Fish Sauce to Ketchup

Sources

Song

Lyrics

Vietnamese Lyrics

Việt Nam Việt Nam nghe từ vào đời Việt Nam hai câu nói bên vành nôi Việt Nam nước tôi. Việt Nam Việt Nam tên gọi là người Việt Nam hai câu nói sau cùng khi lìa đời Việt Nam đây miền xinh tươi Việt Nam đem vào sông núi Tự do công bình bác ái muôn đời Việt Nam không đòi xương máu Việt Nam kêu gọi thương nhau Việt Nam đi xây đắp yên vui dài lâu Việt Nam trên đường tương lai, Lửa thiêng soi toàn thế giới Việt Nam ta nguyện tranh đấu cho đời Tình yêu đây là khí giới, Tình thương đem về muôn nơi Việt Nam đây tiếng nói đi xây tình người Việt Nam! Việt Nam! Việt Nam quê hương đất nước sáng ngời Việt Nam! Việt Nam! Việt Nam muôn đời

English Lyrics

Vietnam, Vietnam! The first words you hear in life Vietnam is the first words you speak Vietnam is my country. Vietnam, Vietnam! The name calls to you Vietnam is the last word you speak when you pass away Vietnam is where the young and attractive are Vietnam is the rivers and mountains Freedom, equality, and humanity for everyone Vietnam doesn't want violence Vietnam calls for peace and love Vietnam will build1 a long-lasting happiness (?) Vietnam is on the path towards the future The sacred fire2 illuminates the entire universe Vietnam, I pledge myself entirely for you Love here is our weapon Affection will bring us everywhere3 (?) Vietnam is the word to build a kind person Vietnam! Vietnam! Vietnam is the homeland that shines brightly Vietnam! Vietnam! Vietnam is all of life

Notes

1. Couldn’t find a translation for “đắp yên” but I think what I have gets the general idea
2. Not sure if this is referring something from Vietnamese folklore or if I translated it wrong
3. Not sure how to translate “muôn nơi”. Pretty sure it means “everywhere” but then the sentence doesn’t make much sense

Other notes

I asked my mom what her favorite Vietnamese song was and this was the first thing she could think of. She said it wasn’t her favorite though just what popped into her head. Still, it’s a pretty simple and repetitive song so it was quick to translate. It’s very patriotic and what I imagine hippy songs in Vietnam were like during the war.

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