''Dạ cổ hoài lang'' (, ''"Night Drum Beats Cause Longing for Absent Husband"'', Chữ Hán: 夜鼓怀郎) is a Vietnamese song, composed circa 1918 by songwriter

Cao Văn Lầu Cao Văn Lầu (1892–1976), also known as Sáu Lầu (''Lầu the Sixth'' in Vietnamese), was a Vietnamese musician. He was the original composer of the song vọng cổ which started a new genre of cải lương music in the 1920s. He was ...

, colloquially known as "Sáu Lầu," from

Bạc Liêu Bạc Liêu () is a provincial city and capital of the Bạc Liêu Province in the Mekong Delta region in southern Vietnam. It is a medium-sized town with a population of approximately 150,000. The former name of the city is Vĩnh Lợi. Histor ...

. It was a massive hit across Vietnam in 1927 as it was taken up by travelling troupes and spawned many variants, versions and imitators.Southeast Asia: Volume 1 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Center for Vietnamese Studies - 1971 "Many new kinds of tunes were invented, the most important of which was the vong co. ... In any case, its first full appearance, even in simple form, was as da co or da co hoai lang (longing for one's husband) :48 Moderate Da Co Hoai Lang ..." The song ''Dạ cổ hoài lang'' marked the beginning of the iconic ''

vọng cổ ''Vọng cổ'' (, Hán tự: , "nostalgia") is a Vietnamese song and musical structure used primarily in the '' cải lương'' theater music and '' nhạc tài tử'' chamber music of southern Vietnam. It was composed sometime between 1917 and 19 ...

'' melody, which has become a subgenre on its own within the '' đờn ca tài tử'' and ''

cải lương ''Tuồng cải lương'' (, Hán-Nôm: 從改良) often referred to as cải lương (Chữ Hán: 改良), roughly "reformed theater") is a form of modern folk opera in Vietnam. It blends southern Vietnamese folk songs, classical music, '' hát ...

'' music that for many people Lầu's ''Dạ cổ hoài lang'' is still synonymous with ''vọng cổ''.

Lyrics

:Từ là từ phu tướng :Báu ( bảo ) kiếm sắc phán ( phong ) lên đàng :Vào ra luống trông tin nhạn :Năm canh mơ màng :Em luống trông tin chàng :Ôi gan vàng thêm đau. :Đường dầu ( dù ) sa ong bướm :Xin đó đừng phụ nghĩa tào khang :Đêm luống trông tin bạn :Ngày mỏi mòn như đá Vọng phu :Vọng - phu vọng luống trông tin chàng :Lòng xin chớ phụ phàng :Chàng là chàng có hay :Đêm thiếp nằm luống những sầu tây :Bao thuở đó đây sum vầy :Duyên sắt cầm đừng lợt phai :Là nguyện cho chàng :Hai chữ an - bình an :Trở lại gia đàng :Cho én nhạn hiệp đôi. Literally in English : :''“Since saying farewell to my husband - an army general,'' :''When thou wast given the precious sharp sword to go to the front.'' :''I have been walking in and out hoping for a dove swallow to appear,'' :''Dreamy through the night.'' :''I am longing for any news about thee - my husband,'' :''Feeling more painful in the golden liver.'' :''Although the road is full of bees and butterflies,'' :''Please do not subjugate thy health.'' :''The night looks to believe in thee,'' :''Every day I stand wearily like "Husband Longing" mound.'' :''Hope in thee, and hope to keep trusting thee,'' :''Please do not become subordinate.'' :''Thou art a good young man,'' :''Night and night I lay down in my sorrow.'' :''How long ago since we were happily united,'' :''Dependent on love, please don't fade.'' :''All I pray for thee,'' :''Is giving the word "Safety"'' :''And I'll see thee soon in our family'' :''Let the swallows and terns be united.”''

Prelude

This is usually preceded and interspersed by recitative, this is the beginning of the tân cổ version from folk composer :vi:Viễn Châu (1924) :Mấy cánh mai vàng gởi... gió... xuân :Đường xa đã mỏi gót phong trần :Bâng khuâng dạo bản đàn năm cũ :Một chút ân tình gởi... cố... nhân : :''Several yellow orchid branches I sent... through the spring... breeze'' :''The road was too long that worn the heels of the weathered man'' :''Marveling I play old year melody'' :''A little love sent... to my old... flame.''

References

External links

Original Lyrics in Vietnamese

{{DEFAULTSORT:Da co hoai lang Vietnamese songs 1919 songs