Translation of the song 現象七十二變 artist Lo Da-Yu
現象七十二變
The 72 Variants of Phenomena
黃花崗有七十二個烈士
At Huanghuagang were 72 martyrs buried
孔老夫子有七十二個弟子
And Confucius had 72 disciples
孫悟空的魔法七十二變
Monkey King knows the magic of 72 changes
我們要等到民國七十二年
And we've met the 72nd year of the ROC
歲歲年年風水都在改變
Year by year the geography is changing
有多少滄海一夜變成桑田
So many seas turn into lands instantly
在這個五千年的悠久歷史裡面
In our long history of 5,000 years
成功與失敗多少都有一點
Both success and failure exist more or less
清清楚楚寫在你的臉上
It's clearly written on your face
你是個道道地地的聰明人
That you're a genuine clever man
慌慌張張邁開你的腳步
Taking your step in flurry way
你是個匆匆忙忙的現代人
You're a modern man in a hurry
有人默默耕耘默默從事
Someone is doing his job in obscurity
有人在過著他的太平日子
Someone is enjoying his days in peace
有人在大白天裡彼此明爭暗鬥
Some people intrigue and attack mutually at daytime
有人在黑夜之中槍殺歌手
And someone has shot a singer at night
隨著都市現代化的程度
Flying with the soaring modernization of city
每個人多少追求一點幸福
Everyone pursues own happiness more or less
是個什麼樣的心理因素
For what psychological factor
每天要吃掉一條高速公路
Is there one expressway consumed every day?
在西門町的天橋上面閒逛
When hanging out on the overpass in Ximenting
有多少文明人在人行道上
I wonder how many civilized people walk on side walks
就像我看那文明車輛橫衝直撞
As I witness the civilized cars rampaging here and there
我不懂大家心中做何感想
I also wonder what the popular opinion is like
一年過了又是新的一年
The old year is gone while the new year comes
每一年現代都在傳統邊緣
Every year modernity is at the edge of tradition
在每個新的一年三百六十五天
On each day of the 365 days in every new year
我們都每天進步一點點
Each of us makes a little progress
眼看著高樓蓋得越來越高
Buildings are constructed taller and taller as seen
我們的人情味卻越來越薄
Our human touch is keeping receding
朋友之間越來越有禮貌
More and more etiquette appears among friends
只因為大家見面越來越少
Less and less we meet is the true cause
蘋果價錢賣得沒以前高
Price of apple is not so high as before
或許現在味道變得不好
The taste may be not so good as then
就像彩色的電視變得更佳花俏
As the color TV sets are increasingly popular
能辨別黑白的人越來越少
But those who can discern black and white are reducing
一年過了又是新的一年
The old year is gone while the new year comes
每一年都曾經是新的一年
Every year gone was ever a new one
在每個新的一年三百六十五天
On each day of the 365 days in every new year
我們都每天進步一點點
Each of us makes a little progress
現實生活不能等待奇蹟
Miracles should not be expected in reality
這是個非常簡單的道理
Which is a truth so facile
如果真要生存非常容易
If you wanna make life very easy
只要你對人保持一點距離
Just keep a little distance from others
但是生活不能像在演戲
However life and drama cannot be alike
你戴著面具如何面對自己
How can you confront yourself in mask?
或許你將會真的發現一些奇蹟
Perhaps you would discover some miracles indeed
只要你拋開一些面子問題
As long as you ignore some face problems
或許你將會發現人生還算美麗
Perhaps you would find your life still splendid
只要你拋開一些面子問題
As long as you overlook some face problems