Lyrics · LT201

Short Lyrics

Short, delicate song lyrics under 58 characters.

546works

5dynasties

78authors

Song

38 works

960–1279

  1. Magnolia Blossom · Spring Wind Lingers West of the GardenYan RenMy moon-bright mirror does not lie: come home tomorrow and see for yourself.
  2. Silk-Washing Stream · Behind the Gate, Deep in FlowersWu WenyingCatkins fall without a sound, spring sheds its tears; the drifting cloud casts a shadow, the moon hides in shyness.
  3. Silk-Washing Stream · Bronze Flowers Cold on the RipplesWu WenyingRiver swallows speak of home and part at dawn; the lotus red fades as if spring were done.
  4. Treading the Grass · Moist Jade Veiled in GauzeWu WenyingAcross the river she is in the rain; evening wind in the wild rice stirs autumn sorrow.
  5. Night Roaming in the Palace · She Has Left the West TowerWu WenyingTell her, who does not know: in the capital, facing the autumn lamp, how many grow old?
  6. Treading the Grass · Late Spring: Orioles' Voices Growing OldKou ZhunLeaning on the tower without a word, she watches the dim sky run on into fragrant grass.
  7. Hailing the Sage Court · Farewell: Two Parts SorrowYe QingchenOf spring's three parts, two parts are sorrow, and one more part is wind and rain.
  8. Master Ruan Returns · Walking on the Green: Mid-Spring in the Southern GardenOuyang XiuDew heavy on the flowers, mist low on the grass, and curtains lowered in every house.
  9. Song of the South · Boudoir Feelings: A Phoenix ChignonOuyang XiuIdly she lets her embroidery go, and laughing asks how to write the two words for mandarin ducks.
  10. The West River Moon · A Beauty: Hair Loosely CoiledSima GuangTo meet her was worse than never to have met; to feel so much is still like feeling nothing.
  11. Peace and Happiness · Late Spring: Where Has Spring GoneHuang TingjianTheir hundred trills no one can understand; on the wind they fly off over the roses.
  12. Spring in the Painted Hall · On Its Theme: East Wind in the WillowsHuang TingjianThe night chill seeps through her thin silk, and her thoughts have no end.
  13. Ru Meng Ling · Spring Scene: Orioles Peck the BlossomsQin GuanAs before, as before: the player and the green willows, both grown thin.
  14. Remembering an Old Friend at Peach Spring · Winter Scene: A Locked Jade TowerQin GuanMoonlight and heavy frost beyond the window; I hear the plum blossom tune to its end.
  15. Sorry to Part · On Its Theme: Tears Like Dew on a FlowerMao PangThis grief we split in two; with nothing more to say, we only gaze at each other.
  16. Magnolia Blossom, Shortened · Spring Feelings: Painted Bridge, Flowing WaterWang AnguoNot like the hanging willows, which still send their blossoms drifting into her room.
  17. Drunk in Times of Peace · Boudoir Feelings: High-Hearted and TrueLiu GuoLonging for you, remembering you: my soul is pulled, my dreams entwined.
  18. Partridge Sky · Parting: Jade Grieving, Flowers SorrowingNie ShengqiongMy tears by the pillow and the rain by the steps, with only a window between, drip on until dawn.
  19. People and Moon Both Full · Stirred by Feeling: Sorrow of the Southern DynastiesWu JiLike the marshal of Jiangzhou, his blue robe wet with tears, we are both at the edge of the world.
  20. Rouged Lips · Boudoir Feelings: A Night of East WindZeng YunyuanBy the long pavilion the grass is green as ever, yet lovely only when you come home.
  21. Remembering Youth · Endless Willows by the Official RoadChao BuzhiEndless willows by the official road, a heartless painted boat, a rootless traveller.
  22. Deva-Like Barbarian · Past Red-Railed Bridge, the Fragrant StreetChen KeYoung men in yellow robes fly by on white horses, day after day below the pleasure houses.
  23. Deva-Like Barbarian · Weedy Walls round a Mossy CourtChen KeHere and there the sound of tossing coins; behind the green window, a light spring sleep.
  24. Song of Heaven's Gate · Perilous Niuzhu and Heaven's GateHe ZhuPerilous Niuzhu and Heaven's Gate divided north from south and were seized by rival powers.
  25. Beautiful Lady Yu · Fallen Petals Dance before the WindYe MengdeFair one, do not knit your brows; I too am full of feeling, and helpless as the wine runs out.
  26. Rouged Lips · The New Moon, Fair and FineWang ZaoAfter the crows have cawed in disarray, the wish to go home grows strong as wine.
  27. Charming Eyes · Drowsy Sunbeams and Floating Purple HazeFan ChengdaSpring languor is just like the water of the spring pond: a sheet of crinkled ripples, all sorrow.
  28. Partridge Sky · Pillow and Mat Cool in the Stream HallXin QijiI cannot tell how far my strength has failed; I only feel lately too lazy to climb the tower.
  29. Rouged Lips · The Northern Geese Have No CaresJiang KuiA few peaks, pure and bitter, are deliberating over an evening rain.
  30. Partridge Sky · The Fei River Flows East Without EndJiang KuiThe Fei River flows east with no end; I should never have planted longing back then.
  31. Treading the Grass · Light as a Swallow, Soft as an OrioleJiang KuiOver Huainan the bright moon chills a thousand hills; in the dark she goes back, with no one to care for her.
  32. Apricot Blossom Sky · Green Threads Brush the Mandarin Duck ShoreJiang KuiFragrant grass fills the islets, yet I cannot go home; at dusk, where shall I move my boat now?
  33. Hawthorn Fruit · Crowded Lanterns Outshine the MoonLiu KezhuangThe sights are the same as in years gone by; the feelings of middle age are different.
  34. Magnolia Blossom · Year After Year Riding Through the CapitalLiu KezhuangA man has the Divine Land to the northwest; do not shed your tears by the bridge west of the water.
  35. Song of the Southland · Dreading to Lean on the RailingPan FangThe moon sinks, the frost falls; late in the night he picks a plum spray to gaze at alone.
  36. Rouged Lips · The Gloomy Clouds All Rolled AwayWu WenyingLove like water; in a small tower, a scented quilt, a spring dream among pipes and songs.
  37. Partridge Sky · Red Lotus on the Pool Beside the RailingWu WenyingThe dream of home is narrow, water and sky are wide; at the window, brows pale as autumn hills.
  38. Song of Divination · Seeing Bao Haoran Off to Eastern ZheWang GuanThe water is a glance of eyes, flowing level; the hills are brows gathered into peaks.

Qing

6 works

1636–1912

  1. Magnolia Blossom: Ancient Severing Words for a FriendNalan XingdeIf only human lives could remain forever like our first encounter, why should chilly autumn breezes mourn over painted fans?
  2. Everlasting Longing: A Stretch of Mountains, a Stretch of RiversNalan XingdeDeep into night gleam a thousand tent lights.
  3. Sands of the Washing Stream: Who Mourns in Chilly West WindNalan XingdeBetting on classics earned sweet spills of fragrant tea—in those days, I thought it was merely ordinary.
  4. Gathering Mulberry: The Moon in Tender Pity Must Smile at MeNalan XingdeThe bright moon in tender pity must smile at me: betraying the heart of spring, strolling alone and chanting in solitude.
  5. A Missed Tryst · Boudoir Grievance: Cold Air Creeps Through the CurtainsWang MaolinWhen he comes back to paint her brows, she will count up every way he was fickle.
  6. Green Willow Tips · Recording an Outing: A Silk Fan to Hide Her BlushZhu YizunHardest of all to forget: coming back like Cui Hu to look for last year's face.