Ok, this made my day! I randomly heard this classic Hong Kong song at Andy Poolhall and realized how much of an anti-capitalist working class anthem it is.
my notes = < >
background spoken lyric = ( )
My translation:
Title: Half a catty, eight taels <traditional Chinese currency, saying for ‘Fair Terms or Wages’>
Oh, we the working people,
Running around the streets ruins my appetite
the little that we make can hardly last until the end of the month ([I am] skinny as hell)
It really is messed up
If we move a little, the boss gets mad (crazier than a chicken)
whether we’re wrong or not, he randomly barks
If we ask for a raise, his face goes long (you’ll cry some tears)
Boy, you’re in for a treat
[Chorus]
Half a catty, eight taels; Work so hard, your face becomes like Jack
Half a catty, eight taels; Firecrackers soaked in water will not crackle
Half a catty, eight taels; If we had the guts, we’d just grab a gun and take the money
We put so much effort in, we just want our fair reward
Do you seriously think we’d get half a catty, eight taels? (how livid we are)
Oh, we the working people,
Since the day we’re born, for our livelihood, we become slaves
Our struggles will scare the hell out of you (we can show you how bad)
Don’t tell us it doesn’t matter
[chorus]
Even if you were lucky, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy
It’s so miserable, it’s worse than a pig having boiling water thrown on its intestines
Even for that little bit, we still must fight over it
We put so much effort in, we just want our fair reward
Do you seriously think we’d get half a catty, eight taels? (how livid we are)
