1997

By 歐陽靖

Lyrics - Practice Pronunciation
我雖然喺美國出世啊

I was born in the United States.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
seoi1
jin4
hai2
mei5
gwok3
ceot1
sai3
haa4
但我都系仍然咁掛住香港

But I'm still stuck in Hong Kong.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

daan6
ngo5
dou1
hai6
jing4
jin4
gam3
gwaa3
zyu6
hoeng1
gong2
我記得以前細個聽啲大人講

I remember when I was a kid listening to adults.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
gei3
dak1
jyu5
cin4
sai3
go3
teng1
dit1
taai3
jan4
gong2
九七之前一定要離開香港

I had to leave Hong Kong before 1997.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gau2
cat1
zi1
cin4
jat1
ding6
jiu3
lei4
hoi1
hoeng1
gong2
我根本就唔識所以無意見

I don't know, so I don't have an opinion.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
gan1
bun2
zau6
ng4
zi3
so2
jyu5
mou4
ji3
jin6
迴歸十年後都好似無乜變

And back in the decade, nothing seemed to change.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

wui4
kwai3
sap6
nin4
hau6
dou1
hou3
ci5
mou4
ne6
bin3
香港仍然系咁好

Hong Kong is still so good.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hoeng1
gong2
jing4
jin4
hai6
gam3
hou3
我返親去個感受都真繫好似解釋唔到

I felt that the connection was inexplicable.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
faan1
can3
heoi3
go3
gam2
sau6
dou1
zan1
hai6
hou3
ci5
haai5
sik1
ng4
dou3
一落機 就痴痴呆呆

And when you get there, you're going to be demented.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jat1
lok6
gei1
zau6
ci1
ci1
ngoi4
ngoi4
好似時光倒流 回到未來

It's like time is running backwards, backwards.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hou3
ci5
si4
gwong1
dou2
lau4
wui4
dou3
mei6
loi6
我已經變返小朋友

I'm a child again.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
ji5
ging1
bin3
faan1
siu2
pang4
jau5
放暑假探緊我外婆拖住佢個手

I was spending my summer looking for my grandmother, pulling her hand.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

fong3
syu2
gaa2
taam3
gan2
ngo5
oi6
po2
to1
zyu6
heoi5
go3
sau2
多數喺公園吸緊新鮮空氣

Most of them are breathing fresh air in the park.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

do1
sou3
hai2
gung1
jyun2
ngap1
gan2
san1
sin2
hung3
hei3
如果乖 仲有得去歡樂天地

If you're a kid, you can go out and enjoy the sky.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

jyu4
gwo2
gwaai1
zung6
jau6
dak1
heoi3
fun1
ngok6
tin1
deng6
或者去商場買嚇玩具

Or go to the store and buy some scary toys.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

waak6
ze2
heoi3
soeng1
coeng4
maai5
haak3
waan2
geoi6
行街市我不嬲都唔想去

I don't want to go to the market.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hong6
gaai1
si5
ngo5
fau2
niu4
dou1
ng4
soeng2
heoi3
唔使買餸都要兜翻兩個圈

You don't have to buy a pair of shoes.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ng4
si2
maai5
sung3
dou1
jiu3
dau1
faan1
loeng5
go3
hyun1
啲師奶見到就話 啊 你個孫啊

The grandmothers saw it and said, "Oh, your grandson.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dit1
si1
naai5
jin6
dou3
zau6
waa6
haa4
nei5
go3
syun1
haa4
無錯 個孫就係我

Yes, I am the grandson.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

mou4
laap6
go3
syun1
zau6
hai6
ngo5
眨嚇眼我都已經咁大個

I was so scared of my eyes.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zaa2
haak3
ngaan5
ngo5
dou1
ji5
ging1
gam3
taai3
go3
香港就仍然咁大

Hong Kong is still this big.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hoeng1
gong2
zau6
jing4
jin4
gam3
taai3
除咗新機場 連迪士尼都起埋

And Disney built the new airport.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zyu6
zo2
san1
gei1
coeng4
lin4
dik6
si6
nei5
dou1
hei2
maai4
唔知我老豆細個移民去美國 想當年

I don't know, my dad immigrated to the United States as a young boy, wanting to be a teenager.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ng4
zi3
ngo5
lou5
dau6
sai3
go3
yi4
man4
heoi3
mei5
gwok3
soeng2
dong3
nin4
有啲乜嘢感覺

What does it feel like?

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jau6
dit1
ne6
je5
gam2
gok3
點都系中國人 就當系度假

It's a Chinese holiday.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dim2
dou1
hai6
zung1
gwok3
jan4
zau6
dong3
hai6
dou6
gaa2
離開個國家都飛唔出個手指罅

You can't fly a finger out of the country.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

lei4
hoi1
go3
gwok3
ze1
dou1
fei1
ng4
ceot1
go3
sau2
zi2
laa3
唐人戲 唐人報紙 唐人街

Chinese drama, Chinese newspapers, Chinese streets.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

tong4
jan4
hei3
tong4
jan4
bou3
zi2
tong4
jan4
gaai1
唐人需要嘅全部都有齊曬

Chinese people have everything they need.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

tong4
jan4
seoi1
jiu3
koi3
cyun4
bou6
dou1
jau6
zi1
saai3
2006最新嘅報告

The latest report from 2006.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zeoi3
san1
koi3
bou3
guk1
老實講我真系發夢都估唔到

I honestly couldn't imagine what I was dreaming about.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

lou5
sat6
gong2
ngo5
zan1
hai6
fat3
mung6
dou1
gu3
ng4
dou3
我有呢個機會同大家分享

I had the opportunity to share this with you.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
jau6
ni1
go3
gei1
wui6
tung4
taai3
ze1
fan6
hoeng2
我啲經歷 我間中都睇翻啲相

I've been through it, and I've been looking at it.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
dit1
ging1
lik6
ngo5
haan4
zung1
dou1
dai6
faan1
dit1
soeng2
我第一次返香港做Show

I went back to Hong Kong for the first time to do a show.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
dai6
jat1
ci3
faan1
hoeng1
gong2
zou6
刺激過坐過山車唔理佢幾高

It's exciting to ride a mountain bike, no matter how high it is.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

cik3
gik1
gwo3
zo6
gwo3
saan1
geoi1
ng4
lei5
heoi5
gei2
gou1
我已經算系執到金 我淨系想你知

I'm already working on getting gold. I just want you to know.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
ji5
ging1
syun3
hai6
zap1
dou3
gam1
ngo5
zing6
hai6
soeng2
nei5
zi3
我 Rap親都系用個心

My rap parents were very concerned.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
can3
dou1
hai6
jung6
go3
sam1
除咗咁

Other than that.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

zyu6
zo2
gam3
我好開心我今日終於翻到屋企

I'm so glad I finally got home today.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
hou3
hoi1
sam1
ngo5
gam1
mik6
zung1
wu1
faan1
dou3
uk1
kei5
嗱 老豆講開又講啦 其實 你幾時唻美國架姐

Well, the old man said it over and over again, and when did you actually fuck an American sister?

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

naa5
lou5
dau6
gong2
hoi1
jau6
gong2
la5
kei4
sat6
nei5
gei2
si4
loi6
mei5
gwok3
gaa3
ze1
1971年啦 我諗系咁上下啦

It was 1971, and I think that's how it went down.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

nin4
la5
ngo5
sam2
hai6
gam3
soeng6
haa6
la5
咁上下啊 你 你記得香港乜嘢呢

So come on down. What do you remember about Hong Kong?

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam3
soeng6
haa6
haa4
nei5
nei5
gei3
dak1
hoeng1
gong2
ne6
je5
ni1
我哋嗰個年代十四五歲 都記得好多嘢嘅

We remember a lot of things when we were 14 or 15.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
dei6
go3
go3
nin4
doi6
sap6
sei3
ng5
seoi3
dou1
gei3
dak1
hou3
do1
je5
koi3
不過唔同你哋依家啦

But it's different now.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

fau2
gwo3
ng4
tung4
nei5
dei6
ji1
ze1
la5
香港咁發達 其實我都好掛住嘅

I'm really stuck in Hong Kong.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hoeng1
gong2
gam3
fat3
taat3
kei4
sat6
ngo5
dou1
hou3
gwaa3
zyu6
koi3
嗰個年代咧我哋去啓德玩嘅 好似好濕碎嘅

The kind of stuff we played in Edmonton was so trivial back then.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

go3
go3
nin4
doi6
le5
ngo5
dei6
heoi3
kai2
dak1
waan2
koi3
hou3
ci5
hou3
sap1
seoi3
koi3
咁你都可以話掛住香港啦系嗎

So you can say that Hong Kong is the place to be?

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam3
nei5
dou1
ho2
jyu5
waa6
gwaa3
zyu6
hoeng1
gong2
la5
hai6
maa5
梗系啦 話曬我都系香港竹升嘛 ABC唻嘅

I'm on ABC in Hong Kong, and I'm on ABC.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gwaang2
hai6
la5
waa6
saai3
ngo5
dou1
hai6
hoeng1
gong2
zuk1
sing1
maa4
loi6
koi3
香港嘅ABC啊

ABC in Hong Kong.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hoeng1
gong2
koi3
haa4
系啊 啊仔唔好一味咁拍我膊頭啦 你問就問啦

Oh, oh, don't you just hit me in the head and you can ask me that.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

hai6
haa4
haa4
zi2
ng4
hou3
jat1
mei6
gam3
paak2
ngo5
bok3
tau4
la5
nei5
man6
zau6
man6
la5
唔系啊 咁你話曬系我老豆 我有小小壓力吖嘛

No, you're saying that my dad is a little stressed.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ng4
hai6
haa4
gam3
nei5
waa6
saai3
hai6
ngo5
lou5
dau6
ngo5
jau6
siu2
siu2
ngaat3
lik6
aa1
maa4
咁你拍我膊頭 拍到我訪問起上來我都驚

So you hit me in the head, and I was scared when I got up to interview.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

gam3
nei5
paak2
ngo5
bok3
tau4
paak2
dou3
ngo5
fong2
man6
hei2
soeng6
loi6
ngo5
dou1
ging1
我都有壓力架嘛

I'm stressed out.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
dou1
jau6
ngaat3
lik6
gaa3
maa4
喂咁你有壓力 我都有壓力

So you're stressed, and I'm stressed.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

wai6
gam3
nei5
jau6
ngaat3
lik6
ngo5
dou1
jau6
ngaat3
lik6
我都好大壓力嘎 問啦繼續問啦

I'm so stressed, I keep asking.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ngo5
dou1
hou3
taai3
ngaat3
lik6
gaa4
man6
la5
gai3
zuk6
man6
la5
你唔好一味咁拍我膊頭啦 等我

Don't hit me in the head. Wait for me.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

nei5
ng4
hou3
jat1
mei6
gam3
paak2
ngo5
bok3
tau4
la5
ting2
ngo5
依家講到窒曬口啦 你想唔想訪問啊

Now, when I say choking, you don't want to interview.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

ji1
ze1
gong2
dou3
zat6
saai3
hau2
la5
nei5
soeng2
ng4
soeng2
fong2
man6
haa4
想想想

I want to think.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

soeng2
soeng2
soeng2
你想訪問就同我講道歉先啦

If you want to interview me, apologize to me.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

nei5
soeng2
fong2
man6
zau6
tung4
ngo5
gong2
dou6
hip3
sin3
la5
對唔住

I'm sorry about that.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

deoi3
ng4
zyu6
道歉要握手先得嘎

I'm sorry, I had to shake hands.

Click each character to hear its pronunciation:

dou6
hip3
jiu3
ngak1
sau2
sin3
dak1
gaa4
About This Song

The song "1997" by (MC Jin) is a poignant reflection on the complexities of identity and nostalgia for a place deeply cherished but also changed over time. At its core, the song captures the emotional tug-of-war between the artist's life in America and his longing for his roots in Hong Kong. The lyrics articulate this sentiment with vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, evoking feelings of both warmth and melancholy regarding the passage of time and the notion of home. The artist reminisces about childhood memories and the bittersweet nature of returning to a Hong Kong that, while still vibrant, bears the marks of its historical context marked by the 1997 handover to China.

In the narrative, MC Jin recounts his childhood experiences and the apprehensions instilled in him by adults about leaving Hong Kong before the transition to Chinese sovereignty. His return to Hong Kong ten years into the handover feels both surreal and enchanting, almost like stepping back into a different dimension of his youthful self. He paints a picture of a city filled with both familiar sights and new developments, illustrating his complex feelings about belonging and the influence of his diasporic upbringing. This interplay between memory and reality underscores the universal themes of nostalgia, cultural identity, and the often conflicting emotions tied to migration.

Musically, the track employs a blend of hip hop beats with a reflective tone, enhancing the narrative's introspection. The lyrical techniques include storytelling, which serves as a vehicle for both personal experiences and broader cultural commentary. The casual conversational style in the lyrics provides a sense of intimacy, inviting listeners into the artist's thought process as he navigates his identity. Furthermore, the incorporation of colloquial Cantonese phrases enriches the song's authenticity, connecting deeply with the cultural nuances of Hong Kong life.

From a cultural perspective, "1997" resonates not only as a personal tribute but also as a broader commentary on the evolving relationship between Hong Kong and its identity post-handover. The song touches on the significance of family ties, cultural heritage, and the shared experiences of the Chinese diasporaparticularly that of ABCs (American-born Chinese), who often grapple with the perceptions and expectations tied to their ethnic backgrounds. Overall, MC Jin's "1997" serves as both a personal narrative and a cultural reflection, making it a significant piece that transcends individual experience to speak to collective memory and identity.

Song Details
Singer:
歐陽靖
Total Lines:
60