Translation of the song 洪湖水，浪打浪 artist Chinese Folk
洪湖水，浪打浪
The water of Hong Lake, one wave after another
洪湖水，浪打浪
The water of Hong Lake, one wave after another
洪湖岸边是家乡
The shore of Hong Lake is (our) home
清早船儿去撒网
Early in the morning the boat goes to cast its net
晚上回来鱼满仓
Come back in the evening with a boat full of fish
四处野鸭和菱藕
Wild ducks and lotus flowers and roots everywhere
秋收满畈稻谷香
When the rice is ripe in autumn, the fields are full of fresh fragrance
人人都说天堂美
Everyone says heaven is the best
怎比我洪湖鱼米乡
How can it compare with Hong Lake fish and rice country!
自从出了彭霸天
Since the emergence of Peng Batian*
湖塘田地都霸光
He took away the lake, the pond and the farmland
鱼儿进了湖霸的屋
The fish came into his nets
谷子进了地主的仓
The rice went into his storehouse
我们流尽血和汗
We put in our blood and sweat
年年破衣破草房
Wearing rags and living in bad straw houses year after year
多少穷人把命丧
How many poor people have lost their lives
家破人亡去逃荒
Families are broken and people go to flee
身背着三棒鼓*，流浪到四方
Carrying Sanbanggu** on back, wander to all directions
想起往年泪汪汪
Thinking of the past, with tears in eyes
好不叫人痛断肠
How painful it is!
身背着三棒鼓，流浪到四方
Carrying Sanbanggu on back, wander to all directions
鼓儿咚咚，锣儿锵锵
The gongs and drums keep ringing
含着眼泪去卖唱
Singing with tears in eyes for making living
好不叫人痛断肠
How painful it is!
洪湖的人民盼天亮
The people of Hong Lake are looking forward to the dawn,
洪湖的人民要解放
The people of Hong Lake want to be liberated!
放下了三棒鼓，拿起了红缨枪
(They) put down the Sanbanggu and took up the Red Tassel Gun***
男人去打仗，妇女送军粮
Men go to war, women send military food
决心跟着贺龙走
(All of them) determine to follow He Long
贺龙跟着共产党
He Long follows the Communist Party
要把那解放的红旗
To fly the red flag that (symbolizes) liberation
永远飘扬，永远飘扬
Forever flying, forever flying
在那洪湖上
On that Hong Lake