Dạ cổ hoài lang
Dạ cổ hoài lang ("Night Drum Beats Causes Longing for Absent Husband") is a Vietnamese song, composed 1919 by songwriter Cao Văn Lầu, colloquially known as "ông Sáu Lầu," from Bạc Liêu. It was a massive hit across Vietnam in 1927 as it was taken up by travelling troupes and spawned many variants, versions and imitators.[1][2]
The song "Dạ cổ hoài lang" was the first song in what became known as the defining vọng cổ ("longing") melody of the nhạc tài tử ("amateur music") genre of cai luong ("reformed") music that for many people ông Sáu Lầu's "Dạ cổ hoài lang" is vọng cổ.
Lyrics
The first verse of the original core song is:
- Từ là từ phu tướng
- Báu kiếm sắc phán lên đàng
- Vào ra luống trông tin nhạn
- Năm canh mơ màng
- Em luống trông tin chàng
- Ôi gan vàng thêm đau
Prelude
This is usually preceded and interspersed by recitative, this is the beginning of the tân cổ version from folk singer 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
References
- ↑ Lonely Planet Vietnam 2001 Mason Florence, Robert Storey - 2001 "Dai Coa Hoaoi Lang (Night Song of the Missing Husband) Composed in 1919 by Bac Lieu, this song is said to have inspired Vietnam's beloved vong co melodies. Following is the English ... See the boxed text 'Da Co Hoai Lang', following."
- ↑ 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 ..."