All The Way North (一路向北)

a song by Jay Chou

This drawing is inspired by the song, “All The Way North” ( 一路向北 ) by Jay Chou (周杰倫).

This song was first featured in the HK film adaptation of Initial D, where Jay Chou made his film acting debut. I still remember being mesmerised by the thrilling sounds of cars racing through mountains at night, the serene views of the AE86 driving through paddy fields.

Lyrics written by Vincent Fang ( 方文山 ). He is well known to be one of Jay Chou’s collaborating lyricist (and one of, if not my favourite lyricist).

His lyrics are so poetic, as if you are watching the scene unfold in slow motion….sigh excuse me while I swoon.

Here is the full translation!

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The view in the rearview mirror bids farewell as it retreats further and further away
後視鏡裏的世界 越來越遠的道別

As you turn around, I see your beautiful side profile
你轉身向背 側臉還是很美

I chase after you with my gaze
我用眼光去追

And yet I hear your tears instead
竟聽見你的淚

Lingering outside the car window were all the opportunities I missed
在車窗外面徘徊 是我錯失的機會

From where you stand, we are separated by tears
你站的方位 跟我中間隔著淚

As the streetscape retreats,
街景一直在後退

the view of you crumbling shatters into specks in the rearview mirror
街景一直在後退 你的崩潰在窗外零碎

I keep driving north, leaving behind the season with you in it
我一路向北 離開有你的季節

You tell me you are tired, unable to fall in love anymore
你說你好累 已無法再愛上誰

As the wind blows along the mountain road
風在山路吹

I see flashbacks of all our memories where everything was my fault
過往的畫面全都是我不對

I am filled with guilt for all the times I have hurt you
細數慚愧 我傷你幾回

I keep driving north, leaving behind the season with you in it
我一路向北 離開有你的季節

Around the steering wheel are all my regrets circling around
方向盤周圍 迴轉著我的後悔

I accelerate to escape all this
我加速超越 卻甩不掉緊緊跟隨的傷悲

But I can’t leave behind the sorrow that chases closely behind
我加速超越 卻甩不掉緊緊跟隨的傷悲

I am filled with guilt for all the times I have hurt you
細數慚愧 我傷你幾回

Stop being ashamed and just let mistakes be what they are
停止狼狽 就讓錯純粹