A Slow Boat to China

A Washington Post article describes a song that Li Hua, a teacher at Nada #2 Middle School (那大二中) in Danzhou (儋州), wrote on his school website that criticized senior city government officials. Li was subsequently arrested. The Nada #2 Middle School homepage is no longer accesible, and the website archives are no longer there, but I found the original post elsewhere.

It is not easily translatable, and includes some Danzhou dialect, which is based in Hainan island and not related to any dialects I’m familiar with. Can anyone out there do a better job than I? I would appreciate suggestions!

Background info–Zhao Zhongshe (赵中社) is the Danzhou Communist Secretary; some authors below spuriously refer to themselves as 照中色. 李盛华 is the school superintendant, referred to as 利剩哗 below. According to Chinese newspapers, the song was written by two teachers named Li and Liu.

The song title is: “大家来唱儋州教育歌”, or “Everyone Join in the Danzhou Education Song!”

作者：狗囊甙侬 回复日期：2007-7-22 22:24:00
　（一）
　闲痴坐唱口山歌, A laggard sits to sing a mountain song
　唱歌吸引人来逻. The singing gathers people together to chat.
　讨论儋州的教育, In the debate over Danzhou’s education,
　谁人能创出先河. See who comes out on top.
　(二)
　先讲市良决策多, First say the city is good and policies many
　引进东坡邦处所. Which entices the Dongpo gang.
　培养学生攻北大(罗), Cultivating students to breach Beida [Beijing University],
　再加清华满市箩. And even Qinghua is the whole city’s dream.
　(三)
　(但是)东坡变得好啰嗦, Dongpo became quite annoying,
　领导没有心思逻. And leaders couldn’t take it anymore.
　二中搬出高中部, [Nada] #2 Middle was transfered to the high school department,
　来补东坡个大箩. In order to help realize Dongpo’s large dreams.
　(四)
　讲是联合来办学, It was said they could unite to study,
　章经巧事汉支这. Speaking eloquently they supported this.
　打个比方来显以, To describe this with a metaphor,
　公狗走入狮子箩. The public dog entered into the lion’s cage.
　(五)
　公狗去与狮子逻, When public dogs go mix with lions,
　如果没有笼来阻. If no cage exists to prevent them,
　一旦狮子它饥饿, Once lions become hungry,
　定咬公狗脚跟挪. They’ll bite those public dogs’ legs.
　(六)
　千奇勿骂我啰嗦, Don’t at all scold me for speaking too much
　完整二中被拽角, [Nada] #2’s horn was tugged,
　王牛双角耕田好(罗), An oxen with two horns tithes the field well,
　单角王牛恶眼鹅. A single-horned oxen is like a blind goose.

作者：可哥可妻 回复日期：2007-7-23 16:31:00
　儋州百姓无囊用， The Danzhou public had no say,
　拆了那中卖二中。 To throw out Nada and sell #2 Middle.
　公家财产私人用， When public property is used for private means,
　儋州儿女蹲牛笼。（这样唱起来更爽） Danzhou sons and daughers stoop in pens. (It’s livelier when sung like this)
　　　
作者： 狗囊甙侬 回复 时间: 2007-07-22 17:53:42
　那大路灯真棒体， Nada’s streetlights are straight and strong,
　校园内外哭声低。 The sounds of soft crying in and around the school.
　咱市政府当猪卖， Our city government is selling pigs,
　卖了猪身卖粪泥。 Selling pig meat and pig dung.
　 (这样就比较符合民歌韵味……唱起来！） (This sounds more like a folk song….sing it!)
　　
　那大二中好邦体， Nada #2 is strong,
　真象一头凰凤鸡。 Just like a Phoenix.
　剪去风凰翅一只， If you cut off one wing of the Phoenix,
　它怎拍得起身来。 How can it begin to fly?
　
　那大二中变化快， The changes to Nada #2 were swift,
　白衫干净上乌鸡。 A white cloth covering a blck bird.
　本是三十六大庆， Originally a 36-year anniversary celebration,
　搬迁出去哭声来。 Was swept away while sobs echoed in.
　
　二中将来变化快， The changes to Nada #2 will be swift,
　一年断去一台阶。 Each year a bit worse than the next.
　完中割去它一半，In the end, it will be split in two,
　剩下半圆慢慢lai（lai:儋州话是“缺”的意思） Leaving only half a circle remaining.
　　
　东坡学校不巧怪， Dongpo School is unfortunate,
　更着拽你二中lai（lai:儋州话是“缺”的意思） Pulling you in with [Nada] #2.
　二中不lai怎补得， If there’s no money for Middle #2,
　赵怎吐得出钱来。 How can Zhao cough up the money?
　
　赵讲这果不是歹， Zhao says this result isn’t bad,
　老师叽叫底母胎。 Teachers complain to the bitter end.
　月花要胎塞水口， Money goes to shut up their mouths,
　盛华拔囊去顶喉。 Shenghua stuffs down their throats.
　　
　儋州教育着发展， Danzhou education should develop,
　政绩工程太明分。 And political progress is easy to discern.
　私人老板着照顾， The private [school] principal should take care,
　莫将教育送市人。 Not leave education up to city officials.
　
作者： ca45 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 12:04:11
　儋州教育下降快, Education in Danzhou is deteriorating quickly,
　着帝些人屋母hai. ?? [Danzhou dialect]
　不知管理勿装管, One who can’t manage shouldn’t pretend to,
　快些夹屁走下来. And should tuck his butt and get out of here.
　　
　作者： ca45 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 12:38:04
　赵是这样管下去， Zhao administers like this,
　中看无用害咱市． He looks great but is useless and harms our city.
　社会各界应协助， All aspects of society should come to help,
　滚立儋州本色旗． Raise the flag of Danzhou’s character.
　　
　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 13:06:30
　照在二中果下去, If Zhao does Nada #2 this way,
　儋州无有好人才. Danzhou will then have no talent.
　迁校步伐着加快, School demolition will accelerate,
　金钱美女跟着来. And money and beautiful women will follow.
　
　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 13:08:56
　东坡老板挟着我, The Dongpo boss pins me,
　硬着搬你二中来. And forces your Nada #2 to come.
　二中不搬不是歹, Not moving Nada #2 isn’t a bad thing,
　我怎吐得出钱来. How can I cough up the money?
　
　作者： 利剩哗 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 14:00:16
　赵讲这果不恶做, Zhao says this result isn’t involuntary,
　奴爹坟不些这路. [Your father’s grave isn’t on this road.]
　儋州人么厚哗口,
　他真敢每你囊么．
　
　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 14:05:19
　哈哈哈…… Ha ha ha
　
　作者： 吕次懒参 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 14:24:44
　讲来真热馕皮气，
　怎希大陆人来欺．
　辟馕夹卵炸他死，
　举胎举罗哩他皮．
　
　作者： 利剩哗 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 14:41:24
　大陆人到儋州地,
　不是想将人去欺。
　叹猪想要钱与女,
　当讲举胎哩我皮。
　
　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 15:30:40
　儋州女胎真滋气,
　一薯博得五胎骑．
　我咱来到儋州处，
　不举胎来怎博薯．
　
　作者： 吕次懒参 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 16:00:21
　快走未加你就死,
　莫见儋州人好欺。
　利见儋州人气有，
　将来要奴母来骑。
　
　咱们着讲情与理，
（你这）领导利是知涅书．
　冷静讲声冷静话，
　怎要二中来哩皮。

　　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 23:08:48
　藤时想讲情与理，
　老板热皮医我a瑞。
　不是你们替顶死，
　书记时间就到~期。
　
　作者： 照中色 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 23:17:04
　来到儋州穷死处，
　前人卖地卖年市。
　企业没有怎收税，
　汉剩二中这片薯。
　
　作者： 吕次懒参 回复 时间: 2007-07-23 23:29:04
　（回照中色：）
　二中不是番薯地，
　在你头猪放ka(鼻)擂（擂：儋州话拱的意思）。
　挖地装弹来等你~（罗），
　等你来擂这片薯。
　　作者：wzy702 回复日期：2007-7-24 19:15:00

久间不归儋州地,
　事情发到光背擂.
　好田好地多人抢,
　当着薯皮慢慢离.

　作者： 利剩哗 回复 时间: 2007-07-24 00:10:29
　儋州无有凯囊的，
　走狗汉奸堆满市。
　真想擂这山薯地，
　挖薯去博女胎骑。
　
　回：利剩哗
　（你这）流氓来到诗乡处，
　 先给礼议伴诗书。
　 儋州不是无囊的，
　 奴母不值要囊雷。
　
　作者： 吕次懒参 回复 时间: 2007-07-24 01:30:45
　 神讲儋州无囊的，
　　奴母不值万囊擂。
　　你咱敢讲学这话，
　　带奴母来老市委。
　　
　　作者： 囊不受得 回复 时间: 2007-07-24 01:42:33
　 贪官哩晓章些咱处，
　 咱们怎受得人欺。
　 团结大家些一处，
　 举出儋州的大旗。