Song of the Fishermen

Introduction

Song of the Fishermen is an early Chinese silent film directed by Cai Chusheng in 1934, and produced by the Lianhua Film Company. The film, like many of the period details the struggle of the poorer classes, in this case a family of fishermen who are forced to sing on the streets in order to survive.

A successful film, Song of the Fishermen played for 84 straight days in Shanghai. It was the first Chinese film to win a prize in an international film festival (Moscow Film Festival in 1935).

Lyrics

云儿飘在海空，鱼儿藏在水中。
早晨太阳里晒鱼网，迎面吹过来大海风。
潮水升，浪花涌，鱼船儿飘飘各西东。
轻撒网，紧拉绳，烟雾里辛苦等鱼踪。
鱼儿难捕租税重，捕鱼人儿世世穷。
爷爷留下的破鱼网，小心再靠它过一冬。
东方现出微明，星儿藏入天空。

早晨鱼船儿返回程，迎面吹过来送潮风。
天已明，力已尽，眼望着渔村路万重。
腰已酸，手也肿，捕得了鱼儿腹内空。
鱼儿捕得不满筐，又是东方太阳红。
爷爷留下的破鱼网，小心还靠它过一冬。