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“Tenting on the Old Camp Ground”, also known as “Tenting Tonight”, is a sorrowful anti-war song with words and music composed by Walter Kittredge during the American Civil War. It describes the atrocities of war and reveals how soldiers actually long for peace and don’t really want to go to war.
露营 means to camp out, usually in a tent. 扎营 is to set up a tent. Here, we are talking about a military camp. My brother liked to sing this song, and that’s how I came to know it. I’ve made the Chinese translation easy to sing, while still closely following the English verses.
今夜在这里露营 Tenting Tonight
Jīn yè zài zhelǐ lùyíng
今夜又在老战场扎下营,
Jīn yè yòu zài lǎo zhànchǎng zhá xià yíng
We’re tenting to-night on the old camp ground,
唱只歌来听听.
Chàng zhī gē lái tīng tīng.
Give us a song to cheer
唱唱家园, 朋友的情景,
Chàng chàng jiāyuán péngyǒu de qíngjǐng
Our weary hearts, a song of home,
安慰我们疲惫的心.
ānwèi wǒmén píbèi de xīn.
And friends we love so dear.
有多少的人今晚心情不宁,
Yǒu duōshao de rén jīnwǎn xīnqíng bù níng,
Many are the hearts that are weary to-night,
期望战火快快停.
Qíwàng zhànhuǒ kuài kuài tíng.
Wishing for the war to cease,
有多少的人渴望能有幸
Yǒu duōshao de rén kěwàng néng yǒu xìng
Many are the hearts looking for the right,
看到宝贵的和平.
kàndào bǎoguì de hépíng.
To see the dawn of peace.
今夜露营, 今夜露营,
Jīn yè lùyíng, jīn yè lùyíng,
Tenting to-night, tenting to-night,
今夜在这里露营.
Jīn yè zài zhelǐ lùyíng.
Tenting on the old camp ground.
今夜又在老战场上露营, ,
Jīn yè yòu zài lǎo zhànchǎng lùyíng
We’ve been tenting to-night on the old camp ground
思乡之情更切.
Sī xiāng zhī qíng gèng qiè.
Thinking of days gone by,
想到家人握着手叮咛,
Xiǎngdào jiārén wò zhe shǒu dīngníng,
Of the loved ones at home that gave us the hand
依依挥泪道别.
Yīyī huī lèi dào bié.
And the tear that said “Good-by!”
有多少的人今晚心情不宁,
Many are the hearts that are weary to-night,
期望战火快快停.
Wishing for the war to cease,
有多少的人渴望能有幸
Many are the hearts looking for the right,
看到宝贵的和平.
To see the dawn of peace.
今夜露营, 今夜露营,
Tenting to-night, tenting to-night,
今夜在这里露营.
Tenting on the old camp ground.
我们不再热切逞英勇.
Wǒmén bùzài rèqiè chěng yīngyǒn,
We are tired of war on the old camp ground.
有些人已把命送.
Yǒuxiē rén yǐ bà mìng sòng.
Many are dead and gone.
其他离乡背井的弟兄
Lí xiāng bèi jǐng de dìxiōng
Of the brave and true who’ve left their homes,
大都负伤惨重.
Dàdū fùshāng cǎnzhòng.
Others been wounded long.
有多少的人今晚心情不宁,
Many are the hearts that are weary to-night,
期望战火快快停.
Wishing for the war to cease,
有多少的人渴望能有幸
Many are the hearts looking for the right,
看到宝贵的和平.
To see the dawn of peace.
今夜露营, 今夜露营,
Tenting to-night, tenting to-night,
今夜在这里露营.
Tenting on the old camp ground.
今夜又在老战场上火拼,
Jīn yè yòu zài lǎo zhànchǎng shàng huǒ pīn
We’ve been fighting to-day on the old camp ground,
诸弟兄遍地躺.
Dìxiōng zhū biàndì tǎng.
Many are lying near;
有些已逝, 有些奄奄呻吟,
Yǒuxiē yǐ shì, yǒuxiē yǎnyǎn shēnyín,
Some are dead, and some are dying,
也有人泪满眶.
Yě yǒurén lèi mǎn kuàng.
Many are in tears.
有多少的人今晚心情不宁,
Many are the hearts that are weary to-night,
期望战火快快停.
Wishing for the war to cease,
有多少的人渴望能有幸
Many are the hearts looking for the right,
看到宝贵的和平.
To see the dawn of peace.
今夜成仁, 今夜成仁,
Jīn yè chéngrèn, jīn yè chéngrèn,
Dying tonight, dying tonight,
今夜在这里成仁.
Jīn yè zài zhelǐ chéngrèn.
Dying on the old camp ground.
祝你有个美好的七月四日!
Zhù nǐ yǒu gè měihǎo de qīyuè sìrì!
Have a wonderful 4th of July!
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