is not enough", it’s only an excuse
憑我愛你 這麼久
I've loved you for this long
亦沒信心走出教堂　沒理由
yet to have no confidence to walk out of this church, illogical

為何未夠好　請聽我預告
why it’s not good enough, please hear my explanation
你對過誰好　怎麼知道
how can I know who you have treated well
就算跟你未游盡花都
even though we have not finished touring “hua du”*
可給你的都會做到
I will do everything for you
並未求甚麼　唯一志願想你安好
never hoping for much, my only wish is for your wellbeing

誰能及我好 我也想知道
I want to know who can treat me well
你有你原因　怎麼知道
who knows if you have your own reasons
(為何未結婚 我也想知道)
I want to know why we're still unmarried
就算這相貌從未討好
even if appearances have still not been discussed
總可當跟椅墊共老
we can still can grow old together
任地厚天高
no matter how large the world
回家也都想得到擁抱　
we all return home to be held close
除非這感情 你不希罕太易得到
unless you don’t want to love too easily

我願意向前行
I’m willing to walk forward
再絕望亦不相信未結婚便要分
again disappointed, not believing marriage makes a difference
每一步都離結局更近
each step taking me further from the end

明日若然你要我抱一抱
if you need me to hold you tomorrow
明日若無法沒遇見更好
if we can’t avoid meeting tomorrow even better
我答應最早　來到
I’ve answered already, I’m here

endnote: "hua dou" (花都) is a district in guangzhou in china. it's tourism industry has been growing over the past few years. it is famous for its many scenic spots, including mountains, temples and monuments.
http://www.huadu.gov.cn/english/default.htm

今天最愛 - today's most loved

曲:陳輝陽
music: keith chan
詞:林夕
lyrics: lam jik
編:陳輝陽
arranged: keith chan
碟: ever last
album: ever last


若我今天還是兩歲
if I was still two today
才願意擁有玩具
I would want to have toys
若我只有十八七歲
if I was only seventeen or eighteen
恨纏綿 愛心碎
hating lingering feelings, loving broken hearts

自問在我有生一天
while I am still alive I have to ask
人會大時間會變
people will grow up and times will change
無數萬人還未碰見
many people will never meet
如今我只知你在唇邊
now I just want to know you are close by

別要問我 最愛是這樣多
please don’t ask me, how much is “most loved”?
想開花的多數沒有結果
many flowers that want to bloom never do
你最愛的終會變陌路人走過
your most loved turns into a stranger on the street
麻木地回望當初
numbingly reflecting on the past
沒法共處 最愛又算甚麼
with no way to live together, what does “most loved” matter?
得不到的當然沒有選錯
if you can’t have it then how can you choose wrong?
只想我 無求無欲不需抉擇
think of me, there’s no need to choose
永遠以為只愛一個
forever only loving one

讓我今天陪著愛侶
let me be with my lover today
懷念我心裡玩具
reminiscing the toys in my heart
沒最喜愛但最登對
no “most loved” but there is a “best match”
只想真心吻下去
I just only want to kiss you

天水、圍城 - City surrounded by heaven and water

天水、圍城 - City Surrounded by Heaven and Water

曲:Edmond Tsang 詞:林夕 編:Ronald Fu
Music: Edmond Tsang
Lyrics: Lam Jik
Arranger: Ronald Fu
Album: 李克勤演奏廳II Seoul Concert Hall/Concert Hall II

圍住了的血汗 圍住了的跌宕 圍住了當初的厚望
The surrounding blood and sweat, the surrounding failures, the
surrounding initial great hopes
圍住了的駭浪 圍住了的症狀 圍住了才易碰撞
The surrounding wild waves, the surrounding symptoms of illness, when
surrounding they collide easily
他的一對父母來又往 跨鄉過岸才住 這麼一角
His parents came and went, crossed the shores to come to this corner
越來越惡
To find the place became more and more fierce

圍住了冰雹 圍住了刻薄 圍住了爭吵的配樂
The surrounding hail, the surrounding abuse, the music surrounding the
fights
圍住了升學 圍住了收獲 圍住了便了解何謂罪惡
The surrounding graduations, the surrounding results, when surrounded you
will understand what is the true evil
自成一國 但見他 找尋快樂
An individual, but you see him, trying to find happiness
然後卻 越來越渴 越來越覺
And then becoming more thirsty, he feels
沒能力去闖出沙漠
Unable to escape from the desert.

誰策劃這寸地尺土
Who planned this piece of land,
人擠逼中便容易退步
It’s so easy to fall behind in the crowd
他 親身真正感到
He can feel it inside him.
尺地寸金 人便會無餘地平和獨舞
When there’s riches everywhere you look, we lose our space to stand and dance our own dance
要見步行步
Must take each step at a time
無車票又怎去覓去路
Without a ticket, how can you seek the road
赤地太濕 這地球沒芳草
The red earth is too wet, the planet has no fragrant grass
文明繁盛有甚麼好
So what is so good about being rich?

圍住了可向下 圍住了可向上 圍住了都可找對象
When surrounded you can go up or down, when surrounded you can still find a
partner
圍住了可以做 同伴裡的偶像 圍住了沒電腦可思想
When surrounded you can still be, everyone else’s idol, when surrounded
without computers you can think
氣候太涼 像殘酷得天生等天養
The air is too cold, like the cruelty of leaving everything to fate
怨恨 暴燥 壓抑 唯有 記住
Hate, frustration, constraint, can only remember
人靜便心涼
When you are quiet your heart will cool

誰策劃這寸地尺土
Who planned this piece of land,
人擠逼中便容易退步
It’s so easy to fall behind in the crowd
他 親身真正感到
He can feel it inside him.
尺地寸金 人便會無餘地平和獨舞
When there’s riches everywhere you look, we lose our space to stand and dance our own dance
要見步行步
Must take each step at a time
無車票又怎去覓去路
Without a ticket, how can you seek the road
赤地太濕 這地球沒芳草
The red earth is too wet, the planet has no fragrant grass
仍然留在故地多好
it is better to stay in the old place

願國寶 領會到 沒看倌 仍獨舞 唯願他
Hope those in charge can feel, without rules, we can dance to our own tune.
And to hope he
能跟相戀的共同上路
Can follow his love onto the same road

誰憑權力照料 這寸地尺土 難為他不管平日惡耗
Which authority tries to look after this place
It’s just too bad they don’t care for the daily crimes

他 親身真正感到
He can feel it inside him.
尺地寸金 人便會無餘地平和獨舞
When there’s riches everywhere you look, we lose our space to stand and dance our own dance
要見步行步
Must take each step at a time
無車票又怎去覓去路
Without a ticket, how can you seek the road
赤地太濕 這地球沒芳草
The red earth is too wet, the planet has no fragrant grass
全憑勤力上路.
Go onto the road through hard work

圍住了的國度 圍住了的血路
The surrounding angles, the surrounding blood-tinged road
圍住了他都肯照做 牆沒有給拆掉
Surrounded, he is willing to still do as told
The walls have not broken him
城沒有給棄掉 牆令到他攀登進步
The city has not made him feel abandoned
The wall makes him climb and progress

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Endnote: The themes of this song such as hard work, falling behind, large crowds - all reflect HK and how many people feel about HK. Thus this is essentially a song dedicated to HK. The title "tin sui wai sing" has a double meaning: it can mean literally the city surrounded by heaven and water (HK is an island), and could also be referring to the suburb of Tin Sui Wai in HK, which is a poorer working class suburb, where these themes would ring loud and clear.

**********
(c) Peggy Jean/tiramia 2007 - PLEASE credit if taking, as it takes us a long time to do these translations!

愛一個人 (李克勤, 陳慧琳) - to love a person (hacken lee, kelly chan)

曲：陳輝陽
music: keith chan
詞：林夕
lyrics: lam jik
碟: ever last
album: ever last

李：她間中吻下去便沉睡
sometimes she kisses and falls into deep sleep
　 她也許不只一個伴侶
she probably has more than just one lover
　 我受氣不駁嘴 也被懷疑在騙她眼淚
I feel the brunt of her anger wordlessly, but yet they think I’m the cause of her tears


陳：他口中有夢想不去追
he has dreams that he doesn’t chase
　 他最懂得努力吃喝後沉睡
he only knows how to eat and drink and sleep
　 橫蠻但卻恐懼 被閒話
barbaric and horrifying, these rumours


合：我們欠登對
we are missing a match

陳：但眼見你責怪她的眼神　
but I can see your eyes blame her for...

合：流露笑容　對不對
losing happiness right?


合：當真正願意愛一個人　沒法再愛更需要恨
once you realy love a person, when there’s no love left then there must be hate
　 要奮不顧身繼續遺憾　誰計較有沒有開過心
no matter what, we must continue to regret, who cares if there ever was happiness?
　 當不計代價愛一個人　大概我也免不了私心
once you give anything to love a person, I cannot stop from being selfish
　 痛苦使我興奮　連錯愛都吸引　亦顯得我神聖犧牲作陪襯
pain excites me, even loving wrongly is tempting
but both highlight the holy sacrifice that i've made
　 曾開了一半口　去問我受夠沒有　然後卻不信還可更難受
once, you had half asked whether I’ve had enough, and then didn’t believe I could take anymore
　 曾經我伸過手　卻又毫無力氣走　怎能夠　愛過了之後　令恨也不留
once, I’ve held out my hand, without the strength to go on
how can it be that after love has left, even hate cannot be held onto?


李：不愛她說下去亦無味
if I don’t love her, then there’s nothing more to say
　 肯愛她不太需要道理
to love her doesn’t require reason

陳：愛下去不怕死放任其實亦也因自卑
to love on, to not fear death but trapped with self pity


合：當真正願意愛一個人 沒法再愛更需要恨
once you realy love a person, when there’s no love left then there must be hate
　 要奮不顧身繼續遺憾　誰有錯　錯極也不扣分
no matter what, we must continue to regret, it does not matter who was wrong anymore
　 當不計代價愛一個人　大概我也免不了私心
once you give anything to love a person, I cannot stop from being selfish
　 痛苦使我興奮　連錯愛都吸引　亦顯得我神聖犧牲作陪襯
pain excites me, even loving wrongly is tempting
but both highlight the holy sacrifice that i've made


李：曾開了一半口　卻又怕未算受夠　然後　期待著然後
once I began to say, but I was afraid it was not enough, and then waiting on

陳：誰知我鬆了手　縱是毫無力氣走　不用怕　再愛過之後　
who knew that after losing my grip, I'd have no strength to carry on
don’t be afraid, after loving again...

合：太多記憶太少淚要流
there’s too many memories and too few tears to cry