A Collected Memoir

You know my friend Jimmy, he’s really something
Since he was little, he wanted to write songs to make a living
He liked watching movies so much and craved foreign LP’s
Dreaming one day he’d be one among those great John’s and Paul’s

Once, he came across Blacklist Studio’s “Lia̍h-kông kua”, Mad!
He thought he heard Black American rap, but it was in Taiwanese
Riffing on struggles of his people in the shared homeland
He was so touched that he didn’t sleep as he was in such a trance

Then he found Tân Bîng-tsiong’s “E-poo ê tsi̍t-tshut hì”, Une pièce de l’après-midi!
He was so touched that he told everyone to buy the beard guy’s CD
And that time he heard Lim Giong’s “Pîng-huân láu-peh-sìnn” about Ordinary People
He liked it so much that he learned it by heart and sang an all-nighty

And when Wubai started to top the charts, he began writing fan lyrics
And turned “Wanderer’s Love Song” into “Wanderer Loves None”;
  “Crush in You” into “Losers Two”
Even Wubai loved them so much: as long as they are not for profit,
  There’s nothing wrong with your cover lyrics and remixes
We songwriters do not pinch pennies
  The problem is… the record companies

Now Jimmy gigs at Pak-tâu clubs serving tea
  Sometimes he riffs at the River Tām-tsúi
Itzy-bitzy winnie-minnie woosh-hoosh woozy-funky,
  When he’s singing with his guitarra, he feels content with everything
Pen a few bars of melody, and have two mouthfuls of sushi;
  Even if sometimes he’s got an empty bowl,
  Who said he ever cares about the money?

Other people write to make a killing, he creates despite those difficulties
Others gig to be a star, he gigs and gigs for his own part
But still he smiles and sings his own lyrics his own melody
So if one day you come to see him,
  Please give him a big high-five and standing ovation

And he’ll be singing:

Sing my melody and make good use of it
  Give me an acknowledging credit and I’d be so happy
Sing the melody and make good use of it
  If you’ve covered it and made money, give me a due share of it
Sing the melody and make good use of it
  If you don’t do it for the money, carry on and use it for free!
Friends, why sorrow over the word “proprietary”?
  My fellow artists! The more open you are, the more you will be enriched!

The more you sing the melody, the more you’ll be enriched!
  The more you sing the melody, the better it’s gonna be!

So sing the melody and make good use of it (sing the melody)
So sing the melody and make good use of it (feel free)
So sing the melody and make good use of it (sing the melody)
  Y vamos juntos…
  Hiòng-tsiân kiânn—let’s march forward
  Siánn-mi̍h lóng m̄ kiann—and we’ll overcome!