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- About Long Distance Relationship
- Story Behind This Song I Have Found Online
- Lyrics of Across The Ocean to See You 飄洋過海來看你 / SEA You Soon / Love Across The Sea
- Original and Cover by Various Artists
About Long Distance Relationship
A long-distance relationship (LDR) or long-distance romantic relationship (LDRR) is an intimate relationship between partners who are geographically separated from one another. Partners in LDRs face geographic separation and lack of face-to-face contact. – Wikipedia (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-distance_relationship)
Based on the above webpage, it says “LDRs are particularly prevalent among college students, constituting 25% to 50% of all relationships.” But I wonder in actual, how many percentages of the couples in this world are undergoing a long distance relationship. It is because when we mention long distance relationship, it is regardless age group, sexual orientation, race or ethnic, and nationality.
I fully understand how a long distance couple sweet and suffer as I am having a relationship with my Taiwanese boyfriend. We feel sweet when we able to meet each other in person, and we suffer when we have to be apart again, until the next meet-up. Some of my friends are having LDR too and of course, not all of them are so lucky to live in the same time zone with their partner. I am lucky enough to be able texting, chatting and watching movies with my love in the same time zone and thus we do not have to adjust our sleeping time.
Me and my boyfriend, neither one of us is native English speaker. Recently he encourages me to write article, with any topic will do, as long as it could keep my motivation to keep writing. As I noticed that no article is introducing Chinese or Mandarin song related to long distance relationship in English, I thought I would like to write one.
So in this article, I would like to introduce the top Chinese song that is very popular about long distance relationship. This song has been covered by many artists. Notably, the song covered by Fish Leong and Eve Ai, released in Apr 2020. For more information about this cover, please refer to the end of article.
Story Behind This Song I Have Found Online
This is the song written by Jonathan Lee when he knew WaWa (the original singer of this song) suffered in a long distance relationship. WaWa is a Taiwanese, who fell in love with a Beijing poet. In those days, there is no direct flight from Taiwan to Beijing. It is a sad ending as the poet actually has a family. The relationship comes to the end half year after releasing this song.
When WaWa prepared to do the recording in studio, her tears stops the progression as the lyrics is so real and touching, she can’t even complete the recording for the first sentence. Same goes to the second day. The third day, Jonathan did not show up but informed her to record other songs first. After one week, WaWa took a deep breath and told herself, “I am not WaWa, I am Fei Yu-Ching” The recording was finally completed after she had another attempt after one week.
*Fei Yu-Ching is a famous Taiwanese male singer especially between 1980s till 1990s.
There’s actually a mistake when WaWa sing the song. The original lyric is 我竟悲傷得不能自已 (wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì yǐ), but she sang the last word wrongly as自己 zì jǐ and the lyric becomes我竟悲傷得不能自己(wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ). Anyway it does not change the meaning of the lyrics, which is being sad uncontrollably.
In an interview, WaWa recalled that she just talked about her relationship for 5 minutes while chatting with Jonathan. She didn’t expect that the lyrics was created when she met him after 2 days. “He was so excited showing me a paper placemat with oil stain, from a beef noodle chain. It must be he thought of this suddenly when eating the beef noodles. That’s the lyrics of this song.”
This song took the world by storm and motivated long distance couples. “I remembered there’s a waitress came to me when I was having meal. She thanked me for this song, and she was doing the job for saving money to meet her boyfriend. They probably get married after that. I thought it is a good ending, it’s great!”
Photo of WaWa and Jonathan Lee in the studio
Photo of Jonathan Lee and WaWa at the backstage of WaWa’s concert in recent years
Photo Source: www.sohu.com/a/347136221_260616
Lyrics of
Across The Ocean to See You 飄洋過海來看你 /
SEA You Soon / Love Across The Sea
Chinese Lyrics |《飄洋過海來看你》
為你我用了 半年的積蓄 飄洋過海的來看你
為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸 都曾反覆練習
言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一
為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想 不肯睡去
記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去
為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候 都忍著不哭泣
Chorus:
陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡
也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁嘆息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局
在漫天風沙裡 望著你遠去 我竟悲傷得不能自己
多盼能送君千里 直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Pinyin Lyrics | piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
wèi nǐ wǒ yòng le bàn nián de jī xù piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
wèi le zhè cì xiāng jù wǒ lián jiàn miàn shí de hū xī dōu céng fǎn fù liàn xí
yán yǔ cóng lái méi néng jiāng wǒ de qíng yì biǎo dá qiān wàn fēn zhī yī
wèi le zhè ge yí hàn wǒ zài yè lǐ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng bù kěn shuì qù
jì yì tā zǒng shì màn man de lěi jī zài wǒ xīn zhōng wú fǎ mǒ qù
wèi le nǐ de chéng nuò wǒ zài zuì jué wàng de shí hòu dōu rěn zhe bù kū qì
Chorus:
mò shēng de chéngshì a shú xī de jiǎo luò lǐ
yě céng bǐ cǐ ān wèi yě céng xiāng yōng tànxí bù guǎn jiāng huì miàn duì shén me yàng de jié jú
zài màn tiān fēng shā lǐ wàng zhe nǐ yuǎn qù wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ
duō pàn néng sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhí dào shān qióng shuǐ jìn yī shēng hé nǐ xiāng yī *Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Chinese Lyrics with Pinyin | 《飄洋過海來看你》piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
為你我用了 半年的積蓄 飄洋過海的來看你
wèi nǐ wǒ yòng le bàn nián de jī xù piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸 都曾反覆練習
wèi le zhè cì xiāng jù wǒ lián jiàn miàn shí de hū xī dōu céng fǎn fù liàn xí
言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一
yán yǔ cóng lái méi néng jiāng wǒ de qíng yì biǎo dá qiān wàn fēn zhī yī
為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想 不肯睡去
wèi le zhè ge yí hàn wǒ zài yè lǐ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng bù kěn shuì qù
記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去
jì yì tā zǒng shì màn man de lěi jī zài wǒ xīn zhōng wú fǎ mǒ qù
為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候 都忍著不哭泣
wèi le nǐ de chéng nuò wǒ zài zuì jué wàng de shí hòu dōu rěn zhe bù kū qì
Chorus:
陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡
mò shēng de chéngshì a shú xī de jiǎo luò lǐ
也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁嘆息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局
yě céng bǐ cǐ ān wèi yě céng xiāng yōng tànxí bù guǎn jiāng huì miàn duì shén me yàng de jié jú
在漫天風沙裡 望著你遠去 我竟悲傷得不能自己
zài màn tiān fēng shā lǐ wàng zhe nǐ yuǎn qù wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ
多盼能送君千里 直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依
duō pàn néng sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhí dào shān qióng shuǐ jìn yī shēng hé nǐ xiāng yī
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Translation to English | Across The Ocean to See You
(translated by myself with reference of Love Across The Sea *English Version)
I’ve spent savings of half year for travel far across the sea to meet you
I’ve repeatedly practices every breath of meet-up for this reunion
Words can never relay my love, not even one in a ten million
Because of this regret, I thought and thought repeatedly at night, refuse to sleep
Memory accumulated gradually and never fade away in my heart
As you have promised, I hold my tears in the hardest time
Chorus:
In this strange /unacquainted city, at the familiar corner
We’ve comforted each other, and cuddled with sigh, no matter what we have to face at the end
That windy day, watching you leaving makes me weeping sorrowfully
I wish I could company you for thousand miles, to the end of the world, so I could be with you for the entire life
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
為你我用了 半年的積蓄 飄洋過海的來看你
為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸 都曾反覆練習
言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一
為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想 不肯睡去
記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去
為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候 都忍著不哭泣
Chorus:
陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡
也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁嘆息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局
在漫天風沙裡 望著你遠去 我竟悲傷得不能自己
多盼能送君千里 直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Pinyin Lyrics | piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
wèi nǐ wǒ yòng le bàn nián de jī xù piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
wèi le zhè cì xiāng jù wǒ lián jiàn miàn shí de hū xī dōu céng fǎn fù liàn xí
yán yǔ cóng lái méi néng jiāng wǒ de qíng yì biǎo dá qiān wàn fēn zhī yī
wèi le zhè ge yí hàn wǒ zài yè lǐ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng bù kěn shuì qù
jì yì tā zǒng shì màn man de lěi jī zài wǒ xīn zhōng wú fǎ mǒ qù
wèi le nǐ de chéng nuò wǒ zài zuì jué wàng de shí hòu dōu rěn zhe bù kū qì
Chorus:
mò shēng de chéngshì a shú xī de jiǎo luò lǐ
yě céng bǐ cǐ ān wèi yě céng xiāng yōng tànxí bù guǎn jiāng huì miàn duì shén me yàng de jié jú
zài màn tiān fēng shā lǐ wàng zhe nǐ yuǎn qù wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ
duō pàn néng sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhí dào shān qióng shuǐ jìn yī shēng hé nǐ xiāng yī *Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Chinese Lyrics with Pinyin | 《飄洋過海來看你》piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
為你我用了 半年的積蓄 飄洋過海的來看你
wèi nǐ wǒ yòng le bàn nián de jī xù piāo yang guò hǎi de lái kàn nǐ
為了這次相聚 我連見面時的呼吸 都曾反覆練習
wèi le zhè cì xiāng jù wǒ lián jiàn miàn shí de hū xī dōu céng fǎn fù liàn xí
言語從來沒能將我的情意表達千萬分之一
yán yǔ cóng lái méi néng jiāng wǒ de qíng yì biǎo dá qiān wàn fēn zhī yī
為了這個遺憾 我在夜裡想了又想 不肯睡去
wèi le zhè ge yí hàn wǒ zài yè lǐ xiǎng le yòu xiǎng bù kěn shuì qù
記憶它總是慢慢的累積 在我心中無法抹去
jì yì tā zǒng shì màn man de lěi jī zài wǒ xīn zhōng wú fǎ mǒ qù
為了你的承諾 我在最絕望的時候 都忍著不哭泣
wèi le nǐ de chéng nuò wǒ zài zuì jué wàng de shí hòu dōu rěn zhe bù kū qì
Chorus:
陌生的城市啊 熟悉的角落裡
mò shēng de chéngshì a shú xī de jiǎo luò lǐ
也曾彼此安慰 也曾相擁嘆息 不管將會面對什麼樣的結局
yě céng bǐ cǐ ān wèi yě céng xiāng yōng tànxí bù guǎn jiāng huì miàn duì shén me yàng de jié jú
在漫天風沙裡 望著你遠去 我竟悲傷得不能自己
zài màn tiān fēng shā lǐ wàng zhe nǐ yuǎn qù wǒ jìng bēi shāng dé bù néng zì jǐ
多盼能送君千里 直到山窮水盡 一生和你相依
duō pàn néng sòng jūn qiān lǐ zhí dào shān qióng shuǐ jìn yī shēng hé nǐ xiāng yī
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Translation to English | Across The Ocean to See You
(translated by myself with reference of Love Across The Sea *English Version)
I’ve spent savings of half year for travel far across the sea to meet you
I’ve repeatedly practices every breath of meet-up for this reunion
Words can never relay my love, not even one in a ten million
Because of this regret, I thought and thought repeatedly at night, refuse to sleep
Memory accumulated gradually and never fade away in my heart
As you have promised, I hold my tears in the hardest time
Chorus:
In this strange /unacquainted city, at the familiar corner
We’ve comforted each other, and cuddled with sigh, no matter what we have to face at the end
That windy day, watching you leaving makes me weeping sorrowfully
I wish I could company you for thousand miles, to the end of the world, so I could be with you for the entire life
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
Original and Cover by Various Artists
1991: Original Artist: WaWa | 娃娃(金智娟)【飄洋過海來看你】Official Music Video
"WaWa" means doll in Chinese/Mandarin. But some ladies use it as nicknames.
1994: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) | 周華健
Emil Chau is a famous singer especially 1990s.
2007: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) | 李宗盛
Jonathan Lee is the song writer and composer of this song. He writes a wide range of songs about life and love. His love songs are popular due to the lyrics describe female's view and thought very well.
2010, July: Ding Dang (Della Ding) | 丁噹
Della became well-known since she sang the theme song for a famous Taiwanese drama "Autumn's Concerto" produced by Sanlih E-Television (SET)
2013: Tai Cheng-Hsiao (Samuel Tai) | 邰正宵
Samuel Tai is famous singer especially in 1990s.
Uploaded in 2018: Love Across The Sea (English Version)
As per description, this is an English version translated by Tan Jun from Hubei University for Nationalities, sang by Guo Sheng Yi. Part of the lyrics translation does not match with the original meaning of Chinese lyrics. I've appended its lyrics after the YouTube link.
Love Across The Sea (English Version Lyrics)
To meet you I’ve saved every penny to travel far across the sea
To be free and easy, many times I’ve rehearsed the meet hope to impress you deep
Words said never convey what I wanted to say, what in my mind so clearly
To me you are the one until the rocks melt with the sun, I do believe
Happy moments stay and sweet memories linger on me never fade away
Keeping your words in mind, I tell myself at the hard time, never fear the defeat
Chorus:
How I travelled so far, how deep attached we are
In this lonely city, we hug so tight we feel I care not what will come out in the end to me
Oh in this autumn wind, I watched you take leave sorrow grows so strong that makes me wail
How I wish the hill the sea break up not you and me, so long as we can breathe
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
Live performance of Emil Chou and Ayangae in the China TV Programme called Young Forever (Season 3,Episode 3)
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
This version of edited of the live performance. This YouTube channel edited some live performance to complete songs with Chinese lyrics and without audience voice.
2020, Jan 18 @ Kaohsiung Arena 高雄巨蛋: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) feat. Jen Hsien-Chi (Richie Jen) | 李宗盛 任賢齊友情演唱
Jonathan Lee’s live concert at Kaohsiung Arena,Taiwan
"WaWa" means doll in Chinese/Mandarin. But some ladies use it as nicknames.
1994: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) | 周華健
Emil Chau is a famous singer especially 1990s.
2007: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) | 李宗盛
Jonathan Lee is the song writer and composer of this song. He writes a wide range of songs about life and love. His love songs are popular due to the lyrics describe female's view and thought very well.
2010, July: Ding Dang (Della Ding) | 丁噹
Della became well-known since she sang the theme song for a famous Taiwanese drama "Autumn's Concerto" produced by Sanlih E-Television (SET)
2013: Tai Cheng-Hsiao (Samuel Tai) | 邰正宵
Samuel Tai is famous singer especially in 1990s.
Uploaded in 2018: Love Across The Sea (English Version)
As per description, this is an English version translated by Tan Jun from Hubei University for Nationalities, sang by Guo Sheng Yi. Part of the lyrics translation does not match with the original meaning of Chinese lyrics. I've appended its lyrics after the YouTube link.
Love Across The Sea (English Version Lyrics)
To meet you I’ve saved every penny to travel far across the sea
To be free and easy, many times I’ve rehearsed the meet hope to impress you deep
Words said never convey what I wanted to say, what in my mind so clearly
To me you are the one until the rocks melt with the sun, I do believe
Happy moments stay and sweet memories linger on me never fade away
Keeping your words in mind, I tell myself at the hard time, never fear the defeat
Chorus:
How I travelled so far, how deep attached we are
In this lonely city, we hug so tight we feel I care not what will come out in the end to me
Oh in this autumn wind, I watched you take leave sorrow grows so strong that makes me wail
How I wish the hill the sea break up not you and me, so long as we can breathe
*Repeat whole song followed by 1 x chorus
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
Live performance of Emil Chou and Ayangae in the China TV Programme called Young Forever (Season 3,Episode 3)
2019, Nov 17: Wakin Chau (Emil Chau) and Ayangae | 周華健與阿雲嘎
This version of edited of the live performance. This YouTube channel edited some live performance to complete songs with Chinese lyrics and without audience voice.
2020, Jan 18 @ Kaohsiung Arena 高雄巨蛋: Lee Tsung Sheng (Jonathan Lee) feat. Jen Hsien-Chi (Richie Jen) | 李宗盛 任賢齊友情演唱
Jonathan Lee’s live concert at Kaohsiung Arena,Taiwan
2020, Apr: Fish Leong & Eve Ai | 梁靜茹Fish Leong + 艾怡良 Eve Ai [ 飄洋過海來看你 SEA You Soon ]
This is a cover sang by Malaysian artist Fish Leong and Taiwanese artist Eve Ai, for a project by Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR), which is created for fund raising, to support the campaign, legal counselling, pro bono assistance and social advocacy related to multinational same-sex marriage. The fund raising project has ended but they still open for donation on their website. You may visit their website as following:
Chinese website: https://tapcpr.org/
Introduction in English: https://tapcpr.org/english/about-us
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Alliance_to_Promote_Civil_Partnership_Rights
This is a cover sang by Malaysian artist Fish Leong and Taiwanese artist Eve Ai, for a project by Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR), which is created for fund raising, to support the campaign, legal counselling, pro bono assistance and social advocacy related to multinational same-sex marriage. The fund raising project has ended but they still open for donation on their website. You may visit their website as following:
Chinese website: https://tapcpr.org/
Introduction in English: https://tapcpr.org/english/about-us
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Alliance_to_Promote_Civil_Partnership_Rights
According to the description, the mv was shoot based on true story. The director interviewed many same-sex couples who are unable to get married. It condensed the worry if unable to meet the partner, and separation anxiety in the waiting time at the airport.
Before reading the comments of this song in YouTube, I never realise that a foreigner could be a suspect crime as the immigration would ask for the reason of frequent visit. It must be not easy to go through these especially if the country is not LGBT-friendly.
Before reading the comments of this song in YouTube, I never realise that a foreigner could be a suspect crime as the immigration would ask for the reason of frequent visit. It must be not easy to go through these especially if the country is not LGBT-friendly.
P.S.: I just realised that this song has input English lyrics in the caption. Check it out!
