Popular Vietnamese Autumn Songs Posted by Kandle Dart on Oct 18, 2021 in Art, Culture, Seasons
Image taken and used with permission from Kandle Dart
Listening to music and looking out a window, I saw a yellow storm in front of my eyes. A strong wind caused all the leaves that had changed their colors to detach from their branches, ascend into the air, and with gravity, descend to the ground. It was a breath-taking scene. There is something about the autumn air and colors that have inspired many poets and song writers to create many masterpieces.
If you talk about những bài hát vể mùa thu (Autumn’s songs), most of the Vietnamese music lovers, particularly the generation who were born before 1975 in the south, would know by heart these classic bài hát (songs) that carried mùa thu (autumn) elements in them like these listed below.
Những bài hát vể mùa thu (Autumn’s songs)
- Buồn Tàn Thu (Fading Autumn Lamentation) by Văn Cao
- Giọt Mưa Thu (Autumn Rain’s Drops) by Đặng Thế Phong
- Thu Quyến Rũ (Autumn’s Charm) by Đoàn Chuẩn-Từ Linh
- Thu Vàng (Gold Autumn) by Cung Tiến
- Thu Hát Cho Người (An Autumn Song Sang for You) by Vũ Đức Sao Biển
- Thu Ca (Autumn Song) by Phạm Mạnh Cương
- Nước Mắt Mùa Thu (Autumn Tears) by Phạm Duy
- Mùa Thu Chết (Dead Autumn) by Phạm Duy (see the YouTube song demo at the end)
- Thu Sầu (Sad Autumn) by Lam Phương (see the YouTube song demo right below)
About the Song “Mùa Thu Chết”
Bài hát “Mùa Thu Chết” (Dead Autumn) by Phạm Duy has an interesting story. The Vietnamese lyrics were based on the famous French poem “L’adieu” by Guillaume Apollinaire. The famous Vietnamese poet Bùi Giáng translated the poem into a Vietnamese version and the famous song writer Phạm Duy composed the song. I’m not sure whether the lyrics of the song were based on Bùi Giáng’s poem translation or based on the original French version. They are all short, but powerful.
| The Original French Poem | Bùi Giáng’s Translation in Vietnamese |
| L’adieu
J’ai cueilli ce brin de bruyère |
Lời vĩnh biệt Ta đã hái nhành lá cây thạch thảo Em nhớ cho mùa thu đã chết rồi Chúng ta sẽ không tương phùng được nữa Mộng trùng lai không có được trên đời Hương thời gian mùi thạch thảo bốc hơi Và nhớ nhé, ta đợi chờ em đó. |
| Lời bài hát “Mùa Thu Chết” | “Mùa Thu Chết”’s Lyrics |
| Ta ngắt đi một cụm hoa thạch thảo Em nhớ cho: Mùa Thu đã chết rồi ! Mùa Thu đã chết, em nhớ cho Mùa Thu đã chết, em nhớ cho Mùa Thu đã chết, đã chết rồi Em nhớ cho, em nhớ cho Ðôi chúng ta sẽ chẳng còn nhìn nhau nữa Trên cõi đời này, trên cõi đời này Từ nay mãi mãi không thấy nhau Từ nay mãi mãi không thấy nhau Ta ngắt đi một cụm hoa thạch thảo Em nhớ cho: Mùa Thu đã chết rồi ! Ôi ngát hương thời gian mùi thạch thảo Em nhớ cho rằng ta vẫn chờ em. Vẫn chờ em, vẫn chờ em Vẫn chờ…. Vẫn chờ… đợi em ! |
I cut off a cluster of heather flowers Remember: Autumn is dead! Autumn is dead, remember that Autumn is dead, remember that Autumn is dead, already dead Remember that, remember that We won’t see each other anymore In this world, in this world From now on, we will never see each other again From now on, we will never see each other again I cut off a cluster of heather flowers Remember: Autumn is dead! Oh, the scent of time, the scent of heather Remember that I’m still waiting for you. Still waiting for you, still waiting for you Still waiting…. Still waiting… waiting for you! |
Since it’s so popular, bài hát này (this song) has been sung by many famous artists. In honor of the legendary ca sĩ (singer) Lệ Thu, who just passed away early this year at the age of 77 from COVID-19, I would like to link to the rendition of “Mùa Thu Chết” performed by her.
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