My Motherland

"My Motherland" (simplified Chinese: 我的祖国; traditional Chinese: 我的祖國; pinyin: Wǒde Zǔguó) is a song written for the Chinese movie Battle on Shangganling Mountain (1956). Lyrics were written by Qiao Yu (乔羽). Music was composed by Liu Chi (刘炽). Both of them are well known for a number of songs since the 1950s. It remains a popular and famous patriotic song in mainland China, and the signature song for the famous operatic soprano Guo Lanying.

"My Motherland" was initially called "A Big River" (《一條大河》) by the author, in order to represent the hundreds of rivers that flow in China. The title was changed when it was published with the movie. The song is divided into 3 stanzas. Within each stanza, the soloist sings first before the chorus sings its refrain.

Although the song was written for a movie about Korean War in the 1950s, there is no explicit mention of the war at all. It describes a soldier (or anyone who is away from home) thinking about his home and his family.

The music for solo part has folk song style similar to those in northern China.

1.

一條大河波浪寬
風吹稻花香兩岸
我家就在岸上住
聽慣了艄公的號子
看慣了船上的白帆

這是美麗的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片遼闊的土地上
到處都有明媚的風光

2.

姑娘好像花一樣
小伙心胸多寬廣
為了開闢新天地
喚醒了沉睡的高山
讓那河流改變了模樣

這是英雄的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片古老的土地上
到處都有青春的力量

3.

好山好水好地方
條條大路都寬暢
朋友來了有好酒
若是那豺狼來了
迎接它的有獵槍

這是強大的祖國
是我生長的地方
在這片溫暖的土地上
到處都有和平的陽光

1.

一条大河波浪宽
风吹稻花香两岸
我家就在岸上住
听惯了艄公的号子
看惯了船上的白帆

...
Wikipedia