“Don’t Ask” was the theme song of the 2017 movie “Forever Young” (literally “Don’t Ask Whether It Is East or West”). The film is about four generations of Tsinghua University graduates, spanning a hundred years of modern Chinese history since World War I. Whether they lived in the 1920s, the 1940s, the 1960s or the current era, and whatever life paths they took, they all faced hard choices in the pursuit of their dreams.
The song is about their confusions and persistence. Mao Buyi’s relaxing voice has the power to quiet your mind and put you in the zone.
My favorite part of the song:
就像手边落满了灰尘的 某一本书
Just like a dusted book close at hand
它可曾 单薄地 承载了 谁的酸楚
Did it once carry, albeit feebly, someone’s grievance?
When your mind was bubbling with questions, when you lived in angst, did you ever meet a book or a person who made you feel understood and supported?
词曲：毛不易
Lyricist & Composer: Mao Buyi
你问风为什么托着候鸟飞翔
You asked why the wind supported the migratory birds in flight
却又吹的让他慌张
and startled them at the same time
你问雨为什么滋养万物生长
You asked why the rain nurtured everything to grow
却也湿透他的衣裳
but also thoroughly wet his clothes
你问他为什么亲吻他的伤疤
You asked why he kissed his scars
却又不能带他回家
but wasn’t able to take him home
你问我为什么还是不敢放下
You asked why I still didn’t dare to let go
明知听不到回答
even though I knew I would never get an answer
如果光已忘了要将前方照亮
If the light forgot to illuminate the way forward
你会握着我的手吗
Would you hold my hand?
如果路会通往不知名的地方
If the road were to lead to a place unknown
你会跟我一起走吗
Would you walk with me?
一生太短 一瞬好长
Life is too short, yet that second lasted for a long time
我们哭着醒来 又哭着遗忘
We woke up in tears and forgot in tears
幸好啊 你的手曾落在我肩膀
Luckily your hand once landed on my shoulder
就像空中漂浮的 渺小的 某颗尘土
Just like a tiny grain of dust floating in the air
它到底 为什么 为什么
Why, why on earth doesn’t it
不肯停驻
want to land on the ground?
直到乌云散去 风雨落幕
When dark clouds clear up and the storm passes
他会带你找到 光的来处
He will lead you to the source of light
就像手边落满了灰尘的 某一本书
Just like a dusted book close at hand
它可曾 单薄地 承载了 谁的酸楚
Did it once carry, albeit feebly, someone’s grievance?
尽管岁月无声 流向迟暮
Although the river of time silently flows into twilight years
他会让你想起 你的归途
It will remind you of your way home
如果光已忘了要将前方照亮
If the light forgot to illuminate the way forward
你会握着我的手吗
Would you hold my hand?
如果路会通往不知名的地方
If the road were to lead to a place unknown
你会跟我一起走吗
Would you walk with me?
In My Melody 