Note: You are supposed to feel confused when seeing the Chinese Characters, don’t worry about it, just read the English parts until the footnotes, then you can go back and re-read with the translation. Like pretend I’m talking to my parents in my native language, and you’re just standing right there, confused. Then you get the translation later and the truth of what actually happened gets revealed.
「Harmonious Family 救命¹」
It’s an average afternoon
We are a united family
Under the night moon
We live together happily
Another morning
We say "see you again"¹⁴
My heart is raining
Can’t disapoint you again
Another day, another day
We’ve come from faraway
It’s been a long way
Not sure if we’re still okay
Supposed to be a normal day
Beautiful lands, under the sun rays
I was just a kid, just wanna play
Just by the New York Bay
**“你而家即刻落來！”**²
Yes everything is fine at home
**“我數到三”**³
Please just leave me alone
**“你如果唔落來，後果自負!”**⁴
They say: “You are not alone”
**“一。。。二。。。”**⁵
I know the truth… that I’m on my own
**“三！”**⁶
Mother, I love you
唔好打我啦⁷
I grateful for you
protected me when I needed you the most
放過我啦，原諒我啦⁸
I’m content with this place
nothing can go wrong
點解乜嘢都係我錯？我前世究竟犯過乜錯？⁹
What a beautiful East Coast
呢鬼地方，邊個都信唔過。¹⁰
My room, my realm
Everything is fine here
**“我哋離婚啦，細路自生自滅，我冇眼睇啦！”**¹¹
A lot of chatter is happening downstair
I’m fine, I won’t get overwhelmed
**“一個二個都冇鬼用！”**¹²
I’m not lost, I’m calm
I’m in control, I’m in the helm
**“你哋冇咗我，餓死街頭！”**¹³
Another day, another day
Are we still going the right way?
Another day, another day
Are we are still doing okay?
I still remember my mother
I used to be happy with her
A relationship that withers
Don’t want this to be over
Oh please, don’t tell me
that there are people out there that “care”
This burden is bigger than you can bear
It’s not like y’all ever understand
The dark truth that happens in a home
It’s so hard to withstand
I don’t wanna find another home
I know this is not right
But this isn’t the time to fight
Can’t let the authorities know
I just wanna maintain status-quo
I don’t wanna report it
Don’t want us to get separated
I can’t just report it
Don’t want us to get deported
We are a united family
We live together happily
No matter if it’s a tragedy
This is just my reality
² “COME DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW!”
³ “I WILL COUNT TO THREE”
⁴ “IF YOU DON’T, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES!”
⁵ “1… 2…”
⁶ “3!”
⁷ Mom, please don’t hit me
⁸ Please let me go, Please forgive me
⁹ Why is everything “my fault”? What did I do in my past life to deserve this?
¹⁰ This foreign place, I can’t trust anyone here
¹¹ "We [parents] are going to get divorced, the kids can die by themselves, I don’t care anymore!" [Said by mom]
¹² "Both of you [me and my older brother] are useless!"
¹³ “Without me, you both will starve to death!”
¹ “Help Me” (The incorrect translation of “Harmonious Family” is intentional, it shows the difference between what an outsider sees and what is reality)
¹⁴ (bye = 再見 = literally meaning “see you again”)