In the mood for CNY

While surfing the net, I suddenly found myself humming the evergreen Chinese New Year song "恭喜恭喜". Guess I must be all ready to celebrate CNY. Let us all sing along!

If you don't know the song, you can listen to:

1. a classic rendition by the late Theresa Teng
2. another classic rendition by Huang Xiao Jin & The Stylers
3. or a modern version by artists of TV8

I notice that in verse 3, the 3rd phrase between the modern and classic rendition is different as I have indicated in the lyrics below. I have also tried my hand at explaining the meaning of the lyrics in English (words in italics are not the meaning of the song but further details from me).

In a nutshell, I think this song expresses the joy the people felt upon the passing of winter and the coming of spring and to congratulate each other for surviving the ordeal of a harsh winter.

I have yet to find out who wrote the lyrics and music and when was the first time this song was sung.

歌曲：恭喜恭喜

Verse 1
每条大街小巷
In every street and lane
每个人的嘴里
见面第一句话
the first sentence everyone will say to another person when they meet another person is to wish them

就是恭喜恭喜

congratulations (in this context could also mean wish them happiness)

Chorus

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀

congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to you

恭喜恭喜恭喜你
congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to you

Verse 2
冬天一到尽头

真是好的消息

It is really good news when it is nearing the end of winter
温暖的春风
就要吹醒大地

when the warm wind of spring will awaken the great earth

Chorus
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

Verse 3
浩瀚冰雪溶解

vast amount of ice and snow melted away
眼看梅花吐蕊
see the plum flowers blossoming showing their pistils

Sing this phrase
慢慢花也活络 (modern rendition)

slowly the flowers become alive and active

or this phrase
慢慢长夜过去 (classic rendition)
slowly the long night passes by

听到一声鸡啼
hearing a cock crows once

Chorus

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

Verse 4
经过多少困难

After going through hardships
经历多少磨练

After experiencing many hours of honing of skills
多少心儿盼望

in their hearts, many children long

盼望春的消息
Long for the news of spring

Chorus

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你

Repeat Verse 1 and chorus
每条大街小巷
每个人的嘴里
见面第一句话
就是恭喜恭喜
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀
恭喜恭喜恭喜你