The Mekong River Is Flowing
(upon the Mekong River, obsessed by the war news)
Me me kong kong
Me me me me me me kong kong
Me me me he e he me he kong kong kong
Me kong me kong me kong
The flooding water rolls attempting to immerse the rocked coasts
which are standing
to look at
the swirling current carrying our lives along
Me me kong kong
Me me me me me me kong kong
Me kong me kong me kong
Mountains add themselves to mountains, we add oursleves to the river of brown color
which is absorbed in its current, ignoring day or night,
which is brimfull with blue sky.
Our eyes
dizzy
our innermost feelings rising up to spreading clounds
Sitting in front of the waves, we mourn over pains of war
How quiet we are while troubles arise in other places on world!
The river is flowing quietly, its banks are so green, but the current
suddenly
twists
and clenches
Pains rise along with waves, life isn’t peaceful at all
Me me kong kong
Me me me me me me me me kong kong kong
Don’t modulate oh guitar! My heart is
broken
The music detaches itself from the waves
Ignoring thunder and lightning ignoring rain pouring to make the sky collapse, the Mekong River is still quiet!
The evening falls, dying trees in red
The misfortune shakes the reeds
Swept by the wind grass leaves lie flat on the ground
Who calls me
Who calls me…
Me me kong kong
Me me me me he me he kong kong kong
Me kong me kong me kong ….
March 2003
(trans by Hoang Hung)