About the most popular Taiwanese Hokkien song of the later years, this is also Yeh Qi Tian's trademark song which he sang in 1988. It is considered an evergreen song and is popular up till today in East Asia and China. The theme of the song is about working hard to get what you want – something that is relevant to everyone, everywhere and anytime. The song is even sung at political rallies in Taiwan, and even in Singapore, as the theme of the song is about winning.
The lyrics encourages a person not to feel
defeated and dejected despite setbacks and the ups and downs of life, While
one's fate may not be so good, the unfavourable influence of fate in our
destinies can be overcome by sheer will and hard work. The song became popular
at a time of economic progress in Taiwan, urging people to work hard.
This song is a way also reflects the singer’s struggles to be a singer. Yeh Qi Tian, in his early teens, left his rural hometown for Taipei, with a dream to become a singer. Alone and with hardly any money, he was for a time selling fish and vegetables to survive, while seeking opportunities to become a singer. After about two months, making no headway, feeling dejected and he went back to his home town, but later went back to Taipei again. Eventually, he found a music teacher and mentor, Guo Dacheng (郭大誠) who later taught him to sing well and who later helped him to make his first song recording. Thanks to his teacher and mentor, Yeh Qi Tian eventually became one of Taiwan’s most famous singers, loved for his Hokkien songs. If the singer had accept his fate and stayed back in his village rather than venture out to fulfil his aspiration to become a singer, he would not have fulfilled his dream.
Hokkien lyrics:
Ai Pia Jia Eh Yia (爱拼才会赢)
Chid see sid cjid em bian wan tan
Chid see lor phek em bian tan han
Na thang seek kee hee bung
Mui deed chwee bung bung
Bo hoon wu thae cjin nchui teo chao larng
Dim seng ho pid see hie siong eh po lore
Wu see kee wu see low
Ho woon pai woon
Chong ma ai chiau kee kung lai nkia
Nsah hoon ntee chu ntia
Chid hoon kor pha mpia
Ai mpia chia eh yia
English Translation:
Strive Hard and You’ll Win (爱拼才会赢)
At times when you are feeling depressed, do not despair
At times when you are feeling hopeless, do not be afraid
Going through times without hope, we may drown our sorrow in liquor
A person without a soul is like a scarecrow
Life is like the ocean’s wave
Sometimes up, sometimes down
Good luck or bad luck
Still we have to carry on working all the way
Thirty percent of life is Heaven’s will
Seventy percent of life is hard work
Strive hard and we will win
Lyrics:
作词：陈百潭
作曲：陈百潭
爱拼才会赢
一时失志不免怨叹
一时落魄不免胆寒
那通失去希望
每日醉茫茫
无魂有体亲像稻草人
人生可比是海上的波浪
有时起 有时落
好运 歹运 总嘛要照起工来行
三分天注定 七分靠打拼
爱拼才会赢
🏇🏇🏆Hokkien lyrics and English translation by sam pan🏆🏇🏇
