High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a song called “Tibetan Joy and Sorrow” sung by singer Dezom from Kham.
The music video has been available online since September 2011 and can be watched on sites such as YouTube, where it has been viewed almost 23,000 times.
In three verses, Dezom sings of the joys and sorrows of being Tibetan, about the lack of freedom in Tibet, longing for the protector and missing the dharma King. Interestingly, when Dezom sings about the protector and dharma King, the video shows the image of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, the highly respected and much missed founder of Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in eastern Tibet who passed away in 2004.
Although the video claims to use the lyrics and composition of a folk song, this seems unlikely and the song doesn’t sound familiar or similar to a folk song. It is therefore possible that the song-writers wished to remain anonymous.
This is music video number 47 translated by High Peaks Pure Earth since the Wednesday music video series started towards the end of 2012. Please go back and watch our other videos using this link: http://highpeakspureearth.com/category/music-from-tibet/
Below are the subtitled music video and translated lyrics of “Tibetan Joy and Sorrow”:
“Tibetan Joy and Sorrow” By Dezom from HPeaks on Vimeo.
“Tibetan Joy and Sorrow”
Singer: Dezom
Lyrics: Folk
Composition: Folk
In the world of the Land of Snows
I have both a joy and a sorrow
I have a joy as it is my birthplace
I have a sorrow as there is no freedom in Tibet
Oh, Tibetans of the Land of Snows
Longing for the protector Yeshi Norbu
Shedding more tears of sadness
This is the fate of Tibetans of the three provinces
In the realm of the Land of Snows
I have both a joy and a sorrow
I have a joy as it is the land of dharma
I have a sorrow as it is the land without a dharma King
Oh, Tibetans of the Land of Snows
Longing for the dharma King
The wound of sadness grows bigger and bigger
This is the fate of Tibetans of the Land of Snows
In the towns of the Land of Snows
I have both a joy and a sorrow
I have a joy because I am a child of my parents
I have a sorrow because I have no education
Oh, my brothers and sisters
Remembering the joys and sorrows of snowy Tibet
Singing more songs of sadness
This is my fate
Shedding more tears of sadness
This is my fate
[Translation by High Peaks Pure Earth]
For those unable to view the videos on Vimeo, there is also a High Peaks Pure Earth YouTube channel here with our music videos: http://www.youtube.com/highpeakspureearth
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