Dat Hop Nzat Hni

In 1997,
on the road to Butuo county
I again heard the song “Dat Hop Nzat Hni.”
In the car I was riding
there was a spectacularly promoted pop song
playing at the same time.
I stuck my head out the window,
on the opposite hill was walking
a Yi man wearing traditional tights.
Though he was far off,
I seemed to see the hint of a defiant smile
hung on his face.
He was singing
and at times it was
like he was almost shouting
this celebrated Yi folksong,
sung for so many generations.
From long ago its vocals were already higher
than the wild highlands. “Dat Hop Nzat Hni”
doesn’t have that melodic sweetness of the stage
but every time I hear it,
it makes my heart beat faster.

In 1997 at Butuo
“Dat Hop Nzat Hni” was promoted by the massive mountains
accompanied by the flowing rivers
while the moon and stars were spotlights.

达伙扎里

达伙扎里

在通往布拖县的路上
我又一次听到了达伙扎里这首歌
我乘坐的车里
同时在放一首
包装精美的流行歌曲
我把头探出窗外
对面山上走着一位
穿小裤脚的彝族男人
虽然相隔遥远
我仿佛看见他的脸上
挂着一丝挑衅的笑意
他在唱
有时只差一点
又好像在叫
这首著名的彝族歌谣
唱了多少年代
歌声早已比荒漠的高原
更高。《达伙扎里》
没有舞台上的歌曲甜蜜
但每一次听到
都让我心跳加快

一九九七年在布拖
达伙扎里用大山包装
河流伴奏
星星和月亮作为灯光