The lyrics for this melody are a famous poem4 by Tao Qian (Tao Yuanming, 365-427). The home to which he has returned is in Chaisang (Mulberry Firewood), an old name for Jiujiang, on the south bank of the Yangzi river in Jiangxi province.
The melody of Gui Qu Lai Ci is still popular today. This, earliest occurrence of it, is clearly identifiable with the modern version, though there are quite a few differences and to my knowledge no one sings the modern one. Versions survive in at least 29 handbooks to 1961, with most including, with slight variations, the same lyrics.5 However, I don't know of any recordings in which the lyrics are actually sung.
Music and lyrics: One Section (sectioning below follows the logic of the music)
A largely syllabic setting of the famous poem by Tao Yuanming (365-427). The poem can be translated as follows:
Come away home!
My fields and garden will be full of weeds, how can I not go back?
It was myself who put my mind into bondage,
so why go on being sad and lonely?
I understand that what is already past cannot be rebuked,
but know the future's possibilities.
In fact this wrong road has not taken me so far,
and what I now realize is correct, while yesterday I was wrong.
My boat wobbles about in the light breeze,
the wind swirls as it blows my clothing.
(harmonics) I ask a traveler about the road ahead,
and resent that the early morning light is still dim.
Then I see my family home!
Filled joy, filled with urgency, my servants welcome me;
my offspring at the gate; the three paths are almost overgrown;
but the pines and chrysanthemums are still here; leading the youngsters, I enter the house;
where there's a wine-filled goblet.
I take up the bottle and cups to pour myself a drink,
gazing at the courtyard trees makes me flushed with pleasure
I lean on the south window to savor my pride,
and wonder how such cramped quarters can be so comfortable.
In the garden daily I stroll to become content;
the gate although in good shape is always closed.
I poke around with my old man's cane as I wander and relax,
sometimes lifting my head to gaze into the distance. (harmonics end)
The clouds randomly float up from the mountain tops,
and the birds, weary of flying, instinctively return home.
Shadows darken as the sun prepares to set;
caressing a solitary pine I tarry long.
(harmonics) Come away home!
Please end outside relationships and stop wandering.
Society and I are mutually opposed;
if again I made to leave what would I be seeking? (harmonics end)
I enjoy relatives' intimate conversation,
and am happy to have my qin and books to dispel melancholy.
Farmers tell me when spring's arrival
means there will be things to do in the eastern fields.
Perhaps I reserve a covered wagon,
or row a solitary boat.
I go to secluded places to seek out a ravine,
or to a rugged path for traversing a hill.
Trees are joyous as they become luxuriant,
and springs bubble up as they begin to flow forth.
A appreciate how all of creation follows the seasons,
and I am moved by my life's going its full cycle.
That's enough!
Having this human form within the universe: can we really ever return?
So why not let the heart allow itself to abandon restraint?
With all this bustling about, what is it we want?
For wealth I have no desire;
for the realm of the gods I have no expectations.
I cherish on lovely mornings being able to go on solitary walks;
perhaps I'll stick my staff in the ground in order to weed and hoe.
Climb the eastern plateaus where I can comfortably whistle,
or sit beside clear streams where I can compose poetry.
Thus I go along with my fate until I go back to the end of life.
I celebrate heaven's decrees: why keep doubting them?
The original Chinese is as follows:
歸去來辭
歸去來兮，田園將蕪，胡不歸？
既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲。
悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。
實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。
舟遙遙以輕颺，風飄飄而吹衣。
問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。
乃瞻衡宇。
載欣載奔，僮僕歡迎，
稚子候門 ；三徑就荒，
松菊猶存，摧幼入室，有酒盈尊。
引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。
倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。
園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。
策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。
雲無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。
景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。
歸去來兮！請息交以絕遊。
世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？
悅親戚之情話，樂琴、書以消憂。
農人告余以春及，將有事於西疇。
或命巾車，或棹孤舟。
既窈窈以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。
善萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。
已矣乎！寓形宇內，（能）復幾時？
曷不委心任去留？
胡為胡？遑遑欲何之？
當貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。
懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。
登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。
聊乘化以歸盡。樂夫天命﹕復奚疑？
Listening and Download:http://www.chinesemusicworld.com/modu ... how/singlelink.php?lid=55
The melody of Gui Qu Lai Ci is still popular today. This, earliest occurrence of it, is clearly identifiable with the modern version, though there are quite a few differences and to my knowledge no one sings the modern one. Versions survive in at least 29 handbooks to 1961, with most including, with slight variations, the same lyrics.5 However, I don't know of any recordings in which the lyrics are actually sung.
Music and lyrics: One Section (sectioning below follows the logic of the music)
A largely syllabic setting of the famous poem by Tao Yuanming (365-427). The poem can be translated as follows:
Come away home!
My fields and garden will be full of weeds, how can I not go back?
It was myself who put my mind into bondage,
so why go on being sad and lonely?
I understand that what is already past cannot be rebuked,
but know the future's possibilities.
In fact this wrong road has not taken me so far,
and what I now realize is correct, while yesterday I was wrong.
My boat wobbles about in the light breeze,
the wind swirls as it blows my clothing.
(harmonics) I ask a traveler about the road ahead,
and resent that the early morning light is still dim.
Then I see my family home!
Filled joy, filled with urgency, my servants welcome me;
my offspring at the gate; the three paths are almost overgrown;
but the pines and chrysanthemums are still here; leading the youngsters, I enter the house;
where there's a wine-filled goblet.
I take up the bottle and cups to pour myself a drink,
gazing at the courtyard trees makes me flushed with pleasure
I lean on the south window to savor my pride,
and wonder how such cramped quarters can be so comfortable.
In the garden daily I stroll to become content;
the gate although in good shape is always closed.
I poke around with my old man's cane as I wander and relax,
sometimes lifting my head to gaze into the distance. (harmonics end)
The clouds randomly float up from the mountain tops,
and the birds, weary of flying, instinctively return home.
Shadows darken as the sun prepares to set;
caressing a solitary pine I tarry long.
(harmonics) Come away home!
Please end outside relationships and stop wandering.
Society and I are mutually opposed;
if again I made to leave what would I be seeking? (harmonics end)
I enjoy relatives' intimate conversation,
and am happy to have my qin and books to dispel melancholy.
Farmers tell me when spring's arrival
means there will be things to do in the eastern fields.
Perhaps I reserve a covered wagon,
or row a solitary boat.
I go to secluded places to seek out a ravine,
or to a rugged path for traversing a hill.
Trees are joyous as they become luxuriant,
and springs bubble up as they begin to flow forth.
A appreciate how all of creation follows the seasons,
and I am moved by my life's going its full cycle.
That's enough!
Having this human form within the universe: can we really ever return?
So why not let the heart allow itself to abandon restraint?
With all this bustling about, what is it we want?
For wealth I have no desire;
for the realm of the gods I have no expectations.
I cherish on lovely mornings being able to go on solitary walks;
perhaps I'll stick my staff in the ground in order to weed and hoe.
Climb the eastern plateaus where I can comfortably whistle,
or sit beside clear streams where I can compose poetry.
Thus I go along with my fate until I go back to the end of life.
I celebrate heaven's decrees: why keep doubting them?
The original Chinese is as follows:
歸去來辭
歸去來兮，田園將蕪，胡不歸？
既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲。
悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。
實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。
舟遙遙以輕颺，風飄飄而吹衣。
問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。
乃瞻衡宇。
載欣載奔，僮僕歡迎，
稚子候門 ；三徑就荒，
松菊猶存，摧幼入室，有酒盈尊。
引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。
倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。
園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。
策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。
雲無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。
景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。
歸去來兮！請息交以絕遊。
世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？
悅親戚之情話，樂琴、書以消憂。
農人告余以春及，將有事於西疇。
或命巾車，或棹孤舟。
既窈窈以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。
善萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。
已矣乎！寓形宇內，（能）復幾時？
曷不委心任去留？
胡為胡？遑遑欲何之？
當貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。
懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。
登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。
聊乘化以歸盡。樂夫天命﹕復奚疑？
Listening and Download:http://www.chinesemusicworld.com/modu ... how/singlelink.php?lid=55
