Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)

Subject: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 11:40 AM

Does anyone have lyrics for this song? I had it on a cassette at one time, I believe by Evans&Doherty, but I can't find it.
China has vetoed any UN sanction against Libya. They have yet to apologize to their own people for their disgraceful actions in 1989. Perhaps the song should be brought back to life.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 12:16 PM

Perhaps there might also be a song about the US action in Panama at the same time as the Tianenmen Square events, woich killed more pople, dumped in mass graves and never investigated?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 01:09 PM

http://www.metrolyrics.com/tiananmen-square-lyrics-chumbawamba.html

http://www.joanbaez.com/Lyrics/china.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:40 PM

Thanks RunrigFan but not the lyrics I'm seeking.
Perhaps so Jack but what's the relationship to Libya?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 04:27 PM

Several people have written and recorded songs with the same title, although the spelling varies. "Tiananmen Square" seems to be the most common spelling, and the one Wikipedia uses.

According to Evans and Doherty's web site, TIENANMEN SQUARE (That's how they spell it.) is on their album "Live at Lunenburg" which is available as either a CD or cassette.

Their web site gives no further information about the song, not even a songwriting credit, so I have no way of knowing whether anyone else recorded the same song.

Sandy: could you quote any lines from the song, other than the title?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 08:25 PM

Jim, I can't quote any lines from memory but I know I have the tape somewhere. When and if I find it I will post the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:33 AM

Na, never heard of this. About the June 4th event? I was too young to understand back then.

Jason in China

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:50 AM

On question of spelling: TienAnMen was much used in Beijing at the time, in e.g. The China Daily, English language newspaper published there and given free to visiting English-speaking faculty members of the universities. My wife was Senior Lecturer in English at Beijing Language University for whole of that academic year, and was involved in the June events, having to flee under gunfire and spending night in Beijing Toronto Hotel on way to airport ~~ there were bullet-holes in wall next morning! I had recently returned from a term as British Council Lecturer in English Folksong in universities in Beijing and Guilin, just as it was all starting: as my taxi drove off campus for my flight home, the sound of students on their first demo reached our ears behind us.

Know nothing of song, I fear, so hope this not entirely drift; but the question of spelling seemed worth contributing to, together with my qualifications for doing so. Those internal caps probably a bit pedantic, so I would opt for Tienanmen as probably most acceptable Pinyin rendering.

~Michael~

Subject: ADD: China (Joan Baez)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 03:10 AM

For the record, here's the Joan Baez song, from http://www.joanbaez.com/Lyrics/china.html

CHINA
(Words and Music by Joan Baez)

In the month of May, in the glory of the day
Came the descendants of a hundred flowers
And their fight it did begin with the aging Mandarin
And they fought with an extraordinary power
Everyone was smiling, their hearts were one
In Tiananmen Square

But it seems that the Spring this year in Beijing
Came just before the Fall
There was no summer at all
In Tiananmen Square
China... China

There's peace in the emerald fields, there's mist upon the lakes
But something is afoot in the People's Hall
The spirit of Chu Ping is alive in young Chai Ling
And the Emperor has his back against the wall
Black sun rising over Tiananmen Square
Over Tiananmen Square

But it seems that the Spring this year in Beijing
Came just before the Fall
There was no summer at all
In Tiananmen Square
China... China

In the month of June, in the darkness of the moon
Went the descendants of a hundred flowers
And time may never tell how many of them fell
Like the petals of a rose in some satanic shower
Everyone was weeping in all of China
And Tiananmen Square

But it seems that the Spring this year in Beijing
Came just before the Fall
There was no summer at all
In Tiananmen Square
China... China

And even the moon on the fourth day of June
Hid her face and did not see
Black sun rising over Tiananmen Square

And Wang Wei Lin, you remember him
All alone he stood before the tanks
A shadow of forgotten ancestors in Tiananmen Square

And my blue-eyed son, you had no one
You could call a hero of your age
You have the rainbow warriors of Tiananmen Square, singing
China Shall Be Free
China Shall Be Free
China Shall Be Free

© 1989 Gabriel Earl Music (ASCAP)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:58 AM

I know that event, July 4th - it is now "harmonied" (nothing to do with the grammar, just what we say in local Chinese people) by the government. What a moment but oh what a mess.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:31 PM

I did some deeper digging and found the tape by Kevin & Brian.(Evans&Doherty) Live at The Lunenburg Folk Festival. They have it attributed to (R. Shaw) Brandy River Music. It is a very powerful song!
I have transcribed the words here as they sung it on the tape:

   Tiananmen Square
I wander alone in the shadows
As the rain falls softly on Tiananmen Square
The pale light of dawning; a new rose of morning
A promise of spring in the flowers so fair

Never forget, always remember
Sing to the glory of those who would dare
The fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the brothers
The blood red roses of Tiananmen Square

They say you can hear China's sorrow
In that great Yellow River that flows to the sea
In a land without choices the murdering voices
Call to a people who yearn to be free

Never forget, always remember
Sing to the glory of those who would dare
The fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the brothers
The blood red roses of Tiananmen Square

The eyes of the martyrs are watching
As the rain falls softly on Tiananmen Square

Never forget, always remember
Sing to the glory of those who would dare
The fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the brothers
The blood red roses of Tiananmen Square

Never forget, always remember
Sing to the glory of those who would dare
The fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the brothers
The blood red roses of Tiananmen Square

The fathers, the mothers, the sisters, the brothers
The blood red roses of Tiananmen Square

                         © R. Shaw   Brandy River Music Co.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:45 PM

Hi Jason,
Yes, what is called in China the June Fourth Incident. I believe that the younger folks there only know the truth by word of mouth as information restrictions are imposed. I'm surprised that this thread would even get through Chinese internet censors. I do not wish to cause you any problems so will not comment farther directly to you. All the best wishes!
          Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 07:46 AM

Hi Sandy,

Thanks for the comment. I've been a sometime Mudcatter for a couple of years and am very happy for the speech freedom here.

However I didn't know that there are so many songs about that incident at the Square of Heavenly Peace (the real meaning of Tiananmen Square), and am rather glad for finding that.

Actually the only one I knew was John Denver's 1990 song "Raven's Child", which I assume also has two lines about that event (Still there are hearts that long to be open, and eyes that are longing to see). That song is about the wreck of Exxon Valdez, the fall of the Berlin Wall, drug abuse and some other events about freedom, conscience and mercy. Once a favorite of mine.

Yet I want to say something about that June 4th event. Though I'm not very much of a supporter of the Communist Party (due to their lack of democracy), I have to say that most people are biased reviewing this event, including Joan Baez.

Though the demonstration is of great purpose, only to have caused a failure and a mess. Chai Ling is not calm enough and she was taken advantage of by some evil people from the society - a real pity, but she could have predicted that result, for a lot of people in China didn't have enough quality to support such a demonstration back then. That caused a real terrible result, though the government were surely to blame, the students are a bit responsible as well.

Alas! At any time we'd better speak of evolution rather than revolution, for I'm quite sure none of us want to see blood from the innocent people.

The preceding is only my own opinion, but I hope it helps people look at this event more objectively and calmly.

Thanks for reading, and sorry for my bad English.

Jason in the City of Xi'an, China

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:51 AM

Thanks Jason! Your English is very good! Perhaps better than my own!
               Keep well!
                     Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 01:47 AM

It's now 22 years ago; so of course it is ancient history to the young Chinese (I remember in my childhood my parents going on about the General Strike which happened only 6 years before I was born but which seemed to me to belong with the Great Fire of London and the Roman Empire and the French Revolution as part of an undifferentiated mass of the ancient world); which is of course how the events of June 1989 are going to appear to Jason & those of his generation.

But I know too that he is a young man of sufficient empathy to realise what it all still means to those of us who were actually there at the time & involved [my wife had visited those of her students who were taking part in the happenings of the Square only 2 days before ~~ she actually saw their famous Goddess Of Democracy with her own eyes: see my post above of 28 Feb 0250 am]. I am still in touch with some of my late wife's academic colleagues from her time there ~ with one of whom, BTW, to urge the continuing connection, she compiled what I am told is still a standard comprehension textbook for Chinese university students of English: Advanced College Reading by Li Yanshu & Valerie G Myer, Beijing 1992: & Dr Li tells me too that some broadcasts that Valerie & I did for the English Language service of Radio Beijing still feature on their airwaves every few months. I mention these things to stress that to our generation Tienanmen & its lessons have not been forgotten.

~Michael~

Subject: Lyr Add: Readjustment Blues (Bill Danoff)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 07:05 AM

Thanks so much Sandy and Michael.

I was 6 years old at the time the incident took place - too young to understand. I didn't attach any awareness to social political movements then. With time going by I gradually began to notice what a nation really is. The reality is indeed cruel, yet you have to accept it.

As a Mudcatter, I also recall a song by Guns 'N' Roses called "Chinese Democracy", which is also about this event. In addition, Bill Danoff's 1971 song "Readjustment Blues" is also about a demonstration that has been quelled (at least I think so); I don't know what it actually was but I always regards it as a prediction of June 4th 1989. Here are the lyrics (I'd rather post it as a story):

Readjustment Blues
(Bill Danoff)

    Just out of the infantry this morning, I had to pay my dues across the sea. No one back in boot camp ever warned me what the readjustment blues would do to me. "Welcome to Havannah!", said the pilot, "We must have made a wrong turn on the way. Let's buy some cigars and keep it quiet, if they don't know we're here we'll get away."
    Just as I had realized he was joking, I saw we were in Washington D.C. Because there was all the patriotic buildings, just like I had seen them on TV. It must have been a holiday, 'cause there was this parade, people carried signs, I couldn't read, that they had made 'till I got closer, and my heart fell to my socks -there was a battle raging and the air was filled with teargas and rocks.
    There was the flag I'd fought against so often, the one I fought for hanging upside down. The wind was blowing hard, the dirt was flying, it made the city sky look dark and brown.
    I saw a girl, she could have been my sister, except her hair was long and in her face. She explained, this was a demonstration against the war and for the human race.
    Now I've seen a lot of strange things in my travels: cannibals, yeah, and aliens galore. But I never thought I'd see so many people saying "We Don't Want Your W-A-R!!!"
    The troops all had on uniforms just like the one I'd worn, but they were all domestic and my duty chose war. They carried guns just like the ones across the sea, except this time I was the citizen, and they were pointing their guns at me! Yes, I was just a citizen, and I was walking down the street!
    And it was just that night, the readjustment blues...
    Got through to me.

Jason in China

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 08:24 AM

Here are the lyrics to a song that was sung by the students and demonstrators at Tiananmen Square in 1989. It's sung by the Solidarity Choir (Sydney) and is recorded on their first CD.

Xue Ran Di Feng Tsai

Ye shu wo gao bie, jiang bu zai hui lai.
Ni shih fou li jie, ni shih fou ming bai.
Ye shu wo dao xia, jiang bu zai chi lai.
Ni shi fou hai yao yung jiu di chi dai.
Lu guo shi juh yang ni bu yao bei ai,
Gung he guo di chi juh shang you
Women xue ran di feng tsai.

Ye shu ni di yan jing zai bu neng zheng kai.
Wo shen shen li jie ni chen mo di ching huai.
Ye shu ni dao xia, zai bu nung shing lai.
Wo yi ding shiangshin ni hua tsu liao shan mai.
Lu guo shi juh yang wo bu hui bei ai.
Yin wei women di tu rang li
You ni fu chu di ai.

Translation:

This may be farewell forever. I might never return. I hope you understand why it is that I've gone. Maybe I'll fall in the struggle, never to rise again. I wonder whether you'll still want to wait for me, without end. If it should turn out that way please feel no lingering sorrow. For the wind that our blood has stained scarlet will unfurl the Republic's flag tomorrow.

Yes, it may happen that finally your eyes will forever be closed. I know the sincere and unspoken feelings your honesty chose. And if you fall in the struggle, in earth you'll forever repose but, like the mountains, to me you will shine with the radiance of snow. If it should turn out that way I will try not to grieve. For the very earth that we stand on is filled with the love that you gave.

You can hear the Solidarity Choir sing this song, if you go to the music link on
the Solidarity Choir's website and clink on the link to an MP3 of Xue Ran Di Feng Tsai.

It's a beautiful, moving song.

freda

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 09:17 AM

Thanks for the addition, very nice touch here. China shall be free, and it surely will!

Jason in China

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tiananmin Square (Blood Red Roses)
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:20 PM

Mary Chapin Carpenter's latest cd contains a song called 4 June 1989 which is about this event.