‘Miss Dong (董小姐, Dǒngxiǎojiě)’ was included in Chinese indie pop record label Modern Sky’s 15th anniversary album, Modern Sky 7 (摩登天空7, Módēng tiānkōng 7), released on December 27, 2012.
25-year-old Beijing singer-songwriter Song Dongye (宋冬野, Sòng Dōngyě) said this song is based on a conversation with a female photographer friend who looks vulnerable but has a strong heart due to life experiences that are very different from those of an average person.
Although this indie pop song has been popular among Chinese “artistic youth” [hipsters] for some time, it didn’t reach the broader public until Zuo Li (左立, Zuǒ Lì), a contestant of Super Boy (快乐男声, Kuàilè nánshēng) covered the song on the June 29th episode.
At time of translation, this song has generated 2,744,924 listens on Xiami.
Composer: Song Dongye
Lyrics: Song Dongye
Singer: Song Dongye
Lyrics (Original Chinese, Pinyin Romanization, and English Translation):
董小姐 你从没忘记你的微笑 (Dǒngxiǎojiě nǐ cóngméi wàngjì nǐde wēixiào)
Miss Dong, you never forget your smile
就算你和我一样 渴望着衰老 (Jiùsuàn nǐhéwǒ yíyàng kěwàng zhe shuāilǎo)
Even if you are like me, eager to get old
董小姐 你嘴角向下的时候很美 (Dǒngxiǎojiě nǐ zuǐjiǎo xiàngxià de shíhou hěnměi)
Miss Dong, when the corners of your mouth curl down, it’s so beautiful
就像安和桥下 清澈的水 (Jiùxiàng ānhéqiáoxià qīngchède shuǐ)
just like the clear water under Anhe Bridge
董小姐 我也是个复杂的动物 (Dǒngxiǎojiě wǒ yěshì gè fùzá de dòngwù)
Miss Dong, I too am a complicated animal
嘴上一句带过 心里却一直重复 (Zuǐshàng yíjù dàiguò xǐnlǐ què yìzhí chóngfù)
saying things only once, but repeating them over and over again in my heart
董小姐 鼓楼的夜晚时间匆匆 (Dǒngxiǎojiě gǔlóu de yèwǎn shíjiān cōngcōng)
Miss Dong, that evening near Gulou, time fled
陌生的人 请给我一支兰州 (Mòshēng de rén qǐng gěiwǒ yìzhī lánzhōu)
Stranger, please give me a Lanzhou [cigarette brand]
CHORUS：
所以那些可能都不是真的 董小姐 (Suǒyǐ nàxiē kěnéng dōu búshì zhēnde Dǒngxiǎojiě)
So probably all those things are not true, Miss Dong
你才不是一个没有故事的女同学 (Nǐ cáibúshì yígè méiyǒu gùshì de nǚtóngxué)
You certainly aren’t a female classmate without stories
爱上一匹野马 可我的家里没有草原 (àishàng yìpǐ yěmǎ kě wǒde jiālǐ méiyǒu cǎoyuán)
Falling in love with a wild horse, but having no grassland in my home
这让我感到绝望 董小姐 (Zhè ràngwǒ gǎndào juéwàng Dǒngxiǎojiě)
This makes me feel hopeless, Miss Dong
董小姐 你熄灭了烟 说起从前 (Dǒngxiǎojiě nǐ xīmiè le yān shuōqǐ cóngqián)
Miss Dong, you put out a cigarette, and started talking about the past
你说前半生就这样吧 还有明天 (Nǐshuō qiánbànshēng jiù zhèyàng ba háiyǒu míngtiān)
You said the first half of your life is what it is, there’s always tomorrow.
董小姐 你可知道我说够了再见 (Dǒngxiǎojiě nǐ kě zhīdào wǒ shuōgòule zàijiàn)
Miss Dong, you know I’ve said enough “goodbyes”
在五月的早晨 终于丢失了睡眠 (Zài wǔyuè de zǎochén zhōngyú diūshī le shuìmián)
On a morning in May, I finally lost sleep
CHORUS
所以那些可能都会是真的 董小姐 (Suǒyǐ nàxiē kěnéng dōuhuì shì zhēnde Dǒngxiǎojiě)
So those things may all be true, Miss Dong
谁会不厌其烦的安慰那无知的少年 (Shuíhuì búyànqífán de ānwèi nà wúzhī de shāonián)
Who will tirelessly comfort that ignorant youngster?
我想和你一样 不顾那些所以 (Wǒxiǎng hénǐ yíyàng búgù nàxiē suǒyǐ)
I want to be like you, ignoring all those things. So,
跟我走吧 董小姐 燥起来吧 董小姐 (Gēnwǒzǒuba Dǒngxiǎojiě Zàoqǐláibā Dǒngxiǎojiě)
be with me, Miss Dong. Cheer up, Miss Dong
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