My Motherland

"My Motherland" (simplified Chinese: 我的祖国; traditional Chinese: 我的祖國; pinyin: Wǒde Zǔguó) is a song written for the Chinese movie Battle on Shangganling Mountain (1956). Lyrics were written by Qiao Yu (乔羽). Music was composed by Liu Chi (刘炽). Both of them are well known for a number of songs since the 1950s. It remains a popular and famous patriotic song in mainland China,^[1] and the signature song for the famous operatic soprano Guo Lanying.

Original sound track.

Lyrics and music

"My Motherland" was initially called "A Big River" (《一條大河》) by the author, in order to represent the hundreds of rivers that flow in China. The title was changed when it was published with the movie.^{[citation needed]} The song is divided into 3 stanzas. Within each stanza, the soloist sings first before the chorus sings its refrain.

Although the song was written for a movie about Korean War in the 1950s, there is no explicit mention of the war at all. It describes a soldier (or anyone who is away from home) thinking about his home and his family.^{[original research?]}

The music for solo part has folk song style similar to those in northern China.

Lyrics

Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese ^[2]	Pinyin	English translation
1. （獨）一條大河波浪寬風吹稻花香兩岸我家就在岸上住聽慣了艄公的號子看慣了船上的白帆（合）這是美麗的祖國是我生長的地方在這片遼闊的土地上到處都有明媚的風光 2. （獨）姑娘好像花一樣小伙心胸多寬廣為了開闢新天地喚醒了沉睡的高山讓那河流改變了模樣（合）這是英雄的祖國是我生長的地方在這片古老的土地上到處都有青春的力量 3. （獨）好山好水好地方條條大路都寬暢朋友來了有好酒若是那豺狼來了迎接它的有獵槍（合）這是強大的祖國是我生長的地方在這片溫暖的土地上到處都有和平的陽光	1. （独）一条大河波浪宽风吹稻花香两岸我家就在岸上住听惯了艄公的号子看惯了船上的白帆（合）这是美丽的祖国是我生长的地方在这片辽阔的土地上到处都有明媚的风光 2. （独）姑娘好像花一样小伙心胸多宽广为了开辟新天地唤醒了沉睡的高山让那河流改变了模样（合）这是英雄的祖国是我生长的地方在这片古老的土地上到处都有青春的力量 3. （独）好山好水好地方条条大路都宽畅朋友来了有好酒若是那豺狼来了迎接它的有猎枪（合）这是强大的祖国是我生长的地方在这片温暖的土地上到处都有和平的阳光	1. Yītiáo dàhé bōlàng kuān Fēngchuī dào huāxiāng liǎng'àn Wǒjiā jiù zài ànshàng zhù Tīng guànle shāogōng de hào zi Kàn guànle chuánshàng de báifān (Hé) Zhè shì měilì de zǔguó Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng Zài zhè piàn liáokuò de tǔdì shàng Dàochù dōu yǒu míngmèi de fēngguāng 2. (Dú) Gūniang hǎoxiàng huā yīyàng Xiǎohuǒ xīnxiōng duō kuānguǎng Wèile kāipì xīntiāndì Huànxǐngle chénshuì de gāoshān Ràng nà héliú gǎibiànle múyàng (Hé) Zhè shì yīngxióng de zǔguó Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng Zài zhè piàn gǔlǎo de tǔdì shàng Dàochù dōu yǒu qīngchūn de lìliàng 3. (Dú) Hǎo shān hǎo shuǐ hǎo dìfāng Tiáo tiáo dàlù dōu kuānchàng Péngyǒu láile yǒu hào jiǔ Ruòshì nà cháiláng láile Yíngjiē tā de yǒu lièqiāng (Hé) Zhè shì qiángdà de zǔguó Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng Zài zhè piàn wēnnuǎn de tǔdì shàng Dàochù dōu yǒu hépíng de yángguāng	1. Solo A great river flows, its waves wide Wind blows the scent of flowers to both shores My family lives on the shore I am used to hearing the punters' call And seeing the white sails on the boats Chorus This is the beautiful Motherland This is the place where I grew up On this expansive stretch of land Everywhere there is wonderful scenery to behold 2. Solo How flower-like are the young ladies How big and brave are the hearts of the young men In order to usher in a new era They've woken the sleeping mountains And changed the shape of the river Chorus This is the heroic Motherland This is the place where I grew up On this stretch of ancient land There is youthful vigor everywhere 3. Solo Great mountains, great rivers, a great land Every road is broad and wide If friends come, there is fine wine But if the wolves come^[3]^[4] Those who greet them have hunting guns^[3]^[4] Chorus This is the mighty Motherland This is the place where I grew up On this stretch of warm and friendly land There is peaceful sunshine everywhere

Traditional Chinese

Simplified Chinese ^[2]

Pinyin

English translation

（獨）

一條大河波浪寬
風吹稻花香兩岸
我家就在岸上住
聽慣了艄公的號子
看慣了船上的白帆

（合）

這是美麗的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片遼闊的土地上
到處都有明媚的風光

2.

（獨）

姑娘好像花一樣
小伙心胸多寬廣
為了開闢新天地
喚醒了沉睡的高山
讓那河流改變了模樣

（合）

這是英雄的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片古老的土地上
到處都有青春的力量

3.

（獨）

好山好水好地方
條條大路都寬暢
朋友來了有好酒
若是那豺狼來了
迎接它的有獵槍

（合）

這是強大的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片溫暖的土地上
到處都有和平的陽光

（独）

一条大河波浪宽
风吹稻花香两岸
我家就在岸上住
听惯了艄公的号子
看惯了船上的白帆

（合）

这是美丽的祖国
是我生长的地方
在这片辽阔的土地上
到处都有明媚的风光

2.

（独）

姑娘好像花一样
小伙心胸多宽广
为了开辟新天地
唤醒了沉睡的高山
让那河流改变了模样

（合）

这是英雄的祖国
是我生长的地方
在这片古老的土地上
到处都有青春的力量

3.

（独）

好山好水好地方
条条大路都宽畅
朋友来了有好酒
若是那豺狼来了
迎接它的有猎枪

（合）

这是强大的祖国
是我生长的地方
在这片温暖的土地上
到处都有和平的阳光

1.
Yītiáo dàhé bōlàng kuān
Fēngchuī dào huāxiāng liǎng'àn
Wǒjiā jiù zài ànshàng zhù
Tīng guànle shāogōng de hào zi
Kàn guànle chuánshàng de báifān

(Hé)

Zhè shì měilì de zǔguó
Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng
Zài zhè piàn liáokuò de tǔdì shàng
Dàochù dōu yǒu míngmèi de fēngguāng

(Dú)
Gūniang hǎoxiàng huā yīyàng
Xiǎohuǒ xīnxiōng duō kuānguǎng
Wèile kāipì xīntiāndì
Huànxǐngle chénshuì de gāoshān
Ràng nà héliú gǎibiànle múyàng

(Hé)
Zhè shì yīngxióng de zǔguó
Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng
Zài zhè piàn gǔlǎo de tǔdì shàng

Dàochù dōu yǒu qīngchūn de lìliàng

(Dú)
Hǎo shān hǎo shuǐ hǎo dìfāng

Tiáo tiáo dàlù dōu kuānchàng

Péngyǒu láile yǒu hào jiǔ

Ruòshì nà cháiláng láile

Yíngjiē tā de yǒu
lièqiāng

(Hé)
Zhè shì qiángdà de zǔguó
Shì wǒ shēngzhǎng dì dìfāng
Zài zhè piàn wēnnuǎn de
tǔdì shàng Dàochù dōu yǒu hépíng
de yángguāng

Solo

A great river flows, its waves wide
Wind blows the scent of flowers to both shores
My family lives on the shore
I am used to hearing the punters' call
And seeing the white sails on the boats

Chorus

This is the beautiful Motherland
This is the place where I grew up
On this expansive stretch of land
Everywhere there is wonderful scenery to behold

2.

Solo

How flower-like are the young ladies
How big and brave are the hearts of the young men
In order to usher in a new era
They've woken the sleeping mountains
And changed the shape of the river

Chorus

This is the heroic Motherland
This is the place where I grew up
On this stretch of ancient land
There is youthful vigor everywhere

3.

Solo

Great mountains, great rivers, a great land
Every road is broad and wide
If friends come, there is fine wine
But if the wolves come^[3]^[4]
Those who greet them have hunting guns^[3]^[4]

Chorus

This is the mighty Motherland
This is the place where I grew up
On this stretch of warm and friendly land
There is peaceful sunshine everywhere

Controversy about Lang Lang playing "My Motherland" at state dinner

On January 19, 2011, Lang Lang played "My Motherland" as President Barack Obama welcomed Hu Jintao at a White House state dinner (many famous Chinese celebrities, including Jackie Chan and Yo-Yo Ma attended, as well as some others.)

On Lang Lang's blog, he put pictures that performed at the White House and wrote that "I soloed 'My Motherland' which in the mind of the Chinese people is one of the most beautiful songs. Being able to play this song in front of many foreign guests, including the heads of state from around the world, that praises China, and seemingly serenading a strong China and its people in solidarity, I am deeply honored and proud. I would like to share that day in the White House."^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]

References

^ "《我的祖国》诞生记--浙江在线-人文频道". www.zjol.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19.
^ "革命歌曲《我的祖国》歌词歌谱.jpg". Sina (in Chinese). Sina iAsk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
^ ^a ^b Zhang, Hong (2002), The Making of Urban Chinese Images of the United States, 1945-1953, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, p. 161, ISBN 0-313-31001-7
^ ^a ^b West, Philip; Levine, Steven I.; Hiltz, Jackie (1998), America's Wars in Asia: a Cultural Approach to History and Memory, Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe, p. 193, ISBN 0-7656-0237-7
^ 郎朗20日在個人部落格也寫說，「而後我又獨自演奏了我們中國人心目中『最美的歌』之一的《我的祖國》。能夠在眾多外賓，尤其是在來自『五湖四海』的元首們面前演奏這首讚美中國的樂曲，仿佛是在向他們訴說我們中國的強大，我們中國人的團結，我感到深深的榮幸和自豪。和大家分享在白宮的一天。」
^ Pres. Obama Hears Anti-American Song.
^ "Chinese Tiger ate US Dove for lunch". New York Post. 2011-01-21. Archived from the original on 2023-04-09.
^ 华盛顿当地时间1月19日，奥巴马在白宫举行晚宴欢迎胡锦涛，成龙、邓文迪、华裔冰后关颖珊、大提琴家马友友、华裔设计师Vera Wang、华裔演员黄荣亮和母亲等众多华人知名人士出席。
^ Commentators from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal soon questioned Lang's music choice after the state dinner. Michael Wines from the New York Times described the situation as "regrettable," while Cathy Yan from the Wall Street Journal commented that Lang was "blissfully unaware of the political minefield he was stumbling into". In an interview broadcast on Phoenix TV, Lang Lang was quoted saying "I thought to play 'My Motherland' because I think playing the tune at the White House banquet can help us, as Chinese people, feel extremely proud of ourselves and express our feelings through the song."
^ Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington - as it happened
^ "Obamas Host China's President Hu at Glitzy White House State Dinner". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
^ Chinese Pianist Plays Anti-American Song at White House Dinner