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ดอกไม้สีชมพู (Dok Mai See Champoo) Pink Flower

by Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว
Album: นักสู้ผู้ยิ่งใหญ่ Nak Soo Phu Ying-yai (2002)
This ALBUM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BUY IT at eThai CD, where you can shop in English.
English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

Note: This is a heartwrenching song about the plight of a transgendered person. P’Aed sings in the first person as the transgendered person. A true Song for Life. We also have a SINGABLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION.

เหมือนฟ้าแกล้งเรามาเกิด
mĕuan fáa glâeng rao maa gèrt
As if heaven was teasing me when I was born
เกิดมีกายไม่ตรงใจ
gèrt mee gaai mâi dtrong jai
I was born with a body not in line with my heart
ใจเป็นหญิง ตัวเป็นชาย
jai bpen yĭng dtua bpen chaai
My heart is a girl, my body is a boy.
ดั่งดอกไม้สวยแต่ไม่หอม
dàng dòk máai sŭay dtàe mâi hŏm
Like a beautiful flower that doesn’t smell good
มีรักที่คนดูหมิ่น
mee rák têe kon doo mìn
I have a love that onlookers insult
อยากจะบินหนีไปไกล
yàak jà bin nĕe bpai glai
I want to fly away far away
โลกของเราอยู่หนใด
lôhk kŏng rao yòo hŏn dai
In this world of ours when is there ever
ที่มีผู้ชายยอมเด็ดดอม
têe mee pôo chaai yom dèt dom
a man willing to deeply inhale [the fragrance]

หอมหวนยวนใจ เป็นดอกไม้สีชมพู
hŏm hŭan yuan jai bpen dòk máai sĕe chom-poo
My fragrance stimulates the heart. I’m a pink flower
อ้างว้างพร่างพราย สุดเดียวดายและหดหู่
âang wáang prâang praai sùt dieow daai láe hòt-hòo
lonely, shimering. In the end, I’ll be alone and depressed
อยากกรีดร้องให้โลกรู้
yàak grèet róng hâi lôhk róo
I want to scream and cry so the world knows
ถามเขา เราผิดตรงไหน
tăam kăo rao pìt dtrong năi
Ask them, Just where am I wrong?
ผิดหรือใจเราเป็นหญิง
pìt rĕu jai rao bpen yĭng
Am I wrong that my heart is a girl?
ผิดไหมกายเราเป็นชาย
pìt măi gaai rao bpen chaai
Am I wrong that my body is a boy?
ตัวเรายังไม่เข้าใจ
dtua rao yang mâi kâo jai
My body I still don’t understand
จะให้ใครมาเข้าใจ
jà hâi krai maa kâo jai
I want to have someone to come and understand me [enter my heart]

ดอกไม้ไม่มีสิทธิ์เลือก
dòk máai mâi mee sìt lêuak
A flower doesn’t have the right to chose
เหล่าแมลงมาดมดอม
lào má-laeng ma dom dom
A group of insects come to smell
ก้มหน้ารับกรรมช้ำชอก
gôm nâa ráp gam chám-chôk
Bow the head and accept the bruising.
เป็นไม้ดอกสีชมพู
bpen máai dòk sĕe chom-poo
I’m a pink flower.

หอมหวนยวนใจ เป็นดอกไม้สีชมพู
hŏm hŭan yuan jai bpen dòk máai sĕe chom-poo
My fragrance stimulates the heart. I’m a pink flower
อ้างว้างพร่างพราย สุดเดียวดายและหดหู่
âang wáang prâang praai sùt dieow daai láe hòt-hòo
lonely, shimering. In the end, I’ll be alone and depressed
อยากกรีดร้องให้โลกรู้
yàak grèet róng hâi lôhk róo
I want scream and cry so the world knows
ถามเขา เราผิดตรงไหน
tăam kăo rao pìt dtrong năi
Ask them, Just where am I wrong?
ผิดหรือใจเราเป็นหญิง
pìt rĕu jai rao bpen yĭng
Am I wrong that my heart is a girl?
ผิดไหมกายเราเป็นชาย
pìt măi gaai rao bpen chaai
Am I wrong that my body is a boy?
ตัวเรายังไม่เข้าใจ
dtua rao yang mâi kâo jai
My body I still don’t understand
จะให้ใครมาเข้าใจ
jà hâi krai maa kâo jai
I want to have someone to come and understand me [enter my heart]

ดอกไม้ไม่มีสิทธิ์เลือก
dòk máai mâi mee sìt lêuak
A flower doesn’t have the right to chose
เหล่าแมลงมาดมดอม
lào má-laeng ma dom dom
A group of insects come to smell
ก้มหน้ารับกรรมช้ำชอก
gôm nâa ráp gam chám-chôk
Bow the head and accept the bruising.
เป็นไม้ดอกสีชมพู
bpen máai dòk sĕe chom-poo
I’m a pink flower.

เป็นไม้ดอกพรางชมพู
bpen máai dòk praang chom-poo
I am a flowering plant that conceals its pinkness

ช้างไห้ (Chang Hai) Elephant’s Lament

By แอ๊ด คาราบาว Aed Carabao
Album: ช้างไห้ Chang Hai (Elephant’s Lament) (1993)
This album is highly recommended. Buy it HERE at eThaiCD where you can shop in English.

Note: Translation by Ann Norman with help from Tahmnong at Deungdutjai.com (an AWESOME website with thousands of translations of Thai songs into English.)


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

ฮือ
Huu-ooo
Ohhhhhh
เกิดมาเป็นช้าง
gèrt maa bpen cháang
[I was] born an elephant
มีแต่ทำงานหนัก
mee dtàe tam ngaan nàk
[I] have only hard work,
ชักลากไม้ซุงเถื่อน
chák lâak máai sung tèuan
dragging logs for illegal logging,
เดินป่าพาคนเที่ยว
dern bpàa paa kon tîeow
walking the forest taking people on tours,
เรี่ยวแรงน้อยถอยลง
rîeow raeng nói tŏi long
[My] minimal strength deteriorates
เขาก็มอมยาม้า
kăo gôr mom yaa máa
So they pump [me] with amphetimines

ฮา…ฮา…
Haaaa … Haaa . . .
Haaaa. . . haaa. . .
ฮือ…..
Huuuu . . .. .
Oooohhhh . . .

เกิดมาเป็นช้าง
gèrt maa bpen cháang
I was born an elephant
เหลือเพียงแค่สองสายพันธ์
lĕua piang kâe sŏng săai pan
There are only two lines left:
เอเซีย อัฟฟาริกัน
ay-sia àf-faa-rí-gan
Asian and African
นับวันช้างลดจำนวน
náp wan cháang lót jam-nuan
Each day, the elephants are reduced in number
จวนเจียนจะสูญไป
juan jian jà sŏon bpai
Just about melted away
แสนเสียดายพันธ์ช้าง
săen sĭa daai pan cháang
What sad regrets for the elephants!

ฮา…ฮา…ฮา…
ha . . ha. . .ha . .
Haaa . . haaa . . haaa . .
ฮือ..
Hu . . .
Oh . . .

ป่าไม้ได้ถูกทำลาย
bpàa máai dâai tòok tam laai
The forest has been destroyed
ช้างล้มตาย
cháang lóm dtaai
The elephant passes away
เพราะถูกใช้ทรมาน
prór tòok chái tor-rá-maan
Because they used torture,
คนเอยไม่เคยสงสาร
kon oie mâi koie sŏng-săan
people never had pity,
รีดแรงงาน
rêet raeng ngaan
squeezed out labor
จนขาหักหลังโกง
jon kăa hàk lăng gohng
until the limbs were bent from having broken bones
ยามสัตว์ใหญ่ล้มตาย
yaam sàt yài lóm dtaai
[It is] the period when large animals die
โหรทำนายถึงความมั่นคง
hŏhn tam naai tĕung kwaam mân-kong
The astrologer predicts that to reach stability
แผ่นดินนี้ก่อนธงไตรรงค์
pàen din née gòn tong dtrai-rong
[In] this country, before the three-colored flag,
เรายังคงชักธงรูปช้าง….
rao yang kong chák tong rôop cháang ….
we probably should continue to raise the flag with the picture of the elephant!

ช้างตายทั้งตัว
cháang dtaai táng dtua
[When] elephants die, every one
เอาใบบัวไปปิดไม่มิด
ao bai bua bpai bpìt mâi mítt
laying a lotus flower over it, won’t hide the elephant
คำสุภาษิตให้ขบคิดดูซักหน
kam sù-paa-sìt hâi kòp kít doo sák hŏn
The words of this proverb, we should take seriously*
ก่อนกลายเป็นเรื่องเศร้า
gòn glaai bpen rêuang sâo
before it becomes a tragedy
เรื่องราวช้างกระทืบคน
rêuang raao cháang grà-têup kon
The story where the elephant tramples people
จนตำรวจตัดสินด้วยปืนกล
jon dtam-rùat dtàt sĭn dûay bpeun gon
until the police decide by machine gun
สรุปผลตายตกไปตามกัน
sà-rùp pŏn dtaai dtòk bpai dtaam gan
In conclusion, they die accordingly

มีข้าวกินเพราะควาย
mee kâao gin prór kwaai
[We] have rice to eat because of buffalo
มีแผ่นดินไทยก็เพราะช้าง
mee pàen din tai gôr prór cháang
We have Thailand because of elephants
องค์นเรศวรสร้าง
ong ná-ray-sŭan sâang
The king creates
เอกราชบนหลังพลายพัทกอ
àyk-gà-râat bon lăng plaai pát gor
sovereignty [independence] on the back of a bull elephant**
จนเมืองไทยได้เป็นบ้านเกิด
jon meuang tai dâai bpen bâan gèrt
Until Thailand can be our homeland
เราคนไทยล้วนเป็นผู้ก่อ
rao kon tai lúan bpen pôo gòr
All us Thais are people who produce
สวมใส่กำไลสร้อยคอ
sŭam sài gam-lai sôi kor
and wear bracelets and necklaces
ทำจากงาช้างอย่างนั้นเนรคุณ
tam jàak ngaa cháang yàang nán nay-rá-kun
made from ivory, like an ungrateful betrayal [of]
ช้าง…..
Cháang
The elephant!

มีข้าวกินเพราะควาย
mee kâao gin prór kwaai
We have rice because of buffalo
มีแผ่นดินไทยก็เพราะช้าง
mee pàen din tai gôr prór cháang
We have Thailand because of the elephant
องค์นเรศวรสร้าง
ong ná-ray-sŭan sâang
The king creates
เอกราชบนหลังพลายพัทกอ
àyk-gà-râat bon lăng plaai pát gor
sovereignty/independence on the back of a bull elephant
จนเมืองไทยได้เป็นบ้านเกิด
jon meuang tai dâai bpen bâan gèrt
until Thailand is our homeland
ราคนไทยล้วนเป็นผู้ก่อ
rao kon tai lúan bpen pôo gòr
We Thai are all people who built
แผ่นดินเชิดหน้าชูคอ
pàen din chêrt nâa choo kor
a country that holds its head up proudly
มีสัตว์ชื่อช้าง
mee sàt chêu cháang
We have an animal called an elephant
ร่วมสร้างร่วมฝ่าฟัน….
rûam sâang rûam fàa fan ….
[who] shared in the building and shared in the struggle

เกิดมาเป็นช้าง
gèrt maa bpen cháang
[I] was born an elephant . . .
ช้างพลาย ช้างพังสีดอ
cháang plaai cháang pang sĕe dor
Short-tusked male and female elephants
ขอคนเข้าใจบ้างหนอ
kŏr kon kâo jai bâang nŏr
want you to understand
ขอช้างอยู่ประสาช้าง
kŏr cháang yòo bprà-săa cháang
that elephants should live like elephants,
คนอยู่ประสาคน
kon yòo bprà-săa kon
and people live like people
โลกก็สันติสุข….
lôhk gôr săn-dtì sùk ….
The world will then be calm and tranquil

* To “to hide an elephant under a lotus leaf” means to try and hide a major thing that is too big to be hidden, so as to avoid dealing with it. In this case, what is being hidden is an actual elephant!

**This line is about King Naresuan, who won Thailand’s freedom from Burma on the back of his Elephant, Patkor.

A note about buying the music

I have been asked where is the best place to start in getting into Carabao. You can start anywhere. If I were you, I would buy the latest album that came out and work backwards. The band has gotten better over time. My sons relate best to the most recent albums. But if you like music from the 80s or 90s, buy from that decade. “Made in Thailand” was the breakout album that sold 4 million copies thirty years ago. One might want to own that album, but if so, you probably want the “Gold Edition” which includes both the original version and a version rerecorded with modern recording technology. Money from “Made in Thailand” was used to build what was for many years the best recording studio in Thailand. Thus, later albums sound even better than “Made in Thailand.” Or buy the various giant greatest hits collections available on mp3 for practically nothing. However, you lose some sound quality (not to mention the cover art and, sometimes, lyrics with guitar cords) if you buy a disc of 50 mp3s rather than the corresponding albums. Most CDs from Thailand will play on American CD players, but about about 30% will not. Be prepared for the possibility that you will have to play your Thai CD through your computer or move it from your computer onto other devices.

When buying concert DVDs be aware of the zone problem. Thai DVDs will not play on most US DVD players but they will play on computers. American fans must watch the concert on a computer hooked to a good sound system.  Again, the best place to start is the most recent concert DVD: “Rock Never Dies, Kwai Ever Dance,” which takes place on Aed Carabao’s property outside his house in Sataheep. The next-best concert is the band’s thirty-year anniversary extravaganza “Velodrome Returns” at the Velodrome Stadium. Going back a little farther, check out “Diary of Carabao,” a several day concert out in the country with the fans camped out in tents.

I have had almost no success finding the music on iTunes. Actually, I can find it, but I can’t buy it with a US credit card. English speakers in other countries may be able to do it. I am able to buy songs by the younger Thai groups like Thaitanium and Bodyslam on iTunes, including their songs featuring Aed Carabao.

For now, eThaiCD.com is where I buy all my Thai music and videos. Their website is in English and you can write to them in English with any question. The music is inexpensive and there is free shipping. Type “Carabao” into their search box and go!

Review of the Pink Album กันชนหมา “Gan Chon Ma” (Bumper Dog) by Yuenyong Opakul

Review by Ann Norman (first posted on facebook May 28,2012)

photo (8)

Support the artist and BUY THE ALBUM HERE at eThaiCD.com. Shop for Thai music entirely in English from the wonderful people at eThaiCD.

I was doubtful about this last album when I learned that its title track, a playful 1950s-style tune is about dogs getting hit by cars. I was even more confused when I realized these were real dogs Aed Carabao had owned (I guess one survived), and that it’s an animal rights song “straight from the heart,” as he makes clear in the album notes. One of the most endearing things about Carabao, and it’s lead singer/songwriter, is they apparently never heard the “rule” that all pop songs are supposed to be about teenage love. Aed Carabao consistently breaks the conventions about how to be a musical artist — which helps to make him possibly the best in the world. So . . . I bought the album.

I heard Khun Aed say the album is supposed to be “sabai sabai” (สบายสบาย). It really, really is. Very, very soothing to the soul. My sister said it sounds like Hawaiian music. That’s about right. I’m still not a huge fan of the title track (though it gets high marks for originality), but each song into this album is better than the one before. Five songs at the end are absolutely perfect, including one that made me cry—for reasons I couldn’t put into words. It was just so sad and beautiful.* My Thai isn’t good enough to understand a song immediately on the first listen, so I asked my Thai foreign exchange student what this song is about. I’ve discovered that every time a Carabao tune is particularly striking, so is its topic. My “helper” guesses that this song is about the recent political strife that divided the Thai people.

A special treat for me is the final song, in English: “ Keep Joy” (the Thai version is equally good). It summarizes the feel of the whole album, which is mature and reflective: “Keep joy, keep joy/ Remember the good/ And let the sad past die.”

Khun Aed says in the notes to the album that “I’ve come to the stage of life that can be compared to early afternoon . . . and I’ve come to the conclusion that above all the thing the world needs most is love. Of course this need for love applies to nature and to our fellow human beings, but we should not forget the animals who share this planet with us, including man’s best friend, the dog. . . . .I feel that it is not worth living in a world without love, and I’m certain that this is the consensus of opinion among the people in every corner of the earth.”

Yep! Which explains our 4,000+ international fans of Carabao!!!!

*At the risk of getting it wrong (my helper isn’t here), this song is แสงทองส่องทาง (Saeng Tong Song Taang).

OTHER SONGS FROM THIS ALBUM, translated here at CarabaoinEnglish:

บ่อเยี่ยะโจ่ย ‎Baw Ye-ya Joi (No Big Deal) 
บาร์กู Ba Gu (My Bar)
ใจตามน้ำ ‎Jai Dtam Nam (The Heart Follows Water)
เดินทัพทางไกล Dern Tap Taang Glai (March Troops a Long Distance)

Review of the Concert DVD “วันวานไม่มีเขา วันนี้ไม่มีเรา” (Wan Waan Mai Mi Kow, Wan Nee Mai Mee Row”)

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By Ann Norman (first posted as a review at eThaiCD.com not long after the DVD was released; no date available)

This concert was special because it showcased the legendary Aed Carabao’s work from two recent solo albums: “Wan Waan Mai Mee Kow” (a great album) and “Gan Chon Maa,” (a nearly perfect album). And the concert took place AT HIS HOUSE on the front porch!!! Honestly, his voice wasn’t perfect that night, he was stretching for the high notes, but his candid remarks between the songs made the concert for me. Most starling, something he said while introducing a cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” makes me believe that classic may have sparked an idea for the even more remarkable “Telay Jai.” As if to confirm my theory, “Telay Jai” was performed just two songs later (by a woman I don’t recognize). Among the older songs, “An Sung Su Ky” was a high point. And near the end he performed a memorizing version of a his “Maa Tuh Maa Rong Pleang” (Come on and Sing a Song)–a song in which music has the power to bring about utopia. I hadn’t actually cared for this meandering song until I saw him do it live. It claims that while the music is playing “heaven also stays bound to Earth.” Yep … at least that’s what it often seems like, while I’m under the spell of this exceptional singer/composer.

WARNING: But be aware of the zone problem. You may have to play your DVD on a computer.

Review of Aed Carabao’s แอ๊ด คาราบาว solo album “วันวานไม่มีเขา วันนี้ไม่มีเรา” (Wan Waan Mai Mi Kow, Wan Nee Mai Mee Row”)

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Support the artist and BUY THE ALBUM HERE from the wonderful people at eThaiCD.com. You can shop for your Thai CDs entirely in English and contact them in English.

Review by Ann Norman (This review was first posted January 11, 2013)

There is one perfect, shining song on this album, the title song, “Wan Waan Mai Mee Kow, Wan Nee Mai Mee Row.” [If  Yesterday There Wasn’t Her, Today There Wouldn’t be Us]. Khun Aed explains that he was inspired to write this for his mother and for all mothers; that all mothers are saints to their children. This emotional tribute is delivered so earnestly, just the singing voice brings tears to the eyes, but, as always, the lyrics are more amazing than the tune. I don’t know about all mothers, but my mother was a saint, and so apparently was Aed’s mother. (Since her death, he is often seen wearing a T-shirt with her picture).  According to this song, mothers teach us to “fly against the wind.”  Another line that reduces me to tears:  “Just seeing her, young men and women can fly off to the distant shore of their dreams.”  Oh, and the song doubles as a tribute to the band Carabao and their community of fans. “Kow” in the title can mean “him/her” OR “horns” as in the hand signal:  \m/.  So the main meaning of the title is “If yesterday there wasn’t her [our mothers], today there wouldn’t be us.” But the second meaning is “If yesterday there wasn’t the buffalo horns [ \m/ ], today their wouldn’t be us [the community of fans].”  That’s kind of cool!

The second most-interesting song on this album is a song honoring Aed Carabao’s friend Ron Amero, a Canadian who moved to Thailand, set up a bar in Pattaya where Lam Morrison would play (Lam Morrison is the Thai musician honored in an older Carabao song “Guitar King”). Ron rode motorcycles with friends in the band, and even travelled with them on tour for a while. Right before dying of cancer, Ron asked to be buried on Aed’s property (in Sattahip) so he could be near his friend. And Aed said yes!!! So Ron is buried on Aed’s property!! This is a rousing country song (it even ends with a “Yee-Ha!”). It tells a happy story: Ron is buried near his friend Aed, where it is warm, and “they can watch the stars together”; and so in some sense, “Tiger Ron will never die.”  Once again, Khun Aed sings some lines in English. Alas, Khun Aed speaks English about as well as I speak Thai, so the results are less than perfect. Or maybe the muddled pronunciation is fitting, as this song explains a cross-cultural friendship that took place despite the problems of language. The challenges of communication are even mentioned in the song. Both the story and song reflect the artist’s openness of heart to this whole complicated, muti-faceted world—a quality this farang highly appreciates in all of Aed’s work.

This is the second solo album Aed Carabao has released within a one-year period. The last album, improbably titled, “Gan Chon Ma” or “Dog Bumper” deserves to be a classic alongside early Carabao albums. (I reviewed “Gan Chon Ma” [กันชนหมา] earlier).  Almost every single song on that album (with the possible exception of the title song) was wonderful, and I described that album as “soothing to the soul.” This album does not rise to that level. It seems to be a collection of pretty good songs by a composer who can’t stop creating and experimenting—and wants to share whatever decent material he has with the fans. Several of the songs on this album sound like covers of English-language songs that I heard in the 1970s or 1980s, but I can’t quite remember their names. [Edit: One is a cover of “Four Strong Winds” made famous by Neil Young–just the tune, with totally different lyrics.] One song [ไม่อยากทน] that does have an original-sounding tune begins with a line that translates, “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” I know from the internet, that Khun Aed has recently been singing (very beautifully) the English-language song, “I Don’t Want to Talk about It” by Danny Whitten.  My theory is he got hooked on this song, and felt inspired write something in Thai with a similar theme.

One song on the album is called “0 = 1”. It has a catchy tune, and may have great lyrics as well. I don’t know because I’m not able to follow enough of the words, or maybe I don’t understand the particular metaphor being used. “Baan Suan Chaingmai” [บ้านสวนเชียงใหม่] is a pretty country song, with some Hawaiian ukulele thrown in, about going home to Chaing Mai, where he birds are always singing and people are relaxed. The final song on the album is a very simple, meandering song that has the feel of a live recording. In fact, it feels like we are listening to Khun Aed compose a song on the spot—like he is making  up  the words as he goes along. If I am hearing the lyrics right, he is asking the fans to “Come Sing a Song” with him in some utopian, heaven-like place where there is no crying, there is only singing, and all is well, and it’s like this forever. It ends with the lyrics, “la, la, la, la . . . la, la, la, la.”  It’s a peculiar song, very plain, and I can’t decide if I like it. But it does capture the essence of Aed Carabao, “the man who has the breath of music”: He is continually singing and composing, as if he can’t stop.  Anyway, his fans are hoping this is the case.

Music forever! \m/

Support the artist and BUY THE ALBUM HERE from the wonderful people at eThaiCD.com. You can shop for your Thai CDs entirely in English and contact them in English.

Review of the concert DVD “Rock Never Dies, Kwai Ever Dance”

Kwai ever dance

By Ann Norman  (I wrote this instantly after watching the concert on DVD, and posted it for my friends on facebook. It was posted June 12, 2014)

My Review of the Concert DVD: That was totally awesome. Like the 30th anniversary concert, they played almost 50 songs over 3 hours, with half of those strung into one long medley, with time for just one or two verses of each. There was almost no talk, they just transitioned from one song to the next. As the title suggests, the theme was rock and roll, including sam cha. I was thrilled that the playlist included about half the songs on the newest (28th) Carabao album, including my new favorite “Santana Carabao.” A totally amazing version of that song was played that night, better than on YouTube or the album itself. I was also delighted to hear my old favorite “Me Kow Dee Ma Bok” มีข่าวดีมาบอก which I haven’t heard in forever. Unlike the 30th anniversary concert, there was almost no audience. This was a concert at Aed Carabao’s home in Sattahip and they did it all for a very lucky, very exclusive group of about 50 people, it looks like, plus those of us who buy this DVD. It was P’Aed’s birthday that day and he appears to be in a great mood, and was sounding great. These days it’s hit or miss with his voice, but he was on that night. The whole thing concluded with an a loooooong jam session involving about 10 guests who appeared on the stage, rocking out to a song I’d never heard before. I don’t know who all was there, but I did recognize Lam Morrison (honored in the Carabao song “Guitar King”), and there were several others almost up to his level, plus super-special keyboardist. Some were farang. It felt like the band and their guests were having a party by themselves. I should also mention, that Uan Carabao was amazing that night. So multi-talented. There was one moment when he was singing a solo and playing drums while a saxophone hung around his neck—and then he was playing that sax the instant he finished the verse. P’Lek was also outstanding. And it’s no wonder I couldn’t guess what instruments I was hearing on the last album. I saw Mee Carabao playing something I still can’t identify. Fun, totally great concert. Oh, and Sek Loso was there, and he and Aed did that adorable motorcycle duet: “Elephants live in the forest. Harleys live on the road . . .” You really, really should buy this DVD.

BUY IT HERE at eThaiCD, where it is easy for English-speakers to shop.

CLICK HERE FOR the CONCERT PLAYLIST WITH links to the translations at Carabao in English!!!

Review of “Songs from Carabao The Series” เพลง ประกอบ ละคร คาราบาว เดอะซีรี่ส

Carabao The Series

By Ann Norman (written July  15, 2014)

This album collects 24 songs from the TV show Carabao The Series, which has aired over the past year. Carabao songs are known for their vivid themes and story-telling. So it is completely feasible that each episode of Carabao The Series takes a famous Carabao song and turns the lyrics into a 40 minute drama. These little soap operas have been, for the most part, well produced, well-acted, and entertaining. I dare say, there are few bands, and probably only one, where the song catalog easily lends itself to such a thing.

At the end of each show, a much younger band covers the song of the week in a much younger style. This album complies those fresh covers by Summer Stop, The Jukks, Lomosonic, The Richmond Toy, Tattoo Colour, and more. I love these songs. They are creative tributes to the originals.

What style are these bands playing? Well, to this old person of the Carabao generation, they all sound like Scrubb or Paradox, which is wonderful. What style is Scrubb or Paradox? Well nothing exactly equivalent is going in US music right now. These bands do rock that is slick, artsy, and somewhat retro. I have been told by a younger friend that the style is “alternative” but the songs feel way too carefully considered for me to agree to apply that label.

Lyrics are performed with great attention to emotional nuance, even in cases where the original melodies are disguised almost out of recognition. The songs, like the dramas, take unexpected turns while still capturing the essence of the featured song of the week.

My favorites on the two-CD set:

The Jukks’ version of “Lung Kee Mao,” “ลุงขี้เมา” (The Drunken Uncle) is dark and energetic. In this version, Drunken Uncle dies under a bridge, but Nirvana lives!

“Made in Thailand” is Bigger and Badder in this heavy metal version by Lomosonic. No pretty flutes this time.

“Sanyaa Na Fon,””สัญญาหน้าฝน” (Rainy Season’s Promises) by Tattoo Color, begins in the precious style of a Christmas pop song, then some rock is tossed into the mix at the end.

“Telay Jai” “ทะเลใจ” (Ocean Heart) by สมเกียรติ (Som Giat) deviates from expectations even thematically. The lyrics of this song are about the restlessness of youth and how you first have first make peace with yourself before you can be happy. “Telay Jai” is a usually a soothing song that emphasizes the “making peace with yourself” part of the story. But the “Carabao the Series” dramatization of this song explores what happens when you find you CAN’T live with yourself. Similarly, this cover of “Telay Jai” has an anxious undercurrent of clashy cymbols and distortion.

The next song, “ถามหาความรัก” (“Asking after Love”) by When has lovely Alicia Keys-like piano.

The gender-bending and totally captivating Gene Kasidit (เก็บคำว่ารัก) otherwise plays it straight in this cover of the disco-style classic “Naam Ngam Dtoo Grajok” นางงามตู้กระจก (Glass Cabinet Beauty Queen), a song about a woman working as a prostitute so her parents can be comfortable and her younger siblings can go to school. You must see the video for this cover. Also, if you see no other Carabao The Series episode PLEASE check out the episode “บัวลอย” “Bua Loy” in which Gene Kasidit plays our hero Bua Loy’s transgender girlfriend. (In the Lakon, Bua Loey’s friend Nohk tries to steer his kind-hearted friend away from this nonstandard relationship.)

The second side begins with two songs สามช่าคาราบาว “Sam Cha Carabao” and “กระถางดอกไม้ให้คุณ” “Flowers for You” (by Polycat and Tattoo Colour, respectively) that sound to me like theme music from American 70s-era TV shows. I know, its bizarre . . .

“Kon La Fun”(“Dream Chaser”) is a rousing, inspirational song advising people to chase their dream until they hold it in their hand. It has been covered in every which way, and here is done as cool jazz (by Penguin Villa). The words say please go struggle for your life, and the tone says please go relax by the pool. And yet, I LOVE IT! You can do anything to this song, and it’s still amazing because of the lyrics.

As you can see, I have a lot of favorites. I will just quickly mention that ราชาเงินผ่อน (“King of Credit”) is done in a Black soul style by Spoonfulz; the cover of “Ba” [about a crazy person] by the Barbies sounds like U2; and the “I love you” in “Hua Jai Ba Bin”“หัวใจบ้าบิ่น” (Tattoo Colour, again) is heart-melting.

To finish it off, The Richman Toy’s “Bua Loey” ROCKS with a new, bouncier beat that screams “PARTYYY!”

Young people today . . . wow, they are really talented.

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English speakers can BUY THE ALBUM “Carabao The Series”, and all your other Thai music and video at eThaiCD.com. The site is in English and the helpful staff will answer your questions in English.

Review of “Hen Mai Bua Loy?” เห็นมั้ยบัวลอย, New Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว solo album

hen mai bualoy

Review of “Hen Mai Bua Loy?” เห็นมั้ยบัวลอย, New Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว solo album  

by Ann Norman (written September 20, 2014; edits December 30, 2014)

You can BUY THE ALBUM from the wonderful people at eThaiCD.com. There you can shop in English!

I almost didn’t buy this album because it contains the song “Give Military Dictatorship a Chance.” OK, that song is really called นาวารัฐบุรุษ “The Statesman” but it says in effect: “Ok, General Prayuth, let’s see what you can do to improve Thailand.” (This coming from the same person who 30 years ago wrote the antham เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ “Siang Playng Heng Saripaap” (Music of Freedom) and the cynical ประชาธิปไตย “Bprachaatipbpadtai” (Democracy), which I would much prefer to quote from in reference to the current coup. But it is not my job to explain Aed Carabao. It is my mission to translate the lyrics of his songs, given that he is (to my knowledge) the best singer/songwriter in the world. He may be (for the moment) a collaborator, but he’s also extremely independent and considered in his positions, and he’s not doing it to make people love him. He’s already lost a huge chunk of his former audience (Red Shirts, shut down some of his concerts) by being too moderate during the recent crisis, and begging for everyone to sit down and talk it out — with songs such as จับเข่า “Jap Kow” (Grab the Knees), which, regrettably, were not as musically compelling as what is contained in this album.

Because once again, following on กันชนหมา “Gan Chon Ma” (Dog Bumper) and วันวานไม่มีเขา วันนี้ไม่มีเรา “Waan Wan Mai Me Kow” (If Yesterday There Wasn’t Her”), this is a VERY strong solo album. I could listen to it over and over from start to finish. The songs are mostly pop/country/bluegrass/rock, especially rock.

The highlights begin with the title song, เห็นมั้ยบัวลอย “Hen Mai Bua Loy?” (Do You See This, Bua Loy?”), a fun, danceable pop tune that riffs off the legendary Carabao song “Bua Loy.” Bua Loy, is, of course, the good-hearted soldier and true friend who dies worrying out loud whether everyone else is alright. In the new song and must-see music video, Aed Carabao gets to play a caricature of himself as the grumpy old man tired from warning the young people. He sings “Do you see this, Bua Loy, my good friend? . . . . Do you hear the horrible news reaching your casket?” In the video, he decries the state of society, while young people enthusiastically commit all kinds of crimes and sins, in the end surrounding him in an orgy of boxing, fighting, and partying until he gets up from his chair, where he had been playing guitar, and walks off.

There is a remarkably original Asian-sounding (but not Thai-sounding) song มูซาชิ “Musachi” about a Samurai. It sounds like movie music, with flute and Asian instruments; the tune is meandering. I only catch a few of the lines, but the music paints a picture in my mind of a Samurai wandering on alone on horseback through some vast empty landscape. I LOVE IT. It’s unlike any of Aed Carabao’s other 1,000 songs to date (though I know he does scores for movies, so maybe this is related to that.)

With only piano accompaniment, P’Aed sings his heart out on the song อยากได้ยิน “[What Would You] Like to Hear?” (from the people passing by you everyday), a song reminiscent of a late-era Elton John song called “The Bridge.” While the meaning of Elton John’s song remains somewhat mysterious, Aed Carabao’s trippy poetry always drives home a point. Here he presents an emotionally compelling case for moderation:

Here is paradise: the one and only world right here.
They say that our world amounts to the tip of the antennae of a snail,
[that] life is cheap as a cigarette stub
[If] so, learn about our hearts and minds;
release the spirit to cross the bridge to freedom

There is no happiness comparable to peace.
All [our] experience shows this is true
There is true, earnest anger.
History is [our] example.
It’s a question awaiting an answer from people.

The rest of the song continues in this manner, begging for a wait-and-see approach to the current suspension of democracy and a reconciliation between the two sides.

There are several great rock and roll tracks: กรุงเทพเมืองเถื่อน “Illicit Bangkok,” like a Jackson Browne “Running on Empty,” is being being promoted second to ‘Hen Mai Bua Loy?” by Carabao Official (Warner Music Thailand). I’m more interested in วางดาบ “Wang Dap” (Put Down the Sword), which rolls and crashes, and sweeps me along, though I don’t know what it means. [Edit: Now translated; it’s amazing.]  อาจารย์เสก “Ajahan Sek” is a delightfully energetic bluegrass tune with fiddle, banjo, piano, and drums (and a military sounding drum solo). The lyrics provides further commentary on the problems of Thai democracy. [Edit: The lyrics tell the story of  Seksan Praserkul (เสกสรรค์ ประเสริฐกุล), a student leader of a successful pro-democracy popular mass uprising that brought down the dictatorship of Thanom Kittikachorn in  Thailand in 1973. Again, wonderful!]

The final song, นาวารัฐบุรุษ “The Statesman,” divided the fans. The tune is nice—dark, and important—and has been recycled from ไม่อยากทน “Mai Yaak Ton” (I Don’t Want to Endure It), a song about a failed relationship, from off the last solo album. A recycled tune was necessary because the song came out ONLY TWO DAYS after the coup. A nicely produced music video followed just a week later. The lyrics of “The Statesman,” scold the people for fighting and for the mess that passes for democracy, saying this is what gives the military the opportunity to take over. And then it basically asks General Prayuth (respectfully) to prove his good intentions by reforming Thailand.

The times they are a’changing. :-?

BUY IT at  eThaiCD.com, which is accessible to English speakers:

http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=79647

The official album preview Part 1 (below), begins with the title song “Hen Mai Bua Loy?” and the second song is “Wang Dap”:

In this official album preview Part 2, you can hear snippets of “Musachit” and “Yaak Daiayin”:

And this preview part 3 begins with “Ahjan Sek”:

Glass Child (Luuk Geow) ลูกแก้ว

By Carabao คาราบาว
Album: เมดอินไทยแลนด์ Made in Thailand (1984)
Gold Version (Limited Edition) of the album Made in Thailand available; you can BUY IT HERE

Note: A friend told me that that listening to a Carabao song is like watching a movie, and this may be the song that best demonstrates that quality. The title is “Glass Child” because it is about a child whose parents spoil him so he is fragile and breaks. This song is usually paired with a second song called “Stone Child” about the child who is raised with love and attention so he will presumably grow up to be strong and not break.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

เกิดเป็นลูกคนเดียว พ่อรักดังดวงใจ
gert bpen lôok kon dieow pôr rák dang duang jai
[A boy] is born an only child. [His] father loves [him] dearly
อยากจะได้อะไร พ่อแม่คอยตามใจ
yàak jà dâai a-rai pôr mâe koi dtaam jai
Anything [the boy] wants , the mother and father let him have
ตามใจ ตามใจ ตามใจ ตามใจ ตามใ
dtaam jai dtaam jai dtaam jai dtaam jai dtaam jai
Indulge! Indulge! Indulge! INDULGE! *

ปรารถนาสิ่งใดพ่อแม่ตามใจ
bpràat-tà-năa sìng dai pôr mâe dtaam jai
Whatever thing he desires, the parents spoil him
ฐานะค่อนข้างรวย หาเงินตัวเป็นเกลียว
tăa-ná kôn kâang ruay hăa ngern dtua bpen glieow
The family is wealthy. The parents work strenuously
ทําเพื่อหวังสิ่งเดียว นั้นคือเงินตรา
tam pêua wăng sìng dieow nán keu ngern dtraa
to fulfill one desire only: money.
เงินตรา เงินตรา เงินตรา เงินตรา เงินตรา
ngern dtraa ngern dtraa ngern dtraa ngern dtraa ngern dtraa
Money! Money! Money! Money! MONEY!

ไม่ค่อยมีเวลาสั่งสอน อบรมตักเตือน
mâi kôi mee way-laa sàng sŏn òp-rom dtàk dteuan
[They] don’t really have time to instruct, train, and caution him
ลูกชายกําลังโต ขาดที่พึ่งทางใจ
lôok chaai gam-lang dtoh kàat têe pêung taang jai
The boy is now grown; [he] lacks a mentor
ใช้กําลังทุน ให้ความอบอุ่นไม่ได้
chái gam-lang tun hâi kwaam òp ùn mâi dâai
[The parents] use the power of money. Can’t give warmth and affection.
คบเพื่อนพากันเพลิน…เดินลงขวดสุรา
kóp pêuan paa gan plern … dern long kùat sù-raa
[He] goes out with friends, [who] lead each other into amusements . . . down the path to liquor,
เดินลงบ้องกัญชา เดินลงเข็มฉีดยาโอย
dern long bông gan-chaa dern long kĕm chèet-yaa oi
to bongs and smoking weed. Down the path to syringes! OY!!!!!

ตื่นขึ้นมากลางคุก ลุกขึ้นยืนตาขวาง
dtèun kêun mâak laang kúk lúk kêun yeun dtaa kwăang
[He] wakes up in jail. [He] stands up, gives an angry look.
ใครจับฉันมาขัง พ่อแม่ฉันรวย
krai jàp chăn maa kăng pôr mâe chăn ruay
Who caught me and threw me in jail? My mother and father are rich!
รํ่ารวย รํ่ารวย รํ่ารวย รํ่ารวยช่วยที
Rich! Rich! Rich! Rich. HELP PLEASE!

พ่อแม่จ๋ารํ่ารวยช่วยลูกชายที
pôr mâe jăa ruay chûay lôok chaai tee
Mom, Dad (pretty please.) You’re rich, [you’ll] help your son, [right]?
ข้อหาอุฉกรรจ์ ปล้นฆ่าและข่มขืน
kôr hăa u chà-gan  bplôn kâa láe kòm kĕun
The charge is robbery, murder, and rape.
พรากชีวิตผู้อื่นต้องรับโทษทัณฑ์
prâak chee-wít pôo èun dtông ráp tôht tan
[When one] deprives others of life, [that person] must be punished!
โทษทัณฑ์ โทษทัณฑ์ โทษทัณฑ์ โทษทัณฑ์ โทษทัณฑ์
tôht-sà-tan tôht-sà-tan tôht-sà-tan tôht-sà-tan tôht-sà-tan
Punished! Punished! Punished! PUNISHED!

คําสั่งศาลประหารตายตกตามกัน
kam sàng săan bprà-hăan dtaai dtòk dtaam gan
Accordingly, the ruling is execution
ตามกัน ตามกัน
dtaam gan dtaam gan dtaam gan
Of course, of course! OF COURSE!**
นํ้าตารินไหล นึกเสียดายชีวี
nám dtaa rin lăi néuk sĭa daai chee-wee
Tears flow. [The son] looks back at [his] life with regret.
พ่อจ๋าลูกลาที แม่จ๋าลูกลาตาย
pôr jăa lôok laa tee mâe jăa lôok laa dtaai
Dad, your son says goodbye. Mom, your son gives his last goodbye.

พ่อรักลูกก็รู้ แม่รักลูกเข้าใจ
pôr rák lôok gôr róo mâe rák lôok kâo jai
The father loves the son [but] knows . . . The mother loves the son [but] understands . . .
ลูกผิดสมควรตาย ก้าวพลาดไปช่างหัวมัน
lôok pìt sŏm kuan dtaai  gâao plâat bpai châang hŭa man
The wayward son should die. Let it go.
ลูกผิดสมควรตาย ขอลาไปชดใช้กรรม
lôok pìt sŏm kuan dtaai kŏr laa bpai chót-chái gam
The wayward son should die—take his leave to pay the bad karma

*”dtaam jai” literally means “follow heart” and means “do whatever you like” or in this case to let someone do whatever they like, to indulge them or “spoil” them.

Poor Person, Great Person (Kon Jon Poo Ying Yai) คนจนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่

by คาราบาว Carabao
Album: อเมริโกย Ameri-goy (1985)
This album is HIGHLY RECOMMENED. Buy it HERE at eThaiCD.com, where you can shop in English.

Notes: This song is similar to Michael Jackson’s song “Black or White” in it’s role. In 1991, Michael Jackson sang “It don’t matter if you’re Black or White,” addressing a major prejudice in American society. In 1985, Aed Carabao sang “A poor person is a great person,” addressing a major prejudice in Thai society. Both songs were huge hits that are still important today. (On this translation, I had a lot of help from an anonymous foreign exchange student. THANK YOU. The word ยิ่งใหญ่ (ying-yai) means great in the sense of important, superior, or mighty. To call someone a buffalo is to call them stupid.)


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

ถึงยากจนไม่มองคนเหยียดๆ
tĕung yâak jon mâi mong kon yìat yìat
Although poor, [I] don’t not look down on anyone,
ไม่รังแกรังเกียจคิดเบียดเบียนใจใคร
mâi rang-gae rang gìat kít bìat bian jai krai
don’t persecute, hate, [or] think of exploiting anyone.
มีจนวัดใจคนไม่ได้
mee jon wát jai kon mâi dâai
Rich or poor, [one] can’t measure the heart of a person
จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจผู้ยิ่งใหญ่แห่งความจน
jon dtàe ruay năam jai pôo yîng yài hàeng kwaam jon
Poor but rich in generousity. A great person of poverty.

ทรัพย์สินไม่มีสะสม อยู่ในสังคมด้วยความสุขขี
sáp sĭn mâi mee sà-sŏm yòo nai săng-kom dûay kwaam sùk kĕe
Even without savings, I’m living a happy life.
ปริญญาฉันไม่เคยมี ความรู้พอดีพออ่านออกเขียนได้
bpà-rin-yaa chăn mâi koie mee kwaam róo por dee por àan òk kĭan dâai
[I] never had a diploma. [Just] know enough to be able to read and write.
ไปทํางานรับจ้างก็ทําจริง
bpai tam ngaan ráp jâang gôr tam jing
When I do a job for someone, I really work [hard]
ฉันทําทุกสิ่งยกเว้นประจบเจ้านาย
chăn tam túk sìng yok wâyn bprà-jòp jâo naai
I do everything except flatter the boss
วัดคนเขาวัดกันที่นํ้าลาย
wát kon kăo wát gan têe năam laai
[They] measure people by [their] spit [by how well they flatter the boss]*
ลาก่อนเจ้านายฉันไม่ใช่ควายจนตรอก
laa gòn jâo naai chăn mâi châi kwaai jon dtròk
Bye, Boss! [So long!] I’m not a buffalo trapped here**

ไม่เคยใฝ่ฝัน เป็นโตเป็นใหญ่ ไม่มีปัจจัยทั้งสี่ประการ
mâi koie fài făn bpen dtoh bpen yài ท mâi mee bpàt-jai táng sèe bprà-gaan
[I’ve] never dreamed of being big or important. I don’t have all four factors in life [i.e. clothes, food, a place to live, and medicine].
แค่สัตว์เลื้อยคลานสองข้างถนน
kâe sàt léuay klaan sŏng kâang tà-nŏn
[I’m] only a lizard by the side of the road [I’m just a poor bastard wandering around]***
เนื้อตัวยากจนแต่นํ้าใจยิ่งใหญ่
néua dtua yâak jon dtàe naam jai yîng yài
The body is poor, but the generosity is great.

ถึงยากจนไม่มองคนเหยียดๆ
tĕung yâak jon mâi mong kon yìat yìat
Although poor, [I] don’t not look down on anyone,
ไม่รังแกรังเกียจคิดเบียดเบียนใจใคร
mâi rang-gae rang gìat kít bìat bian jai krai
don’t persecute, hate, [or] think of exploiting anyone.
มีจนวัดใจคนไม่ได้
mee jon wát jai kon mâi dâai
Rich or poor, [one] can’t measure the heart of someone
จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจผู้ยิ่งใหญ่แห่งความจน
jon dtàe ruay năam jai pôo yîng yài hàeng kwaam jon
Poor but rich in generosity. A great person of poverty.

คนจน(จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจ)
kon jon (jon dtàe ruay naam jai)
Poor person (Poor but rich in generosity)
ใครจะว่ายากจน(คนจนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่)
Krai jà wâa yâak jon (kon jon pôo yîng yài )
Who will scoff, “He’s poor!”? (The poor person is a great person!)
(คนจน)จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจ
(kon jon) jon dtàe ruay naam jai
Poor person (Poor but rich in generosity)
(ใครจะว่ายากจน)คนจนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่
( krai jà wâa yâak jon) kon jon pôo yîng yài
Who will scoff, “He’s poor!”? (The poor person is a great person!)

มีชีวิตย่อมมีความลําบาก
mee chee-wít yôm mee kwaam lam-bàak
Life is naturally difficult [life is struggle]
อดๆอยากๆดังยาชูกําลัง
òt òt yàak yàak dang yaa choo gam-lang
Starvation is like an energy drink****
ความหวังแม้ว่ายังริบหรี่เพราะสังคมวันนี้มันหางานกา รยาก
kwam wăng máe wâa yang ríp rèe prór săng-kom wan née man hăa ngaan gaan yâak
[There is] hope, though it’s still faint because in today’s society finding work is hard.
ยํ่าไปสมัครไปไม่เลือกหน้า ค่าจ้างราคา ไม่สํามะคัญ
yam bpai sà-màk bpai mâi lêuak nâa kâa jâang raa-kaa mâi sămakan
I march around applying for work, it doesn’t need to be prestigious, the wages are not important*****
ลุยควันลุยท่อไอเสีย มีแต่ความอ่อนเพลียยังดีกว่าเลียขากัน
lui kwan lui tôr ai sĭa mee dtàe kwaam òn plia yang dee gwàa lia kăa gan
[So I] wade through vehicle fumes, have only exhaustion. Still it’s better than to suck up to someone.******

ไม่เคยใฝ่ฝัน เป็นโตเป็นใหญ่ ไม่มีปัจจัยทั้งสี่ประการ
mâi koie fài făn bpen dtoh bpen yài mâi mee bpàt-jai táng sèe bprà-gaan
[I’ve] never dreamed to be big or important. Don’t have all four factors in life
แค่สัตว์เลื้อยคลานสองข้างถนน
kâe sàt léuay klaan sŏng kâang tà-nŏn
[I’m] only a lizard by the road
เนื้อตัวยากจนแต่นํ้าใจยิ่งใหญ่
néua dtua yâak jon dtàe naam jai yîng yài
The body is poor, but the generosity is great. 

ปัจจัยคือเครื่องบาดใจ
bpàt-jai keu krêuang bàat jai
Factors [money] can cause grief
ศาสดาสอนไว้ในพระไตรปิฎก
sàat-sà-daa sŏn wái nai prá dtrai-bpì-dòk
as the prophet teaches in Buddhist scriptures.
ความจริงที่คู่ควรหยิบยก ชําระความสกปรกในสังคมเมืองไทย
kwaam jing têe kôo kuan yìp yók cham-rá kwaam sòk-gà-bpròk nai săng-kom meuang tai
A truth that should be raised and discussed [how to] cleanse the dirtiness in Thai society.
จิตใจแห่งความเป็นพุทธ ใสบริสุทธิ์ นั้นคือจุดหมาย
jìt jai hàeng kwaam bpen pút săi bor-rí-sùt nán keu jùt măai
The mind of the being of Buddha is clear, pure. That is the aim.
รวยล้นกระทําตนเหลวไหล
ruay lón grà tam dton lĕo lăi
Even if you are super rich but you do stupid shit,*******
ไม่ใช่ผู้ยิ่งใหญ่เป็นแต่ผู้ยิ่งเลว
mâi châi pôo yîng yài bpen dtàe pôo yîng leo
[you’re] not a great person, only an extremely bad person

ไม่เคยใฝ่ฝัน เป็นโตเป็นใหญ่ ไม่มีปัจจัยทั้งสี่ประการ
mâi koie fài făn bpen dtoh bpen yài mâi mee bpàt-jai táng sèe bprà-gaan
I never dreamed of being big or important. [I] don’t have all four factors in life
แค่สัตว์เลื้อยคลานสองข้างถนน
kâe sàt léuay klaan sŏng kâang tà-nŏn
[I’m] only a lizard by the side of the road
เนื้อตัวยากจนแต่นํ้าใจยิ่งใหญ่
néua dtua yâak jon dtàe naam jai yîng yài
The body is poor but the generosity is great.

ถึงยากจนไม่มองคนเหยียดๆ
tĕung yâak jon mâi mong kon yìat yìat
Although poor, [I] don’t not look down on anyone,
ไม่รังแกรังเกียจคิดเบียดเบียนใจใคร
mâi rang-gae rang gìat kít bìat bian jai krai
don’t persecute, hate, [or] think of exploiting anyone.
มีจนวัดใจคนไม่ได้
mee jon wát jai kon mâi dâai
Rich or poor, [one] can’t measure the heart of someone
จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจผู้ยิ่งใหญ่แห่งความจน
jon dtàe ruay năam jai pôo yîng yài hàeng kwaam jon
Poor but rich in generosity. Great person of poverty.

คนจน(จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจ)
kon jon (jon dtàe ruay naam jai)
Poor person (Poor but rich in generosity)
ใครจะว่ายากจน(คนจนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่)
Krai jà wâa yâak jon (kon jon pôo yîng yài )
Who will scoff, “He’s poor!”? (The poor person is a great person!)
(คนจน)จนแต่รวยนํ้าใจ
(kon jon) jon dtàe ruay naam jai
Poor person (Poor but rich in generosity)
(ใครจะว่ายากจน)คนจนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่
( krai jà wâa yâak jon) kon jon pôo yîng yài
Who will scoff, “He’s poor!”? (The poor person is a great person!)

(2X)
* “Spit” means “talkative” here. And the talkative person in this context is flattering the boss.
** Meaning, “I’m not some moron trapped here.” (To call someone a buffalo is to call them stupid).
*** Meaning, “I’m just a poor bastard wandering around.” สัตว์เลื้อยคลาน (reptile) refers to เหี้ย which is both a monitor lizard and a very bad swear word. So it is like using the word “donkey” as a substitute for the swear word “ass.” They both mean the same thing, but one is triggering and the other is not.
**** Starvation is like an energy drink in that it motivates you? Another translator suggests starvation is like an energy drink in that “it adds flavor to life.” Whatever it means, this has nothing to do with the energy drink Carabao Dang, which didn’t exist when this song came out.
***** ไม่เลือกหน้า or “mâi lêuak nâa” translates “not choose face” meaning, in this case, one is not holding out for a prestigous job.
****** Still it’s better than to “lick the leg,” which means to suck up to someone.
******* An example of “tam lĕo lăi” would be drinking too much. I translated it as “doing stupid shit.”

Ocean Heart (Telay Jai) ทะเลใจ

By Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว
Album: พฤษภา Prutsapa (May)
Date of Album: 1992

Note: This is one of the most famous Carabao songs, and seems to be very meaningful for Thai people. I had help doing the direct translation. Also check out the the SINGABLE English TRANSLATION!!!! This song comes from Buddhism. Khun Aed says in interviews that it is one of the two songs he is most proud of. To me, it seems like a tune that has always existed — like the way Paul McCartney dreamed “Yesterday” and woke up thinking he’d heard it somewhere before. So I was pleased to read on Wikipedia that Aed Carabao says he wrote the whole song in half an hour.

This song is also on the rerecorded album Made In Thailand. (It was not on the first Made In Thailand.) So if you buy the “Gold Version” of Made In Thailand (at eThaiCD), you will get this song. Check out a wonderful COVER of this song by Eed Opakul, Aed Carabao’s twin brother.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

แม้ชีวิตได้ผ่านเลยวัยแห่งความฝัน
mae chee-wít dâai pàan loie wai hàeng kwaam făn
Though [my] life is completely past the age of dreaming
วันที่ผ่านมาไร้จุดหมาย
wan têe pàan maa rái jùt măai
In the days that passed by without aim
ฉันเรียนรู้เพื่ออยู่เพียงตัวและจิตใจ
chăn rian róo pêua yòo piang dtua láe jìt jai
I learned to live only by body and mind*
เป็นมิตรแท้ที่ดีต่อกัน
bpen mít táe têe dee dtòr gan
being best friends with each other. [It’s the body and mind being best friends with each other]

เหมือนชีวิตผันผ่านคืนวันอันเปลี่ยวเหงา
mĕuan chee-wít păn pàan keun wan an bplìeow ngăo
Like life goes by day and night, lonely and desolate
ตัวเป็นของเราใจของใคร
dtua bpen kŏng rao jai kŏng krai
The body is mine, [but] the heart is whose?
มีชีวิตเพื่อสู้คืนวันอันโหดร้าย
mee chee-wít pêua sôo keun wan an hòht ráai
I have life for fighting the cruel days and nights,
คืนที่ตัวกับใจไม่ตรงกัน
keun têe dtua gàp jai mâi dtrong gan
the night when the body and mind are not completely together [the same]

คืนนั้นคืนไหน ใจแพ้ตัว
keun nán keun năi jai páe dtua
That night is the night that the heart defeats itself
คืนและวันอันน่ากลัวตัวแพ้ใจ
keun láe wan an nâa glua dtua páe jai
Night and day are scary, one is defeated
ท่ามกลางแสงสีศิวิไลซ์
tâam-glaang săeng sĕe sì-wí-lai
Amidst the city lights [amidst the  lights of civilization]
อาจหลงทางไปไม่ยากเย็น
àat lŏng taang bpai mâi yâak yen
it’s not difficult to lose one’s way.

คืนนั้นคืนไหน ใจเพ้อฝัน
keun nán keun năi jai pér făn
That night is the night in which the fanciful heart,
คืนและวันฝันไปไกลลิบโลก
keun láe wan făn bpai glai líp lôhk
always daydreaming, far away, leaves Earth
ดั่งนกน้อยลิ่วล่องลอยแรงลมโบก
dàng nók nói lîw lông loi raeng lom bòhk
As if a small bird drifts and bobs, blown by the wind [until it]
พออับโชคตกลงกลางทะเลใจ
por àp chôhk dtòk long glaang tá-lay jai
unfortunately falls into the center of the sea of the heart [into the “Ocean Heart”, the title of the song]

ทุกชีวิตดิ้นรนค้นหาแต่จุดหมาย
túk chee-wít dîn ron kón hăa dtàe jùt măai
Every life struggles, people search only for a purpose
ใจในร่างกายกลับไม่เจอ
jai nai râang gaai glàp mâi jer
The spirit in the body can’t be found [doing things automatically without your mind]
ทุกข์ที่เกิดซ้ำ เพราะใจนำพร่ำเพ้อ
túk têe gèrt sám prór jai nam prâm pér
The suffering repeats because of the delirious heartt
หาหัวใจให้เจอก็เป็นสุข
hăa hŭa jai hâi jer gôr bpen sùk
Search for (your own) heart so you can meet it and be happy.

คืนนั้นคืนไหน ใจเพ้อฝัน
keun nán keun năi jai páe dtua
That night is the night that the heart defeats itself
คืนและวันอันน่ากลัวตัวแพ้ใจ
keun láe wan an nâa glua dtua páe jai
Night and day are scary, one is defeated.
ท่ามกลางแสงสีศิวิไลซ์
tâam-glaang săeng sĕe sì-wí-lai
Amidst the city lights
อาจหลงทางไปไม่ยากเย็น
àat lŏng taang bpai mâi yâak yen
it’s not difficult to lose one’s way.

คืนนั้นคืนไหน ใจเพ้อฝัน
keun nán keun năi jai pér făn
That night is the night in which the fanciful heart
คืนและวันฝันไปไกลลิบโลก
keun láe wan făn bpai glai líp lôhk
always daydreaming, far away, leaves Earth
ดั่งนกน้อยลิ่วล่องลอยแรงลมโบก
dàng nók nói lîw lông loi raeng lom bòhk
As if a small bird drifts and bobs, blown by the wind [until it]
พออับโชคตกลงกลางทะเลใจ
por àp chôhk dtòk long glaang tá-lay jai
unfortunately falls into the center of the sea of the heart

แม้ชีวิตได้ผ่านเลยวัยแห่งความฝัน
mae chee-wít dâai pàan loie wai hàeng kwaam făn
Though [my] life is completely past the age of dreaming
วันที่ผ่านมาไร้จุดหมาย
wan têe pàan maa rái jùt măai
In the days that passed by without aim
ฉันเรียนรู้เพื่ออยู่เพียงตัวและจิตใจ
chăn rian róo pêua yòo piang dtua láe jìt jai
I learned to live only by body and mind*
เป็นมิตรแท้ที่ดีต่อกัน
bpen mít táe têe dee dtòr gan
being best friends with each other.**

ฉันเรียนรู้เพื่ออยู่เพียงตัวและจิตใจ
chăn rian róo puea yòo piang dtua láe jìt jai
I learned to live only by body and mind*
เป็นมิตรแท้ที่ดีตลอดกาล
bpen mít táe têe dee talot gan
being best friends together always.**

*To live only by body and mind is to live cutting off desire and want.
**It is the body and the mind who are best friends together

บัวลอย Bua Loy

by คาราบาว Carabao
Album: เมดอินไทยแลนด์ Made in Thailand (1984)
THIS ALBUM IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BUY IT HERE

Note: I have joked that the closest translation of “BUA LOYYY!!!!” is “FREEBIRD!”  In interviews, Aed Carabao says this is one of the two songs he is most proud of, both because of the meaningful lyrics and because it is just alot of fun. It has become a tradition that the rousing  “Bua Loy” is always the last song of a Carabao concert. PLEASE NOTE THERE IS ALSO A SINGABLE ENGLISH VERSION.

“Bua Loy” is also Part 5 of the 10-part Tuk Kwai Tuey series of songs. CLICK HERE for “Manohk,” Part 6 in the series.

English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

บัวลอย
Bua Loy
บัวลอยเจ้าเพื่อนยาก
bua loi jâo pêuan yâak
Bua Loy, my true friend.  (1)
ทําไมจากข้าเร็วเกินไป
tam-mai jàak kâa reo gern bpai
Why did you leave me too quickly?
บัวลอยไปอยู่ที่ไหน
bua loi bpai yòo têe năi
Bua Loy, where did you go?
เคยรู้บ้างไหมโหนกคิดคํานึง ถึงบัวลอย
koie róo bâang măi nòhk kít kam neung tĕung bua-loi
Do you ever know that [I] think . . . of Bua Loy!!! (2)

บัวลอยเขาเป็นชายหนุ่ม
bua loi kăo bpen chaai nùm
Bua Loy, he is a young man
ตาเหล่ หลังงุ้ม เด๋อๆ ด๋าๆ
dtaa lày lăng ngúm dĕr dĕr dă dă
Cross-eyed, bent back, and clumsy
รูปร่างแม้ไม่โสภา
rôop râang máe mâi sŏh-paa
Even though his appearance is not handsome
จิตใจลํ้าฟ้าดังสมญาบัวลอย
jìt jai lăm fáa dang sŏm-yaa bua-loi
[his] mind is so high, like the name Bua-Loy
เป็นเพื่อนคุยยามเพื่อนว้าเหว่
bpen pêuan kui yaam pêuan wáa-wày
Is a friend to talk with when a friend feels lonely
เป็นพ่อครัวยามเพื่อนหิวโหย
bpen pôr krua yaam pêuan hĭw hŏi
Is a cook when a friend feels hungry
เป็นหมอใหญ่ยามเพื่อนโอดโอย
Bpen mŏr yài yaam peuan òht oi
Is a doctor when a friend screams in pain
หาหยูกยามารักษาบรรเทา
hăa yòok-yaa maa rák-săa ban tao
Goes and finds medicine to treat, to ease

บัวลอยถึงวัยเกณฑ์ทหาร
Bua Loie tĕung wai gayn tá-hăan
Bua-Loy reaches the age of conscription
พิกลพิการยังดีหนึ่งประเภทสอง
pí-gon pí-gaan yang dee nèung bprà-pâyt sŏng
Even though handicapped, he’s still in category 2 [of potential soldiers]” (3)
อาสารับใช้ชาติพี่น้อง
aa-săa ráp chái châat pêe nóng
volunteers to serve the country, his brothers and sisters
หัวใจคับพองกล้าหาญอดทน
hŭa jai káp pong glâa hăan òt ton
He has a brave heart and endurance
เป็นคนหนักเอาเบาสู้
bpen kon nàk ao bao sôo
[He is the kind of person that whether the work is hard or easy, he will work hard] (4)
อุตส่าห์มานะถ่อมตน
ùt-sàa maa ná tòm dton
He endeavors to be hardworking and humble.
ช่วยเหลือเพื่อนๆ ทุกคน
chûay lĕua pêuan pêuan túk kon
Helps every friend
ร่วมแต่ทุกข์สุขไม่สนใจ
rûam dtàe túk sùk mâi sŏn jai
He shares happiness or sadness—whichever; he’s OK with it.

บัวลอยเจ้าเพื่อนยาก
bua loi jâo pêuan yâak
Bua Loy, my true friend.
ทําไมจากข้าเร็วเกินไป
tam-mai jàak kâa reo gern bpai
Why did you leave me too quickly?
บัวลอยไปอยู่ที่ไหน
bua loi bpai yòo têe năi
Bua Loy, where did you go?
เคยรู้บ้างไหมโหนกคิดคํานึง ถึงบัวลอย
koie róo bâang măi nòhk kít kam neung tĕung bua-loi
Do you ever know that [I] think . . . of Bua-Loy!!!

วันหนึ่งมีเสียงปืนคําราม
wan nèung mee sĭang bpeun kam-raam
One day the sound of guns roar
บัวลอยถูกหามมาในเปลผ้าใบ
bua loi tòok hăam maa nai bplay pâa bai
Bua Loy is laying on a stretcher
ยังละเมอห่วงว่าใครเป็นอะไร
Dtae yang lá-mer hùang wâa krai bpen a-rai
But still talks in his sleep, worrying “Who is hurt?” [5]
คือคําพูดสุดท้ายของชายชื่อบัวลอย
keu kam pôot sùt táai kŏng chaai chêu bua loi
[These] are the last words of the man named Bua Loi
ตั้งแต่วันนั้นยันวันนี้
dtâng dtàe wan nán yan wan née
From that day until this day
แสงตะเกียงริบหรี่ที่บ้านไร่ปลายดอย
săeng dtà-giang ríp rèe têe bâan râi bplaai doi
A light from dim lamp at farmhouse at top of the hill
ไม่มีชายคนที่ชื่อบัวลอย
mâi mee chaai kon têe chêu bua-loi
There isn’t a man named Bua Loy
ความเหงาหงอยค่อยเข้าปกคลุม
kwaam ngăo ngŏi kôi kâo bpòk klum
Loneliness quietly covers

[In old man’s voice:]

โลกนี้ไม่สมประกอบ
lôhk née mâi sŏm bprà-gòp
This world isn’t balanced
เพราะบางคนชอบเอาแต่ประโยชน์ส่วนตน
prór baang kon chôp ao dtàe bprà-yòht sùan dton
because some people only care about themselves
โลกนี้มีสักกี่คน
lôhk née mee sàk gèe kon
How many people in this world,
เป็นบัวหลุดพ้นดังคนชื่อบัวลอย (บัวลอย)
bpen bua lùt pón dang kon chêu bua-loi ( bua-loi )
being a lotus , become as free as the person named Bua Loi? (6) BUA-LOY!

[Khun Aed sings:]

โลกนี้ไม่สมประกอบ
lôhk née mâi sŏm bprà-gòp
This world is not balanced
เพราะบางคนชอบเอาแต่ประโยชน์ส่วนตน
prór baang kon chôp ao dtàe bprà-yòht sùan dton
Because some people only care about themselves
โลกนี้มีสักกี่คน
lôhk née mee sàk gèe kon
How many people in this world,
เป็นบัวหลุดพ้นดังคนชื่อบัวลอย (บัวลอย)
bpen bua lùt pón dang kon chêu bua-loi ( bua-loi )
being a lotus, become as free as the person named Bua-Loi? . . . BUA-LOYYYYYY!

(1)”Bua Loi” has two meanings: “Floating Lotus” and a kind of dessert involving a cup of sweet coconut milk with little chewy balls floating in it.

(1) Literally, “Do you ever know that Nohk thinks of you?” Bua Loy’s friend Nohk is referring to himself using his own name, which is common in Thai among friends.

(3) A category for the draft. Normally only those from category one are recruited to be soldiers, but if the number from category 1 falls short, they will recruit from category 2.

(4) หนักเอาเบาสู้ (nàk ao bao sôo) refers to a Thai proverb. If the work is hard he will take it, if it is light he will struggle along. That is, he is always dedicated to his work.

(5) Bua-Loi’s last words are actually “ใครเป็นอะไร” “Krai bpen arai?” Or “Anyone have something the matter?”

(6) This is about Buddhism. Some kinds of “lotus” are low, but Bua-Loi has jumped from a low level to a high level because of his good life, and so is freer.


 

Gold Version (Limited Edition) of the album Made in Thailand available; you can BUY IT HERE

รักคุณเท่าฟ้า (Rak Kun Tao Fah) Love You to the Sky!

Lyrics by แอ๊ด คาราบาว Aed Carabao (ยืนยง โอภากุล Yuenyong Opakul);
Melody by Aed Carabao and เทียรี่ เมฆวัฒนา Thierry Mekwattana

Album: รวมเพลง Ruam Playng (A Collection of Songs)

According to Thai Wikipedia, Khun Aed wrote this song for Thai Airways to use in their advertising, and he came up with it while flying back and forth on Thai Airways touring for concerts.  It perfectly captures the feeling of looking out the window of an airplane. Click here for the SINGABLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION!

English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

หากฉันบิน บินไปได้ดั่งนก
hàak chăn bin bin bpai dâai dàng nók
If I can fly, fly off like a bird
ฉันจะบิน บินไปในนภา
chăn jà bin bin bpai nai ná-paa
I’ll fly off in the sky
หากฉันลอย ล่องลมเหนือฟากฟ้า
hàak chăn loi lông lom nĕua fâak fáa
If I fly over, hovering in the sky
ฉันจะมองลง มา ยังพื้นดิน
chăn jà mong long maa yang péun din
I’ll still look down to the ground.
โลกมนุษย์ แสนกว้างใหญ่เหลือเกิน
lôhk má-nút săen gwâang yài lĕua gern
The world is almost too huge.
ยิ่งมองยิ่งเพลิน จำเริญหัวใจ
yîng mong yîng plern jam-rern hŭa jai
The more one looks, the more it entertains and delights the heart

พื้นแผ่นดิน แลดูเป็นสีเขียว
péun pàen din lae doo bpen sĕe kĭeow
The Earth [I’m] watching is green
พื้นแผ่นน้ำ แลดูเป็นสีคราม
Péun pàen nám lae doo bpen sĕe kraam
The expanse of water’s deep blue
อาจจะเคย มีใครตั้งคำถาม
àat jà koie mee krai dtâng kam tăam
Maybe someone has had a question before:
ความงดงามของโลก อยู่หนใด
kwaam ngót ngaam kŏng lôhk yòo hŏn dai
Where is the beauty of this world?
โลกมนุษย์ แสนกว้างใหญ่เหลือเกิน
lôhk má-nút săen gwâang yài lĕua gern
The world is almost too huge
ยิ่งมองยิ่งเพลิน จำเริญหัวใจ
yîng mong yîng plern jam-rern hŭa jai
The more one looks, the more one is delighted.

ความงามความรัก
kwaam ngaam kwaam rák
Beauty, love
มีมาตามธรรมชาติ
mee maa dtaam tamachat
we have following from nature
เติม วาด แต่ง แต้ม แสง สี ตาม ใน ใจคน
dterm wâat dtàeng dtâem săeng sĕe dtaam nai jai kon
In addition people draw, compose, and paint colors following what is in their hearts
มี ฟ้า มี น้ำ มี ดิน หิน ทราย และผู้คน
mee fáa mee nám mee din hĭn saai láe pôo kon
There is sky, water, earth, rocks, sand, and people,
ร่วม สุข ทุกข์ ทน สร้างแผ่นพื้น ดินไทย
rûam sùk túk ton sâang pàen péun din tai
through good times and bad, with endurance creating the land of the Thai

หากคุณบิน บินไปได้ดั่งนก
hàak kun bin bin bpai dâai dàng nók
If you fly, fly away like a bird
ยามเมื่อคุณ บินไปในนภา
yaam mêua kun bin bpai nai ná-paa
When you fly away in the sky
ยามเมื่อคุณ ล่องลอยบนฟากฟ้า
yaam mêua kun lông loi bon fâak fáa
When you float and drift in the sky,
มองลงมา เบื้องล่าง ยังพื้นดิน
mong long maa bêuang lâang yang péun din
looking all the way down to the ground
โลกมนุษย์ แสนกว้างใหญ่ เหลือเกิน
lôhk má-nút săen gwâang yài lĕua gern
The world is almost too huge
ยิ่งมอง ยิ่งเพลิน จำเริญ หัวใจ
yîng mong yîng plern jam-rern hŭa jai
The more you look, the more you’re delighted.

กระ แส เสียง เพลง นี้จากฟากฟ้า
grà-săe sĭang playng née jàak fâak fáa
This song flows from the sky
แสนไกล
săen glai
So far [up] . . .
ฝาก ความ ในใจ ให้ มวล หมู่ชน ทุกคน
fàak kwaam nai jai hâi muan mòo chon túk kon
Depositing the message of my thoughts to people, every one.
อัน ความ เป็นจริงที่มองเห็นมา
an kwaam bpen jing têe mong hĕn maa
A little message, which is true from the perspective
จากฟ้าเบื้องบน
jàak fáa bêuang bon
of the sky so far [up] . . .
ฟ้า อยู่ ค้ำ คน คนไม่อยู่ค้ำ ฟ้า…
fáa yòo kám kon kon mâi yòo kám fáa …
The sky is [relatively] immortal. People don’t live in the sky [aren’t immortal] . . .*

*It is a play on the words “คน” (people) and “ฟ้า” (sky) that sounds impressive in Thai.

The Busker [formerly titled “The Beggar”] (Wanipok) วณิพก

 by ยืนยง โอภากุล Yuenyong Opakul, aka แอ๊ด คาราบาว Add Carabao
Album: วณิพก Wanipok (The Busker [Formerly, titled “The Beggar”]) (1983)
The album Wanipok, appearing two years before the band became hugely famous, is a classic and pretty much perfect. You should BUY IT HERE from the friendly people at eThaiCD, where you can shop in English.

The version from the Carabao Santana Jam February 29, 2016:

NOTE: This is one of the first hits written by Khun Aed for the band Carabao. (He had previously written successful songs for the band Hammer.)  “Wanipok” is in the “sam cha” style, which would become the bands signature style. Sam cha combines Northern Thai folk rythms and Latin beats. Here is the direct translation. Also please check out the singable English version, with a MUST-HEAR cover in English.

Another translator convinced me to change the English-language title of the song to “The Busker.” As this is a huge song whose English-language translation has already gotten some attention, I mention the old title as well.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

เมื่อดวงตาของฉันมันมืดมิด
mêua duang dtaa kŏng chăn man mêut mít
At that time, my eyes went dark
แต่ชีวิตฉันยังไม่มืดลง
dtàe chee-wít chăn yang mâi mêut long
However my life was not yet descended into darkness
แม้ความรักยังเคยมีมั่นคง
máe kwaam rák yang koie mee mân kong
Even[ if] the love that I used to have secure
จะร้างไกลไม่หวนกลับคืนมา
jà ráang glai mâi hŭan glàp keun ma
would desert me, never to return.
ออกยํ่าไปบนทางที่หิวโซ
òk yaak bpai bon taang têe hĭw soh
[I] out, go with difficulty on a hungry path
มิรู้คืนรู้วันเวลา
mí róo keun róo wan way-laa
Not knowing the passage of time
ขอเศษเงินเศษทานผู้ผ่านมา
kŏr sàyt ngern sàyt taan pôo pàan maa
[I] beg for spare change from passersby
เพียงเมตตาฉันบ้าง…เป็นครั้งคราว
piang mâyt-dtaa chăn bâang … bpen kráng kraao
Only [spare] some kindness for me . . . now and then?

อยู่ในโลกความมืดอันลึกลับ
yòo nai lôhk kwaam mêut an léuk láp
Live in the world of darkness, a secretive place
คงสดับรับได้แต่สําเนียง
kong sà-dàp ráp dâai dtàe săm-niang
May listen and take in only sounds
จะมองหามองเห็นก็เป็นเพียง
jà mong hăa mong hĕn gôr bpen piang
I can look to find [or] see [something] only
ในความฝันยามฉันล้มตัวนอน
nai kwaam făn yaam chăn lóm dtua non
in a dream when [I] lie down and sleep
พอตื่นมาพานพบกับความหมาย…..
por dtèun maa paan póp gàp kwaam măai …..
When I [finally] awoke, I meet with a purpose . . .
ยังหายใจเนื้อตัวยังผ่าวร้อน
yang hăai jai néua dtua yang pàao rón
[I] still have breath, [my] body is still warm
ยังมีหวังเห็นดวงตะวันรอน
yang mee wăng hĕn duang dtà-wan ron
Still have hope[I] will see the evening sun
จะมัวนอนนิ่งเฉย…อยู่ทําไม
jà mua non nîng chŏie … yòo tam-mai
Why should I just lie down and do nothing?

จึงมาเป็น…..วณิพกพเนจร
jeung maa bpen ….. wá-ní-pók pá-nay-jon
There fore [I ] came to be a wandering busker,
เที่ยวเร่ร่อน…..ร้องเพลงแลกเศษเงิน
tîeow rây rôn ….. róng playng lâek sàyt ngern
Travel around . . . singing songs for bits of money
ที่เหลือกินเหลือเก็บเป็นส่วนเกิน
têe lĕua gin lĕua gèp bpen sùan gern
which [you] have in excess supply
จะนําเงินสะสม..รักษาดวงตา
jà nam ngern sà-sŏm .. rák-săa duang dtaa
[I]’ll use the savings to treat my eyes

จึงมาเป็น…..วณิพกพเนจร
jeung maa bpen ….. wá-ní-pók pá-nay-jon
So [I] come to be . . . a wandering busker
เที่ยวเร่ร่อน…..ร้องเพลงแลกเศษเงิน
tîeow rây rôn ….. róng playng lâek sàyt ngern
Travel around . . . singing songs for scraps of money
ที่เหลือกินเหลือเก็บเป็นส่วนเกิน
têe lĕua gin lĕua gèp bpen sùan gern
which [you] have in excess supply
จะนําเงินสะสม..รักษาดวงตา
jà nam ngern sà-sŏm .. rák-săa duang dtaa
[I]’ll take the money collected . . . to treat my eyes

หากฉันเป็นตัวแทนความมืดมิด
hàak chăn bpen dtua taen kwaam mêut mít
If I’m a representative of the darkness [of the blind]
ขอชดใช้ชีวิตที่เกิดมา
kŏr chót-chái chee-wít têe gèrt maa
I would like to reimburse the life that came [to me]
เพื่อทดแทนทุกท่านที่เมตตา
pêua tót taen túk tâan têe mâyt-dta
And in return for everyone’s kindness,
ด้วยนําพาเสียงเพลงสู่ผู้ฟัง
dûay nam paa sĭang playng sòo pôo fang
sing songs for the listener
เป็นบทเพลงโลกมืดและความหมาย
bpen bòt playng lôhk mêut láe kwaam măai
Its a song from the dark world and meaningful
จะกู่ก้องร้องไปไม่หยุดยั้ง
jà gòo gông róng bpai mâi yùt yáng
[I] will sing out without ceasing
ใครจะว่าร้องเพลงให้ควายฟัง
krai jà wâa róng playng hâi kwaai fang
Whoever will taunt, “[You just] sing songs for the buffaloes to hear”*
ฉันว่ายังมีคนที่เข้าใจ
chăn wâa yang mee kon têe kâo jai
I say, “There are still people who understand”

ใครจะว่าร้องเพลงให้ควายฟัง
krai jà wâa róng playng hâi kwaai fang
Whoever will say, [You just] sing songs for the buffaloes to hear*
ฉันว่ายังมีคนที่เข้าใจ
chăn wâa yang mee kon têe kâo jai
I say, There are still people who understand
ใครจะว่าร้องเพลงให้ควายฟัง
krai jà wâa róng playng hâi kwaai fang
Whoever will taunt, “[You just] sing songs for the buffaloes to hear”*
ฉันว่ายังมีคน…ที่เข้าใจ
chăn wâa yang mee kon … têe kâo jai
I say, “There are still people . . . who understand!”

*That is, “Whoever will say, ‘You waste your efforts on someone who can’t appreciate it’ . . . ”

Full Moon (Duan Pen) เดือนเพ็ญ

By อัศนี พลจันทร Asanee Polachan, as covered by แอ๊ด คาราบาว Aed Carabao
Album: กัมพูชา Kampucha (Cambodia) (1984)

Note: The original song was คิดถึงบ้าน “Kit Tueng Baan” (“Missing Home”) by Asanee Polachan. Aed Carabao covered it, switching up some words and changing the name of the song to “Duan Pen” (Full Moon). A tip for true fans only: This song is so great that there is actually a Carabao song ABOUT THE SONG! here at Carabao in English.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

เดือนเพ็ญสวยเย็นเห็นอร่าม
deuan pen sŭay yen hĕn a-ràam
A beautiful full moon, the evening is glittering
นภาแจ่มนวลดูงาม เย็นชื่นหนอยามเมื่อลมพัดมา
ná-paa jàem nuan doo ngaam yen chêun nŏr yaam mêua lom pát maa
The sky, bright and creamy, is pretty. It’s refreshing, huh?, when the wind starts to blow in.
แสงจันทร์นวลชวนใจข้า คิดถึงถิ่นที่จากมา
săeng jan nuan chuan jai kâa kít tĕung tìn têe jàak maa
The creamy moonlight invites my heart to think of the land I came from
คิดถึงท้องนาบ้านเรือนที่เคยเนา
kít tĕung tóng naa bâan reuan têe koie nao
to miss the paddy fields and the home where I used to live

เรไรร้องดังฟังว่า เสียงเจ้าที่เฝ้าครวญหา*
ray-rai róng dang fang wâa sĭang jâo tee fâo kruan hăa
The crickets sing loudly, sounding like they are crooning [a love song] to the one they miss so much
ลมเอยช่วยพากระซิบข้างกาย
lom oie chûay paa gràsíp kâang gaai
Wind, please take these whispers to [her]
ข้ายังคอยอยู่ไม่หน่าย มิเลือนห่างจากเคลื่อนคลาย
kâa yang koi yòo mâi nàai  mí leuan hàang jàak klêuan klaai
I still wait, not tired, never fading from my thoughts
คิดถึงมิวายเมื่อเราจากกัน
kít tĕung mí waai mêua rao jàak gan
I can’t help thinking of and missing you while we’re apart

กองไฟ สุมควายตามคอกคงยังไม่มอดดับดอก
gong fai sŭm kwaai dtaam kôk kong yang mâi môt dàp dòk
The campfire has been built, the buffalo are in their stalls,  [the fire] has not gone out.
จันทร์เอยช่วยบอกให้ลมช่วยเป่า
jan oie chûay bòk hâi lom chûay bpào
Moon, help tell the wind, please blow.
สุมไฟให้แรงเข้า พัดไล่ความเยือกเย็นหนาว
sŭm fai hâi raeng kâo pát lâi kwaam yêuak-yen năao
Pile up more [firewood] so it can blow away the cold
ให้พี่น้องเรานอนหลับอุ่นสบาย
hâi pêe nóng rao non làp ùn sà-baai
so my brothers and sisters sleep warm and comfortable

ลมเอยช่วยเป็นสื่อให้ นำรักจากห้วงดวงใจของข้านี้ไปบอกเขานำนา
lom oie chûay bpen sèu hâi nam rák jàak hûang duang jai kŏng kâa née bpai bòk kăo nam naa
Wind, help pass a message, convey the love from my heart, to tell them too*
ให้เมืองไทยรู้ว่าไม่นานลูกที่จากมาจะไปซบหน้ากับอกแม่..เอย
hâi meuang tai róo wâa mâi naan lôok têe jàak maa jà bpai sóp nâa gàp òk mâe .. oie
so Thailand will know, it won’t be long before the child who left will go to nestle in the breast of the mother***

ลมเอยช่วยเป็นสื่อให้ นำรักจากห้วงดวงใจของข้านี้ไปบอกเขานำนา
lom oie chûay bpen sèu hâi nam rák jàak hûang duang jai kŏng kâa née bpai bòk kăo nam naa
Wind, help pass a message, convey the love from my heart, to tell them too
ให้เมืองไทยรู้ว่าไม่นานลูกที่จากมาจะไปซบหน้ากับอกแม่..เอย
hâi meuang tai róo wâa mâi naan lôok têe jàak maa jà bpai sóp nâa gàp òk mâe .. oie
so Thailand will know, it won’t be long before the child who left will go to nestle in the breast of the mother
ให้เมืองไทยรู้ว่าไม่นานลูกที่จากมาจะไปซบหน้ากับอกแม่..เอย
hâi meuang tai róo wâa mâi naan lôok têe jàak maa jà bpai sóp nâa gàp òk mâe .. oie
. . .so Thailand will know, it won’t be long before the child who left will go to nestle against the chest of the mother
ให้เมืองไทยรู้ว่าไม่นานลูกที่จากมาจะไปซบหน้ากับอกแม่..เอย
hâi meuang tai róo wâa mâi naan lôok têe jàak maa jà bpai sóp nâa gàp òk mâe .. oie
. . .so Thailand will know, it won’t be long before the child who left will go to nestle against the chest of the mother

*Another translator says that there is no English word 100% equivalent to ครวญ. ‘A ครวญหา B’ means A always misses B very much and wants to see B again. A always spends (most of their) time talking to him or herself about how he or she misses B/how their relationship has been.
**At first I translated “นำนา” as “carry it to the fields” but another translator says that here “นำ” could be an Isaan word meaning “too” and “นา” is just an ending particle
***It is possible that “mother” here means the wife, as husband’s often call their wives “แม่” (mother).

Music of Freedom (Siang Pleang Heng Saripaap) เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ

by Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว
Album: รวมเพลง Ruam Playng (A Collection of Songs)

Note: I used to have a totally magical live Carabao.net version of this song in which Khun Aed gets carried away at the end and spontaneously sings the line “We are the World . . . !”: It got blocked . . . ah well, impermanence . . . Here is the official audio version from the album, still pretty perfect.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

วันเวลาผันเปลี่ยนเวียนไป
wan way-laa păn bplìan wian bpai
Time passes and changes in a circle
ใจของคน
[Ying] jai kŏng kon
[And] the heart of people
ก็หมุนวนเปลี่ยนแปร
gôr mŭn won bplìan bprae
also revolves and changes in a circle
ตั้งแต่เด็ก น้อย จนเติบแก่
dtâng dtàe dèk nói jon dtèrp gàe
From when [one is] a small child until extremely old
ผ่านไปพบปัญหาสาระพัน
pàan bpai póp bpan-hăa săa-rá pan
[one] meets thousands of types of problems
ถูกกีดกันโดยชนชั้นเอาเปรียบ
tòok gèet gan doi chon chán ao bprìap
obstructed by a class of people who exploit
เหยียบ ขย้ำ หัวใจทำลายขวัญ
yìap kà-yâm hŭa jai tam-laai kwăn
Trampled and mauled, the heart is demoralized
หยดหยาดเหงื่อ
yòt yàat ngèua
Drops of sweat
ทั้งน้ำเกลือน้ำกลั่น
táng nám gleua nám glàn
All the salty water and [bottles of] fresh water
น้ำใจนั้น จงแบ่งปันผู้คน
nám jai nán jong bàeng bpan pôo kon
That kindness, it should be distributed to people

เสียง เพลง ให้เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music allows us to express ourselves
จะโหยหา เสรีอันยิ่งใหญ่
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree an yîng yài
[We] will yearn for a great freedom
เสียง เพลง ให้เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music so that it shines out
จะโหยหา เสรีภาพ
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree pâap
We will long for liberty

คนกับคนอยู่กันเป็นกลุ่มคน
kon gàp kon yòo gan bpen glùm kon
People getting together with people makes a society
ความสับสน คือโลภโมโทสัน
kwaam sàp-sŏn keu lôhp moh-toh-săn
Confusion is greed [Means “greed provokes unrest”]
คือเอาเปรียบ
keu ao bprìap
is exploitation
เอาไป ไม่แบ่งปัน
ao bpai mâi bàeng bpan
seize and not distribute
เลยตีกัน จนล้มหายตายห่า
loie dtee gan jon lóm hăai dtaai hàa
hitting/fighting each other until [some] drop and die
ก็เห็นเงิน พบเงิน ก็จะเตะ
gôr hĕn ngern póp ngern gôr jà dtè
and if [one] sees money, comes across money, will kick
ให้เตะ ให้ตาย ไม่มีราคา
hâi dtè hâi dtaai mâi mee raa-kaa
trying to kick to death. There is no cost.
ชีวิตคน ดูเหมือนดั่งผักปลา
chee-wít kon doo mĕuan dàng pàk bplaa
Human life seems like that of plants or fish
อนาถหนา สังคมสังคัง
a-nàat-năa săng-kom săng-kang
Pitiful diseased society

sเสียง เพลง ให้เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music so we can express ourselves
จะโหยหา เสรีอันยิ่งใหญ่
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree an yîng yài
[We] yearn for a great freedom
เสียง เพลง ให้ เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music so that it shines out
จะโหยหา เสรีภาพ
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree pâap
We long for liberty

อันสังคม ก็ยังเดินดั่งเก่า
an săng-kom gôr yang dern dàng gào
A part of society still walks on as before
ดั่งไดโนเสา ดั่งเผ่าล้านปี
Dàng dai-noh-săo dàng pào láan bpee
Like dinosaurs, like a million-year old clan.
คือสังคม ยศฐาบรรดามี
keu săng-kom yót tăa ban-daa mee
[It] is [that part of] society that has the long titles
มีศักดิ์มีศรี ถือนายถือบ่าว
Mee sàk mee sĕe tĕu naai tĕu bàao
Those with success and social rank
จะก้าวเดิน ต่อไปในภายหน้า
jà gâao dern dtòr bpai nai paai nâa
If we want to go forward
ต้องสร้างศรัทธา
dtông sâang sàt-taa
[one] must create confidence
หรือประชาธิปไตย
rĕu bprà-chaa-típ-bpà-dtai
or democracy
ที่เป็นจริงเป็นจังดั่งตั้งใจ
têe bpen jing bpen jang dàng dtâng jai
that is really true as we long for
ให้ชาวไทย ได้มีเสรีภาพ
hâi chaao tai dâai mee săy-ree pâap
so that Thai people can have freedom

เสียง เพลง ให้เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music so [we can] express [to everyone]
จะโหยหา เสรีอันยิ่งใหญ่
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree an yîng yài
that we yearn for a great freedom.
เสียง เพลง ให้เปล่งออกมา
sĭang playng hâi bplàyng òk maa
Music so we can express
จะโหยหา เสรีภาพ
jà hŏi hăa săy-ree pâap
We long for liberty
เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ
sĭang playng hàeng săy-ree pâap
Music of freedom

เส รีภาพ
săy-ree pâap
Free-dom!
เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ
sĭang playng hàeng săy-ree pâap
Music of freedom
เส รีภาพ
săy-ree pâap
Free-dom!
เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ
sĭang playng hàeng săy-ree pâap
Music of freedom
เส รีภาพ
săy-ree pâap
Free-dom!
เสียงเพลงแห่งเสรีภาพ
sĭang playng hàeng săy-ree pâap
Music of freedom
เส รีภาพ
săy-ree pâap
Free-dom!

Doll (Dtuk Dtaa) ตุ๊กตา

Lyrics and melody by Aed Carabao แอ๊ด คาราบาว
Album: ท ทหารอดทน Taw Tahaan Ot Ton (The Persevering Soldier) (1983)

This album is highly recommended. BUY IT AT eThaiCD, where you can shop in English.

NOTE: This is an awesome song, and many people mention it as one of their very favorites. This is the direct translation, but I was able to do a singable ryhming translation that loses NOTHING in the switch to make it rhyme. Please check it out here.

English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

หวนคิดคํานึงถึงตอนที่ฉันยังเป็นเด็กๆ
hŭan kít kam neung tĕung dton têe chăn yang bpen dèk dèk
I recall when I was still a little child
ตุ๊กตาที่ตัวเล็กๆ ก็ดูจะมีความหมาย
dtúk-dtaa têe dtua lék lék gôr doo jà mee kwaam măai
The doll, with its small body seemed so full of meaning
เติบโตในจินตนาการ
dtèrp dtoh nai jin-dtà-naa gaan
[I] grew up imagining
กว้างไกลดังท้องทะเลทราย
gwâang glai dang tóng tá-lay saai
as widely as the desert (sea of sand)
เร่าร้อนดังฟ่อนฟืนรุมสุมไฟ
râo rón dang fôn feun rum sŭm fai
with the vehemence of a bundle of firewood piled up to start a fire
แต่ต้องไปให้ตรงเส้นทาง
dtàe dtông bpai hâi dtrong sên taang
But [I] must go on a precise path
เปรียบได้ดังเส้นทางรถไฟ
bprìap dâai dang sên taang rót fai
Comparable to the path of a train
เปรียบได้ดังขบวนรถไฟ
bprìap dâai dang kà-buan rót fai
[You] can compare it to a train

หวนคิดคํานึงถึงตอนที่ฉันเข้ามาบางกอก
hŭan kít kam neung tĕung dton têe chăn kâo maa baang gòk
[I] recall when I [first] came to Bangkok
เรื่องราวข่าวคราวบ้านนอกนั้นดูจะมีความหมาย
rêuang raao kàao kraao bâan nôk nán doo jà mee kwaam măai
The rural news stories seemed so full of meaning,
เปรียบเมืองเป็นรถเป็นเรือ
bprìap meuang bpen rót bpen reua
comparing the city to a car or a ship,
อย่างเราเป็นเกวียนเทียมควาย
yàang rao bpen gwian tiam kwaai
like we are equal to a buffalo cart
เส้นทาง….มากมายไม่มีสิทธิ์เดิน
sên taang …. mâak maai mâi mee sìt dern
[All these] paths . . . Many that [we] don’t have the right to walk.
เก็บส่วนเกินเอาไว้ในใจ
gèp sùan gern ao wái nai jai
I kept my discontent inside my heart
ออกยํ่าไปค้นหาความจริง
òk yaam bpai kón hăa kwaam jing
[And] walked out to search for truth
ออกยํ่าไปค้นหาความจริง
òk yaam bpai kón hăa kwaam jing
Walked on out to search for truth

หวนคิดคํานึงถึงตอนนี้ฉันไม่ใช่เด็กๆ
hŭan kít kam nueng tĕung dton-née chăn mâi châi dèk dèk
I recall that I’m grown now, not a little child
ตุ๊กตาที่ตัวเล็กๆ ก็เลยไม่มีความหมาย
dtúk-dtaa têe dtua lék lék gôr loie mâi mee kwaam măai
The doll with the little body therefore has no meaning
ผ่านทางทั้งรถทั้งเรือ
pàan taang táng rót táng reua
Passing on the path of a car or a boat,
เพื่อนฝูงบางคนล้มตาย
pêuan fŏong baang kon lóm dtaai
my group of friends thins out, people die,
ดับสูญไปตามกาลเวลา
dàp sŏon bpai dtaam gaan way-laa
departing from this world in accordance with the era

ภาพตุ๊กตาในมือของเด็ก
pâap dtúk-dtaa nai meu kŏng dèk
The image of the doll in the hand of the child
เปรียบได้ดังความจริงมากมาย
bprìap dâai dang kwaam jing mâak maai
suggests many different meanings
เช่นสนตะพายใช้เป็นงัวงาน
chên sŏn dtà-paai chái bpen ngua ngaan
for example, to lead someone by the nose and use them as a work horse

เช่นสนตะพายใช้เป็นงัวงาน
chên sŏn dtà-paai chái bpen ngua ngaan
for example, to lead someone by the nose and use them as a work horse
สนตะพายใช้เป็นงัวงาน
sŏn dtà-paai chái bpen ngua ngaan
Lead them by the nose and use them as a work horse

Rain, Land (Fon Din) ฝนดิน

By ยืนยง โอภากุล Yuenyong Opakul, aka แอ๊ด คาราบาว Aed Carabao
Album: World Folk Zen (1991)
This album is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. BUY IT HERE from eThaiCD, where you can shop in English.


English translation of lyrics (เนื้อเพลงแปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ):

ฝนมาจากไหน
fŏn maa jàak năi
Where does rain come from?
ฝน มา จาก ดิน
fŏn maa jàak din
Rain comes from the land
ฝนโปรยหลั่ง ริน
fŏn bproi làng rin
Rain sprinkles, flows, pours
เรามีกินมีอาบน้ำ
rao mee gin mee àap náam
We have drink, can take a shower
น้ำมาจากไหน
nám maa jàak năi
Where does water come from?
ไหลมาจากป่า
lăi maa jàak bpàa
It flows from the forest
ฝนมาจากฟ้า
fŏn maa jàak fáa
The rain comes from the sky
เมฆบนฟ้ามาจากดิน
mâyk bon fáa maa jàak din
Clouds in the sky come from the land

ฝนเอยฝนมา
fŏn oie fŏn maa
The rain, oh the rain comes [down]
ฉ่ำอุราโลกเป็นสุข
chàm u-raa lôhk bpen sùk
Wets the chest, the world is happy
แม้เพียงฤดู
máe piang réu-doo
The seasons even
นำสู่โลกชีวิตเรา
nam sòo lôhk chee-wít rao
bring to the world our life
ยามที่ฝนจากฟ้า
yaam têe fŏn jàak fáa
When the rain falls from the sky,
จำไว้ว่ามาจากดิน
jam wái wâa maa jàak din
recognize that it comes from the land
เราคงเคยได้ยิน
rao kong koie dâai yin
We’ve probably heard before:
ดินเย็นดีเพราะมีป่า
din yen dee prór mee bpàa
The land is nice and cool because of the forest

ฝนมาจากไหน
fŏn maa jàak năi
Where does rain come from?
ฝนมาจากดิน
fŏn maa jàak din
Rain comes from the land
ฝนโปรยหลั่งริน
fŏn bproi làng rin
Rain sprinkles, flows, pours
เรามีกินมีอาบน้ำ
rao mee gin mee àap náam
we have drink, have baths [showers]

น้ำมาจากไหน
nám maa jàak năi
Where does water come from?
ไม้มาจากป่า
máai maa jàak bpàa
Trees/wood comes from the forest
คนมาจากค้า
kon maa jàak káa
People come from trade/business
ไม้หมดป่ามาจากคน
máai mòt bpàa maa jàak kon
The trees are completely cleared from the forest from the people
ใครยังนั่งทำลายป่า
krai yang nâng tam laai bpàa
Who yet sits and demolishes the forest?
ใครยังนอนขยิบตา
krai yang non kà-yìp dtaa
Who is still lying down blinking their eyes?
นั่งนั้นมาจากนอน
nâng nán maa jàak non
That [kind of] sitting comes from sleeping
นอนนั้นมาจากไหน
non nán maa jàak năi
Where does that [kind of] sleeping come from?
นอนนี้มาจากตื้น
non née maa jàak dtêun
This sleeping comes from shallowness/superficiality
สวดมนตร์กันทุกคืน
sùat mon gan túk keun
Pray together each night
ให้ตื่นมายังมีป่ามีฝนโปรย
hâi dtèun maa yang mee bpàa mee fŏn bproi
That when [we] wake back up [we] still have a forest and have rain sprinkling

คนเรามาจากไหน
kon rao maa jàak năi
Where do we people come from?
ไปดักไม้มาจากป่า
bpai dàk máai maa jàak bpàa
[We] go snatch the wood from the forest
คนมาจากค้า
kon maa jàak káa
People come from trade/business
ไม้หมดป่ามาจากคน
máai mòt bpàa maa jàak kon
The trees are completely cleared from the forest from the people
ใครยังนั่งทำลายป่า
krai yang nâng tam laai bpàa
Who yet sits and demolishes the forest?
ใครยังนอนขยิบตา
krai yang non kà-yìp dtaa
Who is still lying down blinking their eyes?
นั่งนั้นมาจากนอน
nâng nán maa jàak non
That [kind of] sitting comes from sleeping
นอนนั้นมาจากไหน
non nán maa jàak năi
Where does that [kind of] sleeping come from?
นอนนี้มาจากตื้น
non née maa jàak dtêun
This sleeping comes from shallowness/superficiality
สวดมนตร์กันทุกคืน
sùat mon gan túk keun
Pray together each night
ให้ตื่นมายังมีป่ามีฝนโปรย
hâi dtèun maa yang mee bpàa mee fŏn bproi
That when [we] wake back up [we] still have a forest and have rain sprinkling


BUY THE ALBUM World Folk Zen. You won’t be sorry. This album is as good as the title and cover art suggests.