“凡人歌” (Song of Ordinary People) is a classic Mandarin pop song released in 1988, written and performed by 李宗盛 (Jonathan Lee). Here are the Chinese lyrics with pinyin, English translations and more.
This song was originally featured in the TV series《滾滾紅塵》 (Rolling Red Dust) and has since become one of Lee’s most iconic works. With its simple yet profound lyrics, 凡人歌 reflects on the hardships, desires, and struggles of ordinary people living in a world driven by personal gain. The warm and raw vocal delivery, combined with the song’s folk-rock melody, makes 凡人歌 a timeless anthem that resonates with listeners across generations.
李宗盛 (Jonathan Lee)
李宗盛 (Jonathan Lee) is a Taiwanese singer-songwriter and producer, born in 1958. He is known as the “Godfather of Mandopop” for his profound influence on Chinese pop music. Since the 1980s, he has written and produced hit songs for artists like Jackie Cheung, Sandy Lam, and Wakin Chau, while also performing his own classics like 凡人歌 and 山丘. His lyrics often explore love, life, and human struggles, resonating deeply with listeners. With a career spanning over 40 years, 李宗盛 remains one of the most respected figures in Mandarin pop music.
Chinese lyrics
你我皆凡人 生在人世间
终日奔波苦 一刻不得闲
既然不是仙 难免有杂念
道义放两旁 利字摆中间
多少男子汉 一怒为红颜
多少同林鸟 已成分飞燕
人生何其短 何必苦苦恋
爱人不见了 向谁去喊冤
问你何时曾看见 这世界为了人们改变
有了梦寐以求的容颜 是否就算是拥有春天
你我皆凡人 生在人世间
终日奔波苦 一刻不得闲
你既然不是仙 难免有杂念
道义放两旁 把利字摆中间
多少男子汉 一怒为红颜
多少同林鸟 已成了分飞燕
人生何其短 何必苦苦恋
爱人不见了 你向谁去喊冤
问你何时曾看见 这个世界为了人们改变
有了梦寐以求的容颜 是否就算是拥有春天
Chinese lyrics with pinyin and English translations
你我皆凡人 生在人世间
Nǐ wǒ jiē fán rén, shēng zài rén shì jiān
You and I are both ordinary people, living in this world.
终日奔波苦 一刻不得闲
Zhōng rì bēn bō kǔ, yī kè bù dé xián
Running around in hardship all day, never having a moment of rest.
既然不是仙 难免有杂念
Jì rán bù shì xiān, nán miǎn yǒu zá niàn
Since we are not immortals, it’s inevitable to have distractions.
道义放两旁 利字摆中间
Dào yì fàng liǎng páng, lì zì bǎi zhōng jiān
Morality is put aside, while profit is placed in the center.
多少男子汉 一怒为红颜
Duō shǎo nán zǐ hàn, yī nù wèi hóng yán
How many men, in a fit of rage, fight for a beauty?
多少同林鸟 已成分飞燕
Duō shǎo tóng lín niǎo, yǐ chéng fēn fēi yàn
How many loving couples have parted like scattered birds?
人生何其短 何必苦苦恋
Rén shēng hé qí duǎn, hé bì kǔ kǔ liàn
Life is so short, why cling to painful love?
爱人不见了 向谁去喊冤
Ài rén bù jiàn le, xiàng shuí qù hǎn yuān
If your loved one is gone, to whom can you cry out your grievances?
问你何时曾看见 这世界为了人们改变
Wèn nǐ hé shí céng kàn jiàn, zhè shì jiè wèi le rén men gǎi biàn
Tell me, when have you ever seen the world change for the sake of people?
有了梦寐以求的容颜 是否就算是拥有春天
Yǒu le mèng mèi yǐ qiú de róng yán, shì fǒu jiù suàn shì yōng yǒu chūn tiān
If you have the beauty you long for, does that mean you truly have spring?
你我皆凡人 生在人世间
Nǐ wǒ jiē fán rén, shēng zài rén shì jiān
You and I are both ordinary people, living in this world.
终日奔波苦 一刻不得闲
Zhōng rì bēn bō kǔ, yī kè bù dé xián
Running around in hardship all day, never having a moment of rest.
你既然不是仙 难免有杂念
Nǐ jì rán bù shì xiān, nán miǎn yǒu zá niàn
Since you are not an immortal, it’s inevitable to have distractions.
道义放两旁 把利字摆中间
Dào yì fàng liǎng páng, bǎ lì zì bǎi zhōng jiān
Morality is put aside, while profit is placed in the center.
多少男子汉 一怒为红颜
Duō shǎo nán zǐ hàn, yī nù wèi hóng yán
How many men, in a fit of rage, fight for a beauty?
多少同林鸟 已成了分飞燕
Duō shǎo tóng lín niǎo, yǐ chéng le fēn fēi yàn
How many loving couples have parted like scattered birds?
人生何其短 何必苦苦恋
Rén shēng hé qí duǎn, hé bì kǔ kǔ liàn
Life is so short, why cling to painful love?
爱人不见了 你向谁去喊冤
Ài rén bù jiàn le, nǐ xiàng shuí qù hǎn yuān
If your loved one is gone, to whom can you cry out your grievances?
问你何时曾看见 这个世界为了人们改变
Wèn nǐ hé shí céng kàn jiàn, zhè gè shì jiè wèi le rén men gǎi biàn
Tell me, when have you ever seen the world change for the sake of people?
有了梦寐以求的容颜 是否就算是拥有春天
Yǒu le mèng mèi yǐ qiú de róng yán, shì fǒu jiù suàn shì yōng yǒu chūn tiān
If you have the beauty you long for, does that mean you truly have spring?
Key vocabulary from the song
| Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 凡人 | fán rén | ordinary person |
| 人世间 | rén shì jiān | the human world |
| 奔波 | bēn bō | to rush around |
| 不得闲 | bù dé xián | unable to rest |
| 杂念 | zá niàn | distracting thoughts |
| 道义 | dào yì | morality and justice |
| 利字 | lì zì | the character ‘profit’ |
| 男子汉 | nán zǐ hàn | manly man |
| 红颜 | hóng yán | beautiful woman |
| 同林鸟 | tóng lín niǎo | birds in the same forest (metaphor for lovers) |
| 分飞燕 | fēn fēi yàn | separated swallows (metaphor for parting lovers) |
| 人生 | rén shēng | life |
| 苦恋 | kǔ liàn | bitter love |
| 喊冤 | hǎn yuān | to cry out injustice |
| 梦寐以求 | mèng mèi yǐ qiú | something one dreams of |
| 容颜 | róng yán | facial appearance |
| 拥有 | yōng yǒu | to possess |
| 春天 | chūn tiān | spring (metaphor for happiness) |
| 改变 | gǎi biàn | to change |
| 何时 | hé shí | when |
Key phrases from the song
| Chinese (Simplified) | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 你我皆凡人 生在人世间 | Nǐ wǒ jiē fán rén, shēng zài rén shì jiān | You and I are both ordinary people, living in this world. |
| 终日奔波苦 一刻不得闲 | Zhōng rì bēn bō kǔ, yī kè bù dé xián | Running around in hardship all day, never having a moment of rest. |
| 既然不是仙 难免有杂念 | Jì rán bù shì xiān, nán miǎn yǒu zá niàn | Since we are not immortals, it’s inevitable to have distracting thoughts. |
| 道义放两旁 利字摆中间 | Dào yì fàng liǎng páng, lì zì bǎi zhōng jiān | Morality is put aside, while profit is placed in the center. |
| 多少男子汉 一怒为红颜 | Duō shǎo nán zǐ hàn, yī nù wèi hóng yán | How many men, in a fit of rage, fight for a beauty? |
| 多少同林鸟 已成分飞燕 | Duō shǎo tóng lín niǎo, yǐ chéng fēn fēi yàn | How many loving couples have parted like scattered birds? |
| 人生何其短 何必苦苦恋 | Rén shēng hé qí duǎn, hé bì kǔ kǔ liàn | Life is so short, why cling to painful love? |
| 爱人不见了 向谁去喊冤 | Ài rén bù jiàn le, xiàng shuí qù hǎn yuān | If your loved one is gone, to whom can you cry out your grievances? |
| 问你何时曾看见 这世界为了人们改变 | Wèn nǐ hé shí céng kàn jiàn, zhè shì jiè wèi le rén men gǎi biàn | Tell me, when have you ever seen the world change for the sake of people? |
| 有了梦寐以求的容颜 是否就算是拥有春天 | Yǒu le mèng mèi yǐ qiú de róng yán, shì fǒu jiù suàn shì yōng yǒu chūn tiān | If you have the beauty you long for, does that mean you truly have spring? |
| 你既然不是仙 难免有杂念 | Nǐ jì rán bù shì xiān, nán miǎn yǒu zá niàn | Since you are not an immortal, it’s inevitable to have distractions. |
| 多少同林鸟 已成了分飞燕 | Duō shǎo tóng lín niǎo, yǐ chéng le fēn fēi yàn | How many loving couples have parted like scattered birds? |
Interpretation of 凡人歌 (Song of ordinary people)
凡人歌 is a heartfelt reflection on the struggles of ordinary people (凡人 fán rén) in the human world (人世间 rén shì jiān). The lyrics paint a picture of people rushing around (奔波 bēn bō), working tirelessly without rest (不得闲 bù dé xián), trying to navigate a life filled with distractions (杂念 zá niàn) and moral dilemmas.
One of the most striking lines, “道义放两旁，利字摆中间” (Morality is put aside, while profit is placed in the center), suggests that in a society driven by personal gain, people often sacrifice morality (道义 dào yì) in pursuit of profit (利 lì). This resonates deeply in today’s fast-paced world, where personal success often takes precedence over ethical considerations.
The song also explores the theme of love and impermanence. The imagery of “多少同林鸟，已成分飞燕” (How many loving couples have parted like scattered birds) illustrates how relationships, no matter how close, can be fleeting. It questions the pain of longing (苦恋 kǔ liàn) and whether clinging to the past is worth it, especially when a loved one is gone (爱人不见 ài rén bù jiàn).
In the chorus, the lyrics ask: “问你何时曾看见，这世界为了人们改变？” (Tell me, when have you ever seen the world change for the sake of people?). This rhetorical question conveys a sense of resignation, emphasizing that despite individual struggles, the world remains unchanged.
Finally, the song contemplates whether achieving one’s desires truly brings happiness: “有了梦寐以求的容颜，是否就算是拥有春天？” (If you have the beauty you long for, does that mean you truly have spring?). This line questions whether external success or material wealth can genuinely bring joy and fulfillment (春天 chūn tiān, metaphor for happiness).
Overall, 凡人歌 is a profound meditation on life’s impermanence, the pursuit of wealth, and the fleeting nature of love, reminding us that as ordinary people, we must navigate these struggles with acceptance and wisdom.
Summary in Chinese
这首歌是 李宗盛 唱的，它讲的是普通人 (凡人) 的生活。人们每天都很辛苦 (奔波苦)，没有时间休息 (不得闲)。因为我们不是神仙，所以有很多烦恼 (杂念)。
很多人为了钱 (利)，把道德 (道义) 放在一边。爱情也不是永远的，很多情侣 (同林鸟) 最后还是分开了 (分飞燕)。人生很短 (短暂)，不应该一直沉浸在伤心 (苦恋) 里。
歌里问：“这个世界会不会为了人改变？” 其实，世界不会变，我们只能接受现实。最后，歌也问：“如果有了漂亮的脸 (容颜)，是不是就会开心 (春天)？” 这提醒我们，外表和财富不一定能带来真正的幸福。
这首歌告诉我们：人生不容易，但要学会看开。😊
