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There is a sound which has been a long echo
from the begining.
There is a song which we sing when we confirm
we become one.
It is Arirnag.
Though Arirang was the sound of thousand years ago, we sing it still today as "the song of thousand years"
Arirang, as a witness of Korean history and joys and sorrows of it, is "the song of the history" and " the history of songs"
Look,
the power of life of Arirang which has passed a lot of crises of Korean history.
Look,
the resisting spirit aganist injustice every time of difficulties.
Look,
the spirit of union to make us one for sure
Today, we hold ourselves in our arms tightly with Arirang.
Today, we become one with Arirang.
With Arirang, Arirnag!
1.The song of earth
Arirang was a sacred song consecrated by our ancestors fearing for the mountains. When they was about to settle down, Arirang was just 'Moiari' meaning 'the sound of mountain.'
As time went by, "Moiari' developed songs and formed 'Arari' or 'Ararei' in the mountainous region of Kangwon province. The tune was 'Menari-jo'.
And the 'Arari' was spreaded and developed new Arirang songs which were 'Arasong' and Arareng'. They became labor songs in the field work such a rice-planting.
Therefore 'Arari' was the first form of the history of Arirang and the originator of all Arirangs. And Arasung and Ararong were the first looks of the division of Arari.
Refrain : Arirang Arirang Arariyo
Pass me over the Arirang hill.
Will it snow, will it rain or pour for the season?
Dark clouds are swarming from above mt. Mansoo.
Is it right that the old name of Chungsun
is Mungyungsaejae?
It has been disappeared and
only the mountain has a dense forest.
Get me across, Boatman of Auraji, someway or other;
Camellias in the bushy village are about to be shed.
Fallen camellias can be embraced by fallen leaves
I only miss my love to dead all the time.
Passing over Auraji stream I felt hamonized
Passing over Kamul peak, I felt flickering(blurred)
You'd disliked me so much that you turned your back on
and now why did you come back to me so fast?
You'd refused me and went away
and now why did you come back not until long distance?
Refrain: Arariya Arariyo
Arirang ohulsa Arasunga!
Set out rice plants every plot.
And be prosperous with long leaves
Making fields at the high ground a patch and
Making fields at the watery ground a rice paddy
I do farming many kinds of cereals,
May good harvest is every year.
Set out rice plants colse together
here and there
When the sun sets to the west mountain
The moon rises from the eastern sky.
All of birches from Mungyungsaejae
are sold as bolts.
If I'm gone, will it sprout here or not?
Ararung Ararung Arariyo Ararung stop to enjoy.
I'll ask the ship floating on the boundless expanse of water to drop the anchor for me to ask something.
Ararung Ararung Arariyo Ararung stop to enjoy.
When will you be back, if you leave now?
let me know it.
Ararung Ararung Arariyo Ararung stop to enjoy.
Ⅱ. The song of the history
In 1867, Taewon-gun made people pay tax 'Wonnapjon' in spite of people's highly complaints and reproach, and also made people rebuild Kyongbok palace.
So people's complaints reached the climax and workers expressed their complaints in the way of causing fire in the construction site.
Then Taewon-gun gave a singing place to soothe workers' complaints every night. That time the word 'A-i-rong' was sung like a song which meant 'I am a deaf so I can't listen to saying to pay 'Wonnapjon''. That word 'A-i-rong' became 'Arirang Arirang Arariyo'
And people replaced Arirang lyric lmes to 'If the Lee-dynasty falls short of, how about the Mins' laughing at royal family. And also people replaced 'Russia falls short and England is hopeless. Don't believe America, Japan is the best' which was a kind of warning to the government. These kinds of songs spreaded quickly by Donghag Army.
From then on, "Kunwi Arirang', 'Kun Arirang', 'Kangwondo Arirang' and 'Cheju Arirang' were made. Then Arirang became the songs of the time to critisize the society.
Refrain : Arirang Arirang Arariyo
Let's beat the drum of victory
all over the country.
Look here! Listen to me.
Everyone, stand at the head and wait for an order
Who has a strength contest with me?
Between the sky and the earth I myself only exist.
Who prohibits my high will?
Thousands of Japanes army are invading.
Look here! Listen to me.
Everyone, stand at the head and wait for an order.
Does our high spirited mind give in?
Let's smash the enemy.
I'm taking up position at the peak of Halmi castle
Waiting for Japanes army.
Refrain : Arirnag Arirang Arariroguryo.
Arirang oriolsu Arariroguryo
How can I live with my love leaving?
How can I live in the rough dealing of the world.
Seeing the moon out from the clouds,
Which makes my heart disturbed.
Refrain: Arirang Arirang Arariyo
Pass me over the Arirang hill
A clear moon shines brightly,
lake Kyongpodae well-known scenic beauty is also clear,
looking at white sand and pime trees
I feel too desperate for the loss of my love
to enjoy the beautiful scenery
How can I endure the grief to come?
You, who are driving a brindled cow
along the winding path,
Don't boast your peaceful days.
Don't play the flute lonely
For I have parted with my love.
I came to you inspite of lots of difficulties
But you ignored me
What shall I do?
Refrain : Full-blown floweres are smiling
full-blown floweres are smiling
Arirang Arirang Arariyo
Chokchok-flower which blooms in the early spring
has few buds due to insufficient light of the spring.
Royal azaleas look more beautiful
skewering the fish
barmaids at bars the next door but one
Don't boast your beauty in the tent
the red in it is like a pink pitch flower of the short spring
Asking the peony, the king of flowers,
the history of flowers
It is said the rose of Sharon may be the best in Korea.
Ⅲ. The song of the age
In 1910, the Korea Empire was perished by Korea-Japan annexation treaty. People lamented that and saying, " the King who deserts his people will have trouble with his feet." From then on Japan plundered and oppressed Koreans harsh more by setting up the Residency- General and then the Government-General. Therefore many left their land to a foregn place such as Hawaii or Bladibostok from Japan's oppression. Some roomed there or some were bought to mines, army bases or construction sites in Japan.
It was Arirang that they took in their heart to those places. They cherished Arirang in their heart. Arirang was their hometown, mother land and the token that they were Koreans.
Though Manse movement, in 1st March 1919, was a national movement but it was put down by Japan in three months. After that Japan's surpression became so severe and crafty that national movement turned underground movement. The spirit of Manse movement was becoming vague.
Meanwhile a patriot , Na-oongue took an action to arise the national spirit again, which was the film 'Arirang' made and directed by him. When the film was released first on the 1st October 1926, it was also the celebration day of the Government -General building completed. The film looked like rediculing that. The theme song 'Shin - Arirang' was from this film.
Finding fault with the words in the film "set fire to the world if it no gains after fighting", the Government-General took over the advertising leaflets of the film from the first day of releasing it, and also prohibited the sale of the records of Arirang. Arirang became the first victim to be prohibited selling.
However the oppression eventually brought about new Arirangs those were 'Arirang of Chin-Isl and' and 'Arirnag of Milyang' etc.
The more the Arirang was oppressed,
the more it flourished like weeds.
Refrain: Arirang Arirang Arariyo
He goes over the Arirang hill.
He who leaves me, with me behind.
will have trouble with his feet in no far distance.
So many stars are in the sky;
So many worries in my heart.
Does the sun ever set for its own longing?
Does my love ever leave me for his own yearning?
Where are the wild geese going?
Please bring me the news of my love.
Refrain :Ari-arirang, Suri-suri rang, Arari is in.
Arirang, oong-oong-oong Arari is in.
The wind can shake trees with no hands
I myself can't hold my love with two hands.
Chrysanthemyms bloom to cry for frost.
Girls grow up to cry for their lovers.
When can I drop in my maiden home
after finishing weaving cloth?
Time, don't come or go
Precious my youth becomes old.
Is it Arari , epileptic fit or Yong-chon?
All my body is entranced.
Holding tightly leaving my lover
I am entreating him to stay overnight.
I won't let you go
eventhough my wrist will break
you I met occasionally
We sleep with small quilt covering
Even the small quilt has space for our love.
Ⅳ. The song of the suffering
About the time of 1940, Japan more oppressed Koreans after Japan defeated at the Pacific War and Korean Independence Army's established. It seemed to be pretold the end of the long dark era. But meanwhile many patriots changed their mind to Japan and some of Arirangs are also changed.
They are 'Emergency era Arirang' made and distributed by the Government-General and 'Manchuria Arirang' by Yun hae-yong who encouraged people to move to Manchuria and some Arirangs sung at bars.
But all Arirangs didn't changed that way. For exemple 'Kokuro Arirang' in Chin Island, 'Ari rang' in China by Kim San, and 'Kwangbokgun Arirang' by the independence army. Like these Arirang played an important role more weapons as an 'invisible hand' in the national liberation battle.
So did the role of Arirang abroad. Emmigrants sang Arirangs when they prayed for the independ ence of their mother land or they missed their homtown, also they sang new Arirangs which may be link to actualite Korean union. They are "My Arirang' in Japan, 'Changbag's new Arirang' in China and 'ChirChic Arirang in Rausia. It proved there was Arirang where Koreans were.
My Arirang
The songs which my father is singing with drinking.
The Arirang songs are the melody of hometown.
What does he long for when he was singing?
Hyonhaetan( the Straits of Korea ) of that time or
Hometown of his childhood.
Father's youth story
which doesn't tell the past
That is the youth
from Kyushu to Sakhalin
The exotic streets
looked over the windows of night train
Arirang Arariyo Arirang
he goes over the Arirang hill.
New Arirang of Changbak
The sun is rising at the peak of Changbak mountain and
the blue sea is waving boasting the blue wave and various scenery
Chonji fall with beautiful rainbow
is decorating this country beautifully.
Ari arirang suri suri rang ariari surisuri
Arari is in.
Changbak mountain is our pride
Lalalala.
Long time ago fairies came down to Chonji fall,
todays friends are coming to this village.
Our Changbak mountain bloming the flower of friendship
is the fame of the country and the pride of Yonben.
Ari arirang suri suri rang ariari surisuri
Arari is in.
Changbak mountain is our pride
Lalalala.
Changbak mountain is our pride
Lalalala.
Chirchic Arirang
White birch which we planted here several decades ago,
is grown up to a nice leafy tree and
stands firmly in Chirchic rich fields and
become a resting place for farmers
Young girls picking cotton gether here for the rest.
They are merry for the rich fields.
Uzbek girls from Korea and
Many Uzbek girls with bunch hair sit and get the Dombra
How well they play the Dombra ,Korean falk song, Arirang.
Who knows how fast the hands picking cotton!
The hands playing Dombra
are moving like butterflies.
They are enjoy singing like working with Dombra
They are singing Arirang merrily.
Girls who enjoys dancing like singing
are dancing with Arirang hand in hand
Arirang arirang Arariyo
Arirang which has passed the Arirang hill
become the melody of friendship in rich Chirchic fields.
Ⅴ. The song of the division
The Japan Empere was defeated in 15th August, 1945. Curferws were tolled and flowered carts were running in celebration of it in Seoul. But regretfully it didn't mean Korea became independent completely.
Korea was in a state of chaos somewhat they were devided or somewhat they were mixed between America and Soviet Union, the Left and the Right, the South and the North. During the colonial period, 36 years, a lot of men were sent to mines in Japan or left wondering and a lot of women were sent to the comfort army. They didn't come back till that time. Kim gu, the chief of the Korean provisional government in China, came back to Korea just as a civilian.
Shouting for joy was for a short time and the scar was left. Under that circumstance the South Korea founded the single government and eventually it caused the Korean War in June 1950 which shouldn't be. The Korean War became fixed the division of the Korean peninsula. People in the South or in the North could't come and go each other. Compatriots abroad also had to choose the South or the North.
However fortunatly Arirng wasn't been divided at all. Arirang was sung at the war prisoners' camp in Panmunjum. After that Arirang has gone and come often over the serious wire entanglement between the south and the north over the air. It shared a ray of nationat homogeneity.
Whenever the organized team of the South and the North at international sports was discussed, it was discussed that Arirang should be the official song of it. At last it was agreeded that Arirang was to be the official song at the meeting of Panmun-jum in 1990. That was the only suggestion and the only agreement since Panmun-jum conference.
From then on it started as certain the being of north Korea Arirang, those are "Yongchon-Arirang' and 'Kyongsang- province Arirang'. They are precious song but now aren't sung in the South.
Yongchon Arirang
Refrain : Is it arari, surari or Yonchon?
Pass me over the Arirang hill.
Bear castor-bean and camellia the more
The girl in the mountain village is excited.
Bear wild grapes and actinidia the more
The girl in the mountain village is excited.
My love is hidden over the wall
I am cheated shaded behind leaves of pumpkin.
You, the ship floating on the boundless expanse of water
drop the anchor for me to ask someting
Where is Moonkyongsaejae?
It's 300-li along the winding road.
Arirang Arirang Arirang Arariyo
I'm passing over the Arirang hill.
Ⅵ. The song of the unification
Yes. We have Arirang in the South Korea , the North Korea and 125 countries where Koreans are. There is Arirang where Korean people are anywhere. It has all of Koreans' stories.
Yes. So a monk said, "Arirang is Koreans' holy words." and a poet said, "Arirang is Koreans' Mandara." Also a foreigner said, "Arirang is Koreans' daily bread." Arirang is said to be the everything and symbol of Koreans.
Yes. We know it is Arirang, the only song, that we will sing all together on the unification day to come.
Arirang is Koreans' song of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo.
I'll live with Arirang.
Chorus (with the audience)
Refrain : Arirang Arirang Arariyo
He is passing over the Arirang hill.
Is it blocked by mountains or rivers?
We are to live together eternally.
Who blocks that our unification?
New morning is coming
dark time has passed.
Let's get together with 70million people
promising blessed tomorrow.
Let's love one another like ourselves
We are all brotheren.
Let's unify with Arirang
Taking to heart Arirang
New world is coming
Let's live together in the Arirang world. |
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